Know More About Hair Loss

It is part of normal hair growth cycle. We tend to lose hair every 2 or 3 months. However, when the hair loss goes beyond the normal limits, the thinning is noticeable. These include: Why does hair loss take place? The common manifestation is the appearance of one or more spots on the scalp. This is usually caused by a disorder of the immune system when the natural white cells attack hair follicles. Alopecia Totalis happens with complete loss of scalp hair. Alopecia Universalis is a rare condition when the entire body hair is lost.

Genetic conditions: Male pattern baldness afflicts about 25% of men by age 30. Not just genetic, the male hormone testosterone could also play a role. One of the functions of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is produced by the conversion of testosterone, causes impairment or stoppage of hair growth and produces short and weak hair. Men not possessing any testosterone would also not have male pattern baldness.

Skin diseases: hair loss and affectation of the scalp can also happen due to this. The specific skin diseases causing hair loss include dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, scalp fungus such as ringworm and tinea captis.

Sudden illness or fever: you can see large chunks of hair falling off after any serious illness or fever. This is however a temporary event.

Other causes of hair loss include: Childbirth, The Menopause, Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy and Age. Over and above these main reasons, there are other reasons too.

Successful hair loss treatments are available where you not only stop hair loss but re-grow your hair too. Some ways you could treat hair loss naturally are:

1. Vitamins A, B, C and E are hair promoters. Include them in the diet. There are several ways these vitamins work to promote hair growth: they provide sebum and promote blood circulation to the scalp by increasing oxygen absorption and collagen.

2. Importance of scalp care: Remember to massage your scalp regularly with herbal oils like olive oil, jojoba oil, amla oil. Essential oils of thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedar wood have also been known to be effective in conditions of alopecia areata.

3. Avoid scalp abuse: Stop daily use of harmful chemical shampoos and blow drying. Hair and scalp get damaged by chemical treatments such as coloring and straightening. Even washing your hair daily with hot water will cause it to get stripped of natural oils and make it dry and brittle.

4. Herbal care: Use herbal powders such as amla, shikakai, henna and ritha to shampoo and condition hair. It is also a powerful anti-oxidant. Shikakai also known as Fruit for the hair has a natural low pH and is great as a shampoo because it cleanses without removing natural hair oils. After this use henna as a natural conditioner.

5. Lifestyle changes: This involves doing some stress management by doing exercises and meditation, as stress causes hair loss. Forego Smoking: Because the nicotine from the cigarettes blocks the pathway which supplies blood to the scalp and results in reduced supply of blood. Avoid excessive sun exposure as UV rays can burn and damage the scalp.