Overview
The problem of hair fall has increased the most in the whole world. There can be many reasons for hair loss, like family history, genetics, hormones during puberty, illnesses, aging, some foods, stress, side effects of medicine, a thyroid disorder, anemia, and PCOD (polycystic ovarian disease).
Hair fall symptoms
Hair fall symptoms can appear in many different ways.- 1. Loose hair: When you comb, many hairs come into your comb. If your hair is longer than usual, as a result, hair loss could be a sign.
- 2. Itching: If you have itching and pain in your scalp, your hair will eventually fall out. Because it can be a fungal infection, fungus can damage your scar tissue and nerve fibers in the skin.
- 3. Thinning hair: If your hair is getting thinner than before, it means that hair fall is starting soon. There can be many symptoms behind this.
- 4. Bald Hair: Baldness is the most common type of hair loss symptom in both men and women. You can treat it in the beginning.
- 5. Chemotherapy, which is used to treat cancer, can cause hair loss all over the patient's body.
What causes hair loss?
There can be many regions of hair loss; some are common and some are rarer, e.g., androgen alopecia, areata alopecia, anagen effluvium, telogen effluvium, during puberty, illnesses, aging, some foods, pregnancy, stress, side effects of medicine, thyroid disorder, anemia, and PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian Disease).
- Genetics: One of the most common causes of hair loss is a hereditary condition called male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness.
- Hormonal changes: Imbalances in hormones, such as during pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, or thyroid problems, can lead to hair loss.
- Medications: Some medications used for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, and high blood pressure can cause hair loss as a side effect.
- Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, like alopecia areata, scalp infections, or trichotillomania, can cause hair loss.
- Androgenic alopecia: (Androgenic) means a group of sex hormones called androgens, and (Alopecia) means this word originated from the Greek word "alopekia," which means absence of hair. Androgenic alopecia is the biggest cause of hair loss in our world, with more than 50% of people suffering from this problem.
- Androgenic alopecia, also known as male-pattern baldness or female-pattern hair loss, is a common form of hair loss affecting both men and women. It is primarily caused by a combination of genetic and hormonal factors. In men, it typically presents as a receding hairline and balding at the crown, while in women, it results in diffuse thinning of the hair.
- The primary culprit behind androgenic alopecia is dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone derived from testosterone. DHT has a miniaturizing effect on hair follicles, shortening the growth phase of hair and causing them to become finer and shorter over time. This leads to a gradual thinning of the hair until, eventually, the follicles may stop producing new hair altogether.
- Areata alopecia: Areata alopecia is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack hair follicles, which are normally responsible for supporting hair growth, causing inflammation. resulting in bald, small, and round patches.
- Anagen effluvium: Using drugs for cancer treatment like thallium, boron, and arsenic has many side effects, including excessive hair loss.
- Telogen effluvium: Telogen effluvium is another cause of hair loss, which can occur as a result of severe stress, pregnancy and childbirth, menopause, poor diet, rapid weight loss, the use of certain drugs, illness, or PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). and hemorrhage can cause telogen effluvium.
- Tinea capitis: Tinea capitis, also known as ringworm or herpes tonsurans infection, is a fungus that infects your scalp. causes itchy, scaly, bald patches on the head.
- Thyroid: The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck. Disbalance of thyroid hormones and the thyroid gland causes hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Thyroid hormones play a very important role in the development and maintenance of the hair follicles. When thyroid hormones are imbalanced, our hair starts falling.
- Pregnancy: Some women experience hair loss during pregnancy, but this is not true hair loss. Hair loss stops after pregnancy because it is all due to hormones.
- Age: As people age, the rate of hair growth slows down, and hair follicles may become weaker, leading to hair loss.
- Nutrition deficiency: A lack of balanced meals can cause hair loss. Nutrients (vitamins, proteins, minerals, and fatty acids) are important for hair, including riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12, which is the most important.
- Stress: Emotional or physical stress can lead to a condition called telogen effluvium, where hair follicles are pushed into a resting phase, resulting in hair shedding.
- Extreme hair care: is entirely dependent on the type of product used; the majority of harmful products damage your hair follicles.
How can I prevent hair loss?
There are many things you can do to minimize and stop hair fall:
- Scalp massage: scalp massage is important for stopping hair fall. I recommend a 3- to 5-minute scalp massage daily with coconut oil and jaborandi oil. This is the best method to increase the blood flow to your hair follicles.
- Manage stress: Chronic stress can contribute to hair loss, so finding ways to manage stress through activities like exercise, meditation, or therapy can be beneficial.
- Avoid tight hairstyles: Tight hairstyles like ponytails or braids can put stress on the hair follicles and contribute to hair loss.
- Avoid touching your hair: don't touch your hair. If you need massage, do so very lightly.
- Stop smoking; smoking is very harmful for your hair, as some studies have shown.
- Protection from the sun: protect your hair from the sun's ultraviolet rays.
- Shampoo: Use shampoo twice a week, and use only natural shampoo like Arnica shampoo.
- Use gentle hair products: Choose hair products that are gentle and suitable for your hair type to avoid further damage.
- Healthy diet: If you follow a healthy diet, you can prevent your hair fall problem. Like riboflavin, biotin, folate, vitamin B12, zinc, iron, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, these are the most important nutrients for stopping hair loss.
The best foods to prevent hair loss
- Carrot
- Spinach
- Eggs
- Avocado
- Beans
- Kiwi
- Lentils
- Green vegetables
- Fruit: oranges, grapes, and berries
- Nuts and seeds
Foods that cause hair to fall
- Sugar
- Alcohol
- Carbonated drink
- Refined carbs
- Diet soda
- Junk food
Treatment for hair loss?
There are several types of treatment for hair fall; it depends on your disease, symptoms, and genetic cause of your hair loss.
Most common treatment?
- Most common types of hair loss are treated by hair transplants and medicines like minoxidil (Rogaine), finasteride (Propecia), microneedling, low-level laser therapy, orally, e.g., spironolactone (Carospir, Aldactone), and dutasteride (Avodart).
- Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT): LLLT devices use low-level lasers to stimulate hair follicles and promote hair growth.
- Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: This treatment involves injecting a concentration of platelets from the patient's own blood into the scalp to stimulate hair growth.
- Hair Transplant: For more severe cases of hair loss, hair transplant surgery can be considered to move hair follicles from one part of the scalp to another.
- Lifestyle Changes: Ensuring a healthy diet, managing stress, and avoiding harsh hair treatments can also help prevent hair loss.
All the medicine your doctor gives you after the investigation.