HAIR LOSS: How I Stopped It Naturally – for Men & Women

Hair fall or alopecia is very embarrassing and you tend to feel helpless and confused. You try to hide the bald patches on your head. You try many hair fall products to solve the problem but still search for natural remedies to solve your hair fall problem. Many factors like genetics, thyroid disorders and anemia, chemical treatments can cause hair fall. You don’t have to wait till 50 for hair fall to start! Every time you leave the shower, you see the drain clogged with hair. Even when you comb your hair, you see strands of hair on the comb. This is really frightening! It makes you wonder what can be the possible reason behind hair fall.

If hair fall is persistent, it is always best to contact a dermatologist and get his advice. He will probably give medicines like Minoxidil, Finasteride and Dutasteride to stimulate hair growth. Hair fall might start from a section creating a bald patch; this is commonly called alopecia areata.

Causes of Hair Fall:

So what is the solution to hair fall? Do anti-hair fall products really help? The answer is just look within. Yes internal problems also triggers hair fall. So before knowing how to prevent hair fall, we should know the reason behind it!

1. Lack of Proper Nutrition:

Hair is made up of a protein called Keratin. For the hair to grow you need to have proteins and iron along with essential vitamins. Ninety Percent of the hair is always in a growing phase, it takes two to three years for the hair to grow and then it enters a resting phase of three months. After that hair sheds and new hair takes its place. So to allow the hair growth you need the right blend of protein and iron. A balanced diet will surely give you healthy hair.

2. Aging:

3. Hormonal Changes:

4. Stress:

With age hair starts thinning, this happens because the body’s capacity to absorb nutrients decrease.The hair needs 22 amino acids to grow. Due to lack of amino acids from the diet the hair appears thin.

However you can prevent the hair fall due to aging. You need to have soy beans, lean meat, dairy products, fish, eggs and nuts. You can also have fish oil tablets or supplements which is rich in Omega 3 Fatty Acids.

Hair fall or alopecia happens due to high or low hormone levels. Hormones regulate all the organs in the body. Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone are the active hormones in a woman’s body. Female pattern of baldness occurs when the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels increase in the scalp.

The dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a byproduct of testosterone and it is produced in the follicles where enzymes convert testosterone into DHT. Sometimes genes are responsible in converting testosterone into DHT readily leading to baldness. Also when levels of female hormones decrease the male hormones become active leading to hair fall.

Also progesterone that is secreted in the body during ovulation decreases during menopause. The body produces adrenal cortical steroid called androstenedione. This steroid has male hormonal qualities that cause hair fall.

Hair fall is caused due to stress.There are three types of hair fall that are associated with stress. They are:

·        Telogen Effluvium– Stress pushes the hair follicles into arresting phase. After a few days you will noticehair fall.

·        Trichotillomania– This is an irrestible urge to pull out hair from the head and eyebrows. Hair pulling can be triggered by emotions like stress, tension, loneliness, boredom and frustration.

·        Alopecia Areata– This type of hair loss is triggered by severe stress. Stress weakens body’s immune system and causes hair fall.

However, hair fall caused due to stress is not permanent and it can be controlled. Just practice meditation or yoga to de-stress. Taking deep breaths and drinking water helps.

5. Heredity:

Androgenetic alopecia is caused by genetic and environmental factors. If anyone in your family has suffered alopecia, there are high chances that you will lose hair too. In women androgenetic alopecia doesn’t cause total baldness but there is visible hair thinning.

6. Prolonged Illness:

Chronic and deadly diseases like cancer, typhoid and jaundice can trigger hair loss.Cancer medicines and chemotherapy cause severe hair loss. Beautiful hair is a reflection of good health, so if there is any problem with your general health it reflects on your skin and hair.

7. Medications:

Hair fall happens if you take drugs on a regular basis, but this kind of hair fall is usually temporary. If you have to take medicines for a chronic disease, then hair fall becomes a long term problem. Medicines for glaucoma or beta-blocker drugs, asthma, heart disease, anti-coagulants, anti-depressants, acne medicine like Isotretinoin, anti convulsants, cholesterol lowering drugs, diet and weight loss drugs like Amphetamines, anti-fungal medicines cause hair fall. Also drugs or steroids given to reduce muscle cramps, high blood pressure, gout and inflammation trigger hair fall. If you are having any hormonal pill like birth control pills it can cause hair fall.

8. Thyroid Disorders:

People suffering from Hypothyroid and Hyperthyroidism lose hair. It is a worst symptom of thyroid and it is easily visible. However, it can be treated by doing a proper evaluation by your doctor. You need to give the hormones some time to stabilize. Also try to analyze the type of hair loss you are having and talk to an endrinocologist about it.

9. Fungal Disease or Infections:

Some infection causing agents are responsible for hair fall. Ringworm, which is actually not a worm, is a fungal infection that causes alopecia. The condition is called ‘tinea capitis,’ ringworm is same as athlete’s foot. The ringworm starts as a pimple and it slowly spreads causing a bald patch. The affected area is itchy, red, inflamed and it may ooze.

Some fungal infections disappear on its own. To tackle stubborn fungus like Microsporum Audouinii, Trychophyton Tonsorans and Microsporum Gypseum you need strong anti-fungal medicines. Most common anti-fungal drug is Griseofulvin. Other anti-fungal drugs like Terbinafine, Itraconazole and Fluconazole can be prescribed.

Never share towels, combs and clothes. You can get fungal infection if you’re a regular at swimming clubs, common showers is the place you can probably get these fungal infections.

10. Pregnancy:

Giving birth is quite scary for most women, in addition if you are losing bunches of hair it adds to the depression. It happens after the baby is delivered and hormonal changes are the main reason.

11. Over Styling Hair:

We all love to straighten our hair and highlight the hair with some funky colours to look trendy.Other chemical treatments like perming and rebonding can destroy the hair texture. Also using straightening rods and curlers cause strain to the hair and leads to hair breakage and split ends. Also using tight rubber bands and hair accessories can cause hair fall. Never tie a high ponytail, keep it loose and simple, you will still look pretty.

12. Excessive Vitamin A Intake:

According to American Academy of Dermatology hair fall is caused due to overdosing on Vitamin A. One should have only 5,000 International Units of Vitamin A. However this hair fall is temporary and can be corrected by reducing the Vitamin A intake.

13. Vitamin B Deficiency:

This problem of hair fall can be corrected and is very common. You just need to correct your diet. Having fish, meat, starchy vegetables, nuts and avocado can solve your hair woes. You can snack on nuts to get good hair.

14. Autoimmune Disease, Lupus Cause Hair Fall:

Lupus cause ‘scarring’, this means the hair will not grow back. All you have to do is to change your hair style to camouflage the bald patches. Short is better for camouflaging the baldness.

15. Dramatic Weight Loss:

Hair fall can be caused due to physical trauma. Eating disorders like Bulimia and Anorexia cause hair fall. So eating right to reduce chances of deficiencies is very important if you want your hair to shine with a healthy glow.

16. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS):

This is another case of hormonal imbalance. Excess of androgens cause ovarian cysts and affects your menstrual cycle. Polycystic ovaries cause hormonal imbalance and this leads to hair fall.

All the causes sound very common, yet we cannot control hair fall.