Author Archive | Jennie Lyon

Thinning hair is something many people experience during their lives. For some, it’s due to health conditions or medical treatment. For others experiencing thinning hair, the cause is stress or a natural predisposition to lose their hair at an early age. And for the most part, it’s not something people take note of in the early stages until it becomes more noticeable.

But the thing is, the earlier the response to thinning hair, the more effective the treatment can be, depending on the cause of the hair loss.

Let’s take a look at some tips that can help you if this is a concern you have.

Switch Your Shampoo

Many standard commercial shampoos contain sulphates that strip the scalp of natural oils. Over time, this weakens the hair shaft and can make your hair more prone to thinning. If you’re already experiencing thinning hair or you want to avoid this, then switching to a sulphate-free volumising shampoo can be a good swap. It can minimise scalp damage and give your existing hair more body, making it appear fuller. Look for formulas containing biotin or keratin, both of which support hair strength at the follicle level. Also, try to avoid washing daily if you can, to give your scalp time to regulate oil production.

Stop Dismissing Scalp Health

The scalp is where hair growth starts, so if you’re focusing on supporting thicker, healthy hair, it’s natural that you start here.

If you have an inflamed or congested scalp, or poor circulation, then this will produce weaker hair, which is more likely to break. 

If you have regular scalp massages, you can do this at home as you wash your hair; even five minutes per wash can help massively. It will increase blood flow to the follicles, and it is shown to have measurable results in clinical studies on hair density. If you can, exfoliate your scalp once a week to remove any product buildup that can block follicles and slow growth.

Change Your Diet

Your hair is made of keratin, and deficiencies in protein, iron, zinc, and vitamins D and B12 are directly linked to increased shedding. A blood test from your doctor can tell you if you’re deficient in any of these vitamins, so you can make adjustments to your diet. But in the absence of tests, including more whole foods in your diet, eating more eggs, leafy greens, nuts, and oily fish is a great place to start.

Look Into a Hair Transplant

For thinning hair that has progressed significantly, there are more permanent solutions you can look into. Modern techniques such as FUE — Follicular Unit Extraction removes individual follicles from donor areas and implant them precisely where the density has already been lost. Over time, this can give you more natural-looking results, and it has minimal recovery time too. You can research clinics such as silicon valley hair institute and others in your local area to see if you are a suitable candidate for this type of treatment and what the process would involve for your journey.

Choosing how to help an aging loved one is never easy. Most of us know that we would rather avoid dedicated care facilities for as long as possible, but there are still a range of options to consider. Chief amongst them is assisted living, an increasingly popular option that currently houses around 818,000 residents across the US and counting. 

But what does assisted living actually offer? And is this really the right option for everyone? As with any care solution, asking questions is the best way to decide whether or not assisted living is a viable option for your loved one. Keep reading as we answer the top questions you’ll want to consider.

# 1 – What’s Unique About Assisted Living?

Assisted living refers to independent living communities where residents have easy access to on-site care. Unlike care homes, however, assisted living facilities place a strong emphasis on independence. Your loved one will continue living in their own space, while still receiving care and daily help with tasks they find challenging. 

# 2 – What’s Good About Assisted Living?

Assisted living boasts a range of benefits, including personalized 24/7 care outside of a hospital or care home environment. This can be great for a loved one who is reluctant to relinquish their privacy and home comforts. Yet, families needn’t worry, because assisted living facilities oversee everything from medication management to socialization priorities like group outings and communal meal times. 

# 3 – Are There Downsides to Assisted Living?

No care choice is right for everyone, and assisted living is no exception. While this is an option for individuals with high-care needs, it’s especially worth noting that many facilities aren’t equipped to deal with specialist conditions like advanced Alzheimer’s. As is often the case, care also varies greatly across providers, with some facilities facing serious allegations like negligence or outright abuse at the hands of an assisted living abuse lawyer, while others simply fail to respond to patient needs. Other potential downsides for assisted living solutions include high costs (around $4,500 per month) and limited insurance coverage. 

# 4 – Is Assisted Living Right For Your Loved One?

Ultimately, everything we’ve discussed so far comes down to this – is assisted living right for your loved one or not? In other words, will they be happy in a facility like this?

Unfortunately, we can’t give one sure answer, but most experts recommend considering factors like your loved one’s medical needs and preferences before making a decision. After all, if they still want to live independently and are largely able to do so with assistance, then there’s no reason they won’t get along in a well-chosen assisted living facility. However, if they’re increasingly reliant on specialist care, or are becoming prone to health risks like falls and forgetfulness, then you might be better off considering other options. 

You’re bound to have a lot of questions when it comes to choosing the next steps for your loved one. Hopefully, we’ve helped to answer some of them here.