What is hair loss and how to prevent hair loss.

What is hair fall/loss and how to prevent hair loss ?

What is hair fall/loss ?

Hair loss, also known as alopecia or baldness, refers to hair loss from the head or any part of the body. This usually involves scalp hair loss. The severity of hair loss can vary from a small area to the entire body. There is usually no swelling or scarring present in it. In some people, the cause of hair fall is psychological distress. Everybody's hair falls every day. Research has shown that a person has 100 hair loss per day. But due to excess hair loss, bald spots can appear on a person's head. In the case of a woman, the hair on the top of her head gets thin.

Hair loss is not a fatal situation. But it can seriously jeopardize the way it looks, it can endanger confidence. Men, women, and even children can experience hair loss. This condition usually occurs as a result of hormonal changes, heredity, medical conditions or side-effects of some medications. Hair loss is the most common cause of hair loss due to hereditary reasons.

What are the types of hair loss?

Hair development rate slows down as people age and it is called Alopecia. There are several types of hair loss:

Informal Alopecia - This is the natural thinning of hair with age. There is an increase in the number of hair follicles that enter the resting phase and other hairs become shorter and shorter.

Androgenic alopecia: Both men and women can be affected by this genetic condition. Men who have this condition also have hair loss in their teens. This is known as male-pattern baldness. It is characterized by gradual hair loss and hairline from the frontal scalp and temple in a U-Shape. After a time it leads to total hair loss. The hair of the women affected by this is thinned after their 40's. This is known as female-pattern baldness and leads to maximum hair loss near the crown.

Alopecia areata: It usually starts suddenly and leads to hair loss in patches in young adults and children. The immune system of a patient attacks his/her own hair follicles. It is related to autoimmune diseases. It can be complete balding (alopecia). In more than 90% of people with this condition, hair grows back in a few years. It is a genetic disease.

Trichotillomania: It is most commonly seen in children. Due to this psychological disorder, a person spoils his own hair by pulling it uncontrollably.

Telogen Effluvium: Changes in the hair growth cycle cause a temporary thinning of hair on the scalp. This is due to a lot of hair entering the resting phase which lightens the hair and consequently becomes thinner.

Scarring Alopecia: This indicates irreversible hair loss. Inflammatory conditions of the skin such as folliculitis, acne, and cellulitis produce results that destroy the hair's ability to regenerate. Tightly woven hair and hot comb can result in irreversible hair loss.

What are the symptoms and signs of hair fall ?

Hair fall

Hair thinning

Hair thinning and breakage easily

What are the causes of hair fall ?

Hair loss is most prevalent among those who have a family history of hair loss, genetics play a large role in it. Some hormones also trigger hair loss which usually starts during puberty. Other factors such as traumatic events, surgery, dandruff, anemia, liver diseases and major illnesses can also trigger acute hair loss. Menopause during pregnancy, sudden birth control pills, childbirth and hormonal changes can cause temporary hair loss.

Sometimes severe medical conditions can also cause hair loss such as scalp infection (herpes),  Alopecia aerata (autoimmune disorder that damages hair follicles) and thyroid diseases. Disorders such as lichen planus and some types of lupus can also cause lichen, which results in hair fall. Hair fall may also begin several times with the use of medicines used to treat heart problems, depression, arthritis, high blood pressure and cancer. Emotional or physical tremors can also exacerbate hair loss such as high fever, excessive weight loss and family death.

Intentional hair-pulling disorder, known as trichotillomania, also affects the individual. It is an impulse control disorder that can be treated with therapy. The affected person can pull hair from his eyelids, eyebrows and scalp. Tying our hair too tightly puts a lot of pressure on the hair which starts to break. This traction is known as hair loss. Consuming less iron and protein in your diet can also cause thin hair.

There are some other reasons through which hair loss occurs:

Hormones: Hair can fall due to abnormal androgen levels.

Genes: Genes from either parent can increase a person's chances of having female or male pattern baldness.

Drugs: Hair fall may also occur due to blood thinners, cancer treatment drugs, birth control medications and beta blockers.

Medical predisposition: Diabetes, lupus, iron deficiency, thyroid disease, anemia, liver and eating disorders can cause hair loss. Usually, when the root cause is treated, the hair grows again.

Cosmetic: Procedures such as permissions, hair dye, bleaching and use of shampoo can all thin the hair, making it brittle and weak. Tightening the hair, using hot curlers or rollers also causes hair loss and damage. However, there is no baldness in them.

Which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss ?

Vitamins play an essential role in hair growth. Lack of vitamins can cause many problems related to hair loss. Niacin or vitamin B3 and biotin is another B vitamin, which leads to hair loss. Some evidence suggests that a lack of vitamin D in the body affects hair growth. Research suggests that people with hair loss have lower vitamin D levels than others.

How is hair loss diagnosed ?

After consulting the patient about the symptoms and inquiring about the related medical and family history, various tests are done to diagnose the problem of hair loss. Some of them are listed below:

Physical Hair Pull Test

Blood test

Scalp biopsy

Light microscopy

How to treat hair loss?

Hair loss solutions can be addressed in several ways. Check with your doctor to determine the nature of your condition before opting for any treatment. Some medicines increase the level of androgens to improve hair growth. For more serious cases you can opt for a wig, but in today's fashion world it is out of place. You can opt for hair weaving or hair bonding treatment, where synthetic hair strands or real hair strands are artificially glued to your scalp. Sometimes it can appear as a takeaway latex skin, and you can use it and comb it like how you use your natural hair. However, these may have limitations.

How long does it take to recover from hair loss treatment ?

The recovery period is very short regarding the treatment of hair loss. You can return to your regular duties within a short time. You may be asked to visit in a month for a checkup, and after a period of six months your hair may start growing again. If you are taking pills, there is no recovery time, and you can follow your regular work routine.

 Are the results of hair loss treatment permanent ?

Natural hair oil and Ayurvedic products can be the treatment options for such hair loss. These can be safe on your hair as they do not use any chemical based medicines and do not involve surgery. You can make some lifestyle changes and take strict diets that are high in protein and nutrients required for your hair.

How to stop hair loss ?

Studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet is one of the best ways of preventing hair loss. Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of hair loss or slows its onset. Proteins like keratin help rebuild hair follicles. The inclusion of amino acids in the diet helps in hair growth as they act as building blocks.

What vitamins are good for preventing hair fall ?

Lack of nutrition stops hair loss and vitamin intake is the best way to stop it. The best vitamins are:

Vitamin A: It is the basic unit for every cell in the body. As hair is the fastest growing tissue, vitamin A plays an important role in its growth. Vitamin A is found in animal products such as milk, eggs, and cod liver oil.

Vitamin B: One of the major vitamins in hair growth, vitamin B is also called biotins. It helps in the formation of RBCs and carries oxygen, nutrients to the scalp. Vitamin B is found in whole grains, almonds, meat, seafood, green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin D: It is a major factor for hair growth which helps in creating new follicles. Vitamin D plays an important role in hair production. Fatty fish, cod liver oil, some mushrooms and fortified foods are good sources of vitamin D.

What are the home remedies for hair fall ?

Egg whiteness: These are the stores of protein, minerals and B-complex which are important for hair. They provide nutrients for hair growth and also strengthen hair. Egg oil whitening is recommended for oily hair as it reduces oil production. It can be mixed with olive oil for faster hair growth.

Aloe Vera: It contains a large amount of amino acids and proteolytic enzymes which are good for hair growth. It can be mixed with castor oil and fenugreek powder for better results.

Gooseberry: It contains high concentration of antioxidants which increases the regeneration of skin cells. It conditions your scalp, reduces gray hair and increases hair volume. Amla also reduces dandruff, hence makes hair thicker. Vegetable oil, rosemary powder, egg, water and milk can be mixed with amla for better results.

Onion: It contains dietary sulfur which is the most common mineral required for enzymes and protein production. The antimicrobial properties of onion juice help the scalp fight infection. Antioxidant properties, on the other hand, cancel out free radicals that reduce damage to hair follicles.

Tips to reduce hairfall :

1. Vegetables, salads, seasonal fruits, sprouted grains should be consumed in more quantity in your diet. Eat nutritious homemade food instead of junk food. Drink plenty of water.

 2. Whenever shampooing hair, massage it lightly with fingertips. Doing this will increase your blood circulation.

 3. Do not use anti-dandruff shampoo too much, as it reduces the natural moisture of the head.

 4. Do not spray gels or any hair spray on dirty hair. This can cause hair loss. If the hair is weak then it should not be straightened or curled. Gels or hair color should not be used because these products contain harmful chemicals. They slowly ruin the hair.

 5. Do not wear caps at all times. This causes sweat, germs and dirt to accumulate on the sides of the head. There is damage to hair roots and hair starts falling out.

 6. Do not comb wet hair, comb three or four times a day. Doing this will remove the stickiness of the ground oil in the hair and will help in growing new hair.

 7. Massage the head with oil. You can mix mustard and olive oil in equal quantity and massage the hair lightly with fingertips. After massaging, soak the towel in hot water, then squeeze it and steam the head. This opens the pores of the skin of the scalp and greases the oil inside the hair roots. This will make your hair stronger.