A Complete Guide to Hair Loss
Our normal cycle of hair growth involves daily loss of hair. While 90% of our total hair is in a growing phase, 10% is in a resting phase which would usually fall off every 2 or 3 months. When the loss reaches beyond normal limits, people tend to notice the hair fall. These include: Alopecia areata: This results in very rapid hair loss and affects both male and female. Generally caused due to immunity disorder where the body’s own white blood cells attack the hair follicles. Alopecia Totalis is another condition where there is total loss of hair on the scalp. Infrequently a condition called alopecia universalis occurs where hair is lost from the entire body.
It is called male pattern baldness. Over and above the reason being genetic, it could also be due to testosterone the male hormone. This hormone either retards or stops growth and produces weak and unhealthy hair. Men not having any testosterone would not suffer from male pattern baldness.
Skin diseases - Skin diseases can affect the scalp and cause hair loss. Such conditions include dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, scalp fungus such as ringworm and tinea captis.
Sudden illness or fever: this could also cause massive hair loss. This is a temporary event though and soon passes off.
Childbirth, menopause, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and aging could also be the other reasons for hair loss. There are other reasons for hair loss over and above these main ones.
Successful hair loss treatments are available where you not only stop hair loss but re-grow your hair too. Here are some natural ways you could treat hair loss:
1. Incorporating Vitamins A, B, C and E is essential for good hair growth. These vitamins help to provide sebum, good blood circulation to the scalp by increasing oxygen absorption and collagen.
2. Scalp care - Massage your scalp with herbal oils such as olive oil, jojoba oil, amla oil. These include: essential oils of thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedar wood.
3. Beware of scalp abuse: Avoid using harsh chemical shampoos daily and do away with blow drying. Hair and scalp can get severely damaged when you use chemical treatments like coloring as well as straightening. Even daily hair wash with hot water can damage the hair and scalp as hair then turns brittle and the natural oils dry up.
4. Using herbal care: Using powders of amla, shikakai, henna and ritha as shampoo and conditioner can be an effective treatment. This is also the richest source of natural vitamin C. Shikakai, often called as the Fruit for hair can make an excellent shampoo with its natural low pH. You could then use henna which acts like a natural conditioner.
5. Lifestyle changes: This involves doing some stress management by doing exercises and meditation, as stress causes hair loss. Give up Smoking: Smoking causes constriction of the blood vessel which supply blood to the scalp. Avoid sun exposure since the UV rays could damage the scalp.
