Want to slow hair loss? Cleanse your scalp!

It’s well known that staying healthy and in shape can help slow the effects of aging. To that end, more and more people are exercising and eating right – so much so that the phrase “50 is the new 40” has been coined.

It’s not just exercising – it’s a complete regimen of care and protection. Using the proper soaps, drinking enough fluids, and applying skin care products to hydrate and exfoliate the skin are some of the ways you can stave of “Father Time”!

If it works on the skin, shouldn’t the same principles apply to your hair? The scalp is really just a layer of skin, so keeping your scalp healthy should be a part of any health and anti-aging routine. The end result will be a clean scalp with unclogged follicles, which could help in slowing hair loss.

To better understand how this works, we have to understand what causes hair loss. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is produced in the scalp by the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which stimulates sebaceous glands to secrete an oily, waxy substance called sebum. This sebum builds up within the follicle, and combined with the production of DHT (which shrinks the follicle) can negatively impact hair growth. Sebum build up on the scalp is very similar to acne on the skin, so it is imperative that it is not left to accumulate over a long period of time.

Therefore, the obvious solution would be to find a shampoo that not only inhibits production of DHT but also cleanses the follicles clogged with sebum. Luckily for us, there is something that will do just that: Zinc PCA. Zinc pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA) is a zinc compound that has been shown to not only suppress sebum secretion, but limit the production of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. As noted, these are the primary causes of androgenetic alopecia – the hair loss experienced by men, typically between the ages of 20 – 45.

Look for a shampoo that contains Zinc PCA and other healing ingredients or moisturizers such as panthenol (provitamin of B5). The best solution for you depends on the level of hair loss and hair type. Learn more about follicle cleansing shampoo and related products at EMERGE For Men, a leading provider of solutions for men suffering the effects of male pattern baldness.