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Losing hair is part of a regular cycle of growth and replacement. Many people are familiar with hair loss, but you may be losing hair and not know it. Hair loss is natural and usually temporary. Losing hair can also be caused by underlying medical conditions or treatments for these conditions. Hair loss or alopecia occurs when the body goes through a significantly stressful event such as surgery, cancer, menopause in women, anemia, stress, etc. This may result in hair thinning or hair fall. If this condition is temporary, you can expect that your hair would fall out after a couple of months. Still, if it continues for more than six months without any progress towards regrowth, then you should consult a doctor before taking any treatment measures. Appropriate medications are prescribed depending on the cause of the problem, either topical lotions or oral pills.
COMMON TYPES OF HAIR LOSS
There are several types of hair loss, with the most common ones including male pattern baldness, female pattern hair loss, and telogen effluvium. Male pattern baldness is referred to as ‘androgenic alopecia’ and occurs when a man’s body produces an excess of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT attacks the follicles which contain hair roots. Female pattern hair loss is due to sensitivity to the hormone called estrogen. Alopecia is also known as Telogen Effluvium, can cause by hormones in some cases. This condition results from stress or illness and usually affects women who have recently given birth or experienced significant physical trauma such as surgery, etc.
COMMON CAUSE OF HAIR FALL
It is pretty common to lose hair, but what causes hair to fall? A variety of factors causes hair loss few are:
Alopecia Areata: This condition affects roughly 2% of the population and can happen at any time in a person’s life. It develops when the immune system mistakenly attacks your hair follicles.
Endocrine Disorders: Endocrine disorders can cause excess levels of androgen causing hair loss.
Androgenic alopecia(male-female pattern baldness): It occurs when dihydrotestosterone reacts with genetically predisposed scalp pore openings or hormone receptors.
Telogen effluvium: This condition is caused by a rapid increase in hormones, such as stress. Just like hair falls out of your head naturally every day, if it is coming out too fast, you will lose more hair than usual.
Nutritional Deficiencies: Proper nutrition affects both the physical and emotional health of an individual. Nutritional deficiency can lead to hair loss because nutrients are essential for cell division and overall cell functioning.
Excessive DHT: If there is too much dihydrotestosterone (DHT) made in the body or if you have inherited genes that do not allow DHT to be adequately metabolized or eliminated from the body, then your scalp hair follicles could begin to shrink and eventually stop producing hair altogether.
Excessive Estrogen: Hormone imbalance is a primary cause of hair loss among women. Too much estrogen or too little progesterone can lead to hair loss and other more severe symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and headaches. Excess estrogen appears to suppress the body’s production of its supply of testosterone. Testosterone, in turn, affects the body’s ability to produce natural sex hormones and increases blood flow to the scalp for healthy hair growth.
WHAT ARE THE HAIR LOSS TREATMENT OPTIONS?
Many reasons can cause hair loss. It is essential to see your doctor if hair fall becomes excessive or if you have hair loss that is unexplained and prolonged. Hair loss can be temporary, permanent, patchy, or diffuse. Some types of hair loss occur only in women, while others only occur in men. The most common type of hair loss for both men and women is Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA), or pattern baldness. This type of hair loss usually begins as a receding hairline at the forehead and produces a thinning crown with gradual recession to produce an “M” shaped appearance over time. Your hair loss doctor can suggest medical tests to rule out certain medical conditions related to hair fall or hair loss. Suppose your hair fall is of sudden, acute onset and accompanied by fever, tenderness, or swelling over the scalp. In that case, you should consult a physician immediately as this may be due to circulatory disorders, infections of the skin or hair follicles, thyroid problems.
If you have been diagnosed with pattern baldness in men or female pattern hair loss in women, several treatment options can help prevent further hair fall and promote regrowth.
EXTERNAL TREATMENT FOR HAIR LOSS
Hair fall treatment is provided according to the stage of progression. If you are losing hair early on, and the hair loss is not severe, then you can prevent your hair fall from worsening or further worsening by using natural home remedies. However, if treatment was delayed until the late stages when it would be difficult to stop hair fall with home remedies, then medications that a doctor prescribes should be considered.
Hair follicle-stimulating shampoos and conditioners are available over the counter, which helps in the hair regrowth process by providing vitamins, proteins, and amino acids to improve hair fall. These shampoos have the main ingredient, minoxidil or finasteride, as active ingredients responsible for hair growth stimulation. Minoxidil is a vasodilator that enlarges blood vessels and provides oxygen to the scalp while finasteride blocks DHT production. Clinical trials proved these medications might work up to twelve months after stopping their use, but side effects such as increased itching can occur with a prolonged treatment period, so consulting your dermatologist is recommended.
Rogaine (topical minoxidil)
Rogaine is a well-known medication for hair loss treatment that comes in two forms, topical solution, and foam. Minoxidil works by widening the blood vessels that reach your scalp and deliver more oxygen to hair follicles. It also helps convert DHT into an inactive substance which slows down hair fall. The results are not permanent, but Rogaine can prevent further worsening of pattern baldness.
INTERNAL TREATMENT FOR HAIR FALL
If you have an active hair loss condition and are not taking any medications, your doctor may recommend prescription therapy with minoxidil or finasteride in combination to stop further hair fall and stimulate regrowth, but these treatments are not permanent solutions for pattern baldness treatment as they only temporarily stop further hair loss and promote regrowth.
Propecia (Finasteride)
A less known drug called finasteride is a pill that blocks the enzyme 5-alpha reductase at the root of the hair follicle, prevents DHT from forming on the male scalp, and slows down the further progression of hair loss condition by promoting regrowth if you are suffering from pattern baldness in men. Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine are the only FDA-approved drugs to treat pattern baldness (hair loss resulting from hereditary causes).
NON SURGICAL TREATMENT FOR HAIR LOSS
The best non-surgical options are those that help maintain existing hair on the scalp and slow down the further progression of hair loss condition by promoting regrowth if you are suffering from pattern baldness. Here is the list of such hair fall treatment options:
STEM CELL THERAPY FOR HAIR LOSS
Stem cell therapy is the latest treatment for hair loss. In this hair loss treatment method, a patient’s bone marrow cells are collected, the stem cells are isolated and then injected into bald areas on the scalp, which would stimulate new blood vessel growth to regrow hair. This process can take several months before any visible results; however, the success rates for this procedure vary from 30% to 60%.
PRP(PLASMA RICH PLATELET THERAPY)TREATMENT FOR HAIR LOSS
PRP treatment is a hair loss treatment in which your own blood is taken, then concentrated and injected into the scalp. The PRP (Plasma Rich Platelet) injection stimulates your body’s natural healing process by releasing substances that lead to the rejuvenation of damaged cells. It helps with hair growth and regrowth after injury or trauma. PRP treatment can be combined with stem cell therapy for better results. PRP treatment for hair loss is purely cosmetic and can be combined with other treatments to stop further hair fall. If you are suffering from hair loss and do not wish to take any medication, treatment, or surgery, you can opt for a non-invasive hair loss treatment such as Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections.
LASER TREATMENT FOR HAIR LOSS
Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is considered one of the most effective hair loss treatment methods to stimulate hair growth in men and women. LLLT stimulates the scalp through its light energy, which increases blood circulation, reduces inflammation, relieves stress, and promotes cell regeneration, making it an ideal treatment option for hair fall. The best time to apply non-surgical treatments is when you have active hair loss. Since PRP injections stimulate your body’s natural healing ability, combining PRP with Laser Treatment is a good combination for operational hair fall conditions.
WIGS AND TOUPEES FOR HAIR LOSS
If you have an advanced stage of pattern baldness or male-female pattern hair loss, wigs and hairpieces are the best options. Wigs and hairpieces are the commonest hair loss treatment that has been in practice for more than two centuries. A wig or a toupee is a human hair piece clipped onto your scalp and held there using special tapes, wefts, glue, clips, etc. A good wig or toupee should be made of genuine natural human hair, which is easy to wash and maintain. Synthetic wigs look much like real ones, but you never get the feel of real hair. Wearing a wig can give that instant boost every day when you step out of the house. Some of the wigs available in the market are curly, straight, and even pre-styled for convenience. You can also choose a full wig, or a partial one depends upon how much hair you need to cover up.
HAIR TRANSPLANT SURGERY FOR HAIR LOSS
Hair restoration surgery is the surgical procedure that takes donor hair from non-bald areas on the back of the head and implants it at the front or crown area where there is no hair growth. Procedures like Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT), Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), and Robotic Hair Transplant Surgery for hair transplant are the three main hair transplant methods that restore your scalp to a full head of hair. FUE hair transplant, Robot Hair Transplant Surgery, and micrografting are the less invasive surgical hair restoration procedures that require small incisions to extract individual follicles. These procedures have better results than FUT and help maintain the original color of the scalp.
SCALP MICRO PIGMENTATION FOR HAIR LOSS
It is also known as Medical Hairline Tattoo (MHT); it is the ideal way to enhance your hairline or restore the appearance of hair without surgery. It is a good option for people with less hair loss or magnificent hair and who want to look youthful. It works by using natural skin pigmentation to create realistic-looking hairline, eyebrows, beard, sideburns, etc. The treatment can be done in two ways and manual procedures are more time-consuming but precise, whereas machine-assisted methods give faster results.
HOMEOPATHY AS HAIR FALL TREATMENT
Homeopathy is also an effective treatment for hair loss in men and women. Homeopathic treatments are safe to use when combined with medications or other alternative treatments, however, if you are using this treatment as a stand-alone option, it may take time to show results, and at times, the effect can be milder. Various homeopathic medicines aid hair growth naturally and help reduce hair fall without any side effects.
TIPS TO PREVENT HAIR LOSS
The earlier you take action, the better your results will be. The first thing you need to do is avoid hair-pulling or hair breakage, as it can result in permanent hair loss. Follicle damage and breakage are one of the main reasons for hair loss. The second way is to keep your hair hydrated by using a mild shampoo on damp hair, not directly on irritated skin areas like dandruff and scalp infections, as they can further dry the hair. Homeopathic treatment at Dr Batras clinic also helps to prevent hair fall. Enlisted here are some tips which can help you to prevent hair loss:
1) Use natural remedies like fenugreek, amla juice, shikakai, etc.
2) Quit smoking and drinking alcohol as they cause dryness of your scalp tissues
3) Protect your scalp from sun exposure by using good sunscreen on your hair
4) Use deep conditioning treatments for hair every alternate day.
5) Use a natural hair colour instead of using chemical-based dyes and pigments.
6) Apply the egg yolk to the scalp and leave it overnight before washing the hair. If you don’t like the smell, then apply some olive oil to your hair and scalp. Egg contains Phospholipids that are great for boosting cell regeneration in your skin cells and scalp tissues. It also contains sulfur which helps reduce DHT levels in men and estrogen levels in women.
7) Massage your scalp with almond oil and tea tree or peppermint oil
8 ) Add the lightening agent Amla in shampoo and apply it to hair. It is also known as Indian gooseberry, which contains enzymes that help reduce inflammation on the scalp, prevent early graying of hair, purify hair follicles, etc.
9) Drink lots of water every day
10) Avoid any stress
How to deal with hair loss or hair fall
While hair loss is not itself dangerous, but people suffering from hair loss get upset. Here are some ways to deal with hair loss :
1) Catch the breakage as soon as possible by avoiding harsh hairbrushes, pulling of hair, etc. Get your hair trimmed and styled to avoid any further damage. Here’s how you can maintain healthy hair at home without spending a lot of money.
2) Using shampoos and conditioners for dry skin is another great way to deal with the loss of moisture from the scalp due to damage and pollution caused by smoke and UV exposure.
3) Use natural ingredients like avocado or coconut oil to condition hair.
4) Women can make use of henna treatment as an alternative for chemical-based hair colors. It darkens the color and makes hair stronger and thick that helping prevent damage or breakage.
5) Try using aloe vera juice on hair as a conditioner for reducing dandruff, dryness, and split ends caused by harmful UV rays from the sun.
Visit a homeopathy doctor at Dr Batras if you see excessive hair fall, hair thinning or balding on your head. Suppose you are using any medication treatment for a particular disease. In that case, it’s better to consult with a hair loss specialist and also suggest which medicine is good for preventing hair fall and how much time you need to use the medication as overusing can cause more harm than good. Please address your hair loss or hair fall issues early. You can book an appointment with OHO Homeopathy by clicking here.