Hair loss is a normal and daily occurrence for both men and women resulting in
male and female pattern baldness. Even the healthiest of individuals suffer from
hair loss. However, excessive or rapid hair loss can be a reason for concern,
which might need immediate professional guidance or medical diagnosis and
treatment.
Various causes of thinning hair and their treatments
Hair thins only when rate of hair loss surpasses the hair replacement rate,
which in some cases leads to baldness. Correct diagnosis of the reason for
falling hair is very important to prescribe the patient with the specific course
of remedy and tackle the problem.
Some of the most common reasons for hair loss, acting singly or in combination,
can be the following:
1. Hormones- Imbalances in the male and female hormones, androgen and estrogen
leads to thinning hair.
Treatment
Modern inventions in the medical science come to the rescue. Correcting the
imbalance through medicines or treatment may stop hair loss.
2. Diet- Poor nutrition, an overdose of vitamin A and deficiency of the mineral
copper and vitamin H (biotin) can be detrimental for hair. Also, excessive
dieting is unhealthy for the hair follicles.
Treatment
Proper nutrition is very important for hair growth. A diet rich in natural fiber
like whole grains (wheat, oat) and whole food (potato, cucumber, peppers with
their skins intact) strengthen the hair follicles due to the mineral silica.
Supplements of vitamin B5 and folic acid thicken the hair and maintain the
color.
3. Heredity- Hereditary baldness is a very complex matter concerning the genes
the affected individual possesses. It is assumed that male pattern baldness
occurs due to genes inherited from either parent who then have inherited genes
from their parents. These genetic traits may be dormant for a generation or two
and then they may be expressed due to the influence of specific hormones and
environmental conditions. There is no control over one’s genes and their
expressions. So, it is a matter of arduous research work and scientists are
working on the various theories that might point out the genes that cause hair
loss and find out a remedy.
Treatment
Extensive research work involving a lot of families with affected individuals
with a very complex genetic code is being carried on these days and researchers
will soon find out some cure.
4. Illness or Surgery- Hypo- or hyperthyroidism, lupus, anemia (low red blood
cells), diabetes, chronic fever, kidney and liver problems are some of the
causes of hair loss. Medicines used to alleviate pain after surgery affects the
hair follicles leading to thinning of hair.
Treatment
Kidney and liver tonics, supplementing the diet of anemic patients with iron
rich food like lean meat, prune, apple etc, hormonal treatments for thyroid
problems, stopping the use of pain killers after surgeries and medical
treatments for the different illnesses can be very helpful to restore hair
growth.
5. Pregnancy and childbirth- Pregnancy leads to a lot of hormonal changes in the
body. High levels of certain hormones help retain the hair (which gets stronger)
that was meant to fall off. After childbirth, these hairs are shed for 4-5
months.
Treatment
Normal routine of hair growth and loss is restored slowly after 4-5 months
without any medical intervention.
6. Stress- Our daily life is so full of activities concerning the job, the home,
the family and friends and the relatives. It is very easy to get stressed these
days leading to various health conditions. Falling hair is a symptom that a
person might be stressed. During stressful periods, the body undergoes a
disturbance in the routine procedures and the various resources are utilized to
fight the stress. The hair suffers in the process.
Treatment
Try calming the mind using various techniques for stress relief. Massaging with
essential oils (aromatherapy), meditation and yoga have been found to be
extremely helpful to free the mind of stressful thoughts.
7. Medication- The procedures of chemotherapy and anticoagulants or blood
thinners used in cancer treatment are notorious to cause extreme hair loss. Some
anti-depressants, arthritis and gout medications and birth control pills also
have the same effect.
Treatment
Stopping the use of these medicines restores hair growth.
8. Head lice/nit- Lice infest the hair shaft close to scalp and can spread very
rapidly throughout the head. In extreme cases they can start nesting in the
eyebrows and sideburns. They feed on the blood from the scalp weakening the
roots or the hair follicles, grow big in size, walk around the head and cause
itching. They lay miniature white eggs (nits) near the roots of the hair, which
sometimes look like dandruff.
Treatment
The best way to check lice growth is to shave the head. Since that is not
acceptable for many, the next best solution is medial intervention. A lot of
lice and nit killing shampoos are found in the market these days. Using those
products according to directions followed by combing with a fine-toothed comb or
special lice/nit removing comb helps a lot in removing the dead lice and their
eggs from hair. Any newly hatched lice can be killed by a second application of
the product after 7-10 days. All the personal hats, scarves, head gears,
clothes, bed linens and pillow covers should be disinfected by machine washing
in hot water and dried for at least 20 minutes in the hot cycle. Personal combs
and brushes should be washed in hot water for 10 minutes to disinfect. Also,
frequent thorough vacuuming the room of the infected person is recommended.
9. Infections- Infection caused by the fungus, scalp ringworm, leads to the
patchy appearance of the head due to hair loss. They infect the hair follicles,
multiply and spread out in a circular fashion, attack the hair fiber making it
brittle and vulnerable, thus weakening them, and ultimately shedding them.
Inflammation with a dandruff like outlook is it’s alarming symptom. It is quite
common in children.
Treatment
Detection of the fungus is important to determine the treatment process. Use of
anti-fungal drugs like Griseofulvin can be very effective in barring the fungus
from affecting the keratin, a component of hair. It does not allow the fungus to
replicate and within a few weeks the head becomes free of the scalp ringworm.
10. Menopause- It is the end of reproduction and the beginning of a new life of
liberation. The various troubles associated with menopause like mood swings,
sleeplessness, anxiety, lethargy and depression along with hormonal shifts
producing less estrogen and progesterone act simultaneously leading to hair
loss.
Treatment
Consulting a dermatologist is the best option. He will find out the root cause
of hair shedding and suggest medications.
Some minor causes for hair thinning:
a) Use of tight hair accessories including rollers
b) Hair pulling (by nervous children)
c) Tying hair too tight
d) High fever
e) Rough hair brushing leading to scalp scarring
f) Lack of proper hair care leading to dandruff build-up
g) Everyday shampoo
h) Use of hot oils or chemicals to style hair
i) Excessive use of hair dryers
j) Use of cheap hair care products
k) Skin injury like burns, eczema etc
l) Using laser comb
m) Age
Ayurveda and Aromatherapy
Fight hair loss with these two classic means of remedies.
a) Stimulate hair growth by massaging the scalp before entering the shower with
Brahmi oil or Bringaraj oil.
b) Make a hair pack with 2 eggs and herbs like amla (fruits), keshuth (leaves)
or ashwagandha (leaves and stem). Leave on for 20 minutes. Wash with cold water.
This strengthens the roots of hairs and promotes growth.
c) Massage the scalp at bedtime with a mixture of:
2 drops of lavender oil,
2 drops of rosemary oil,
2 drops of thyme oil,
3 drops of jojoba oil
Cover your head with a cloth overnight and shampoo in the morning. These
essential oils stimulate hair growth, thicken and improve texture. Also the
cooling and calming effect of the essential oils will help you have a good
night’s sleep.
Every individual has or will experience hair loss at some point of time in
his/her life. No one is immune. If all the treatment options fail to restore
hair growth or at least check hair shedding, then using professional styling
tips, wearing hairpieces or wigs, using weaves or undergoing artificial hair
replacement remain the only options.