Hair loss is a common problem that everyone faces. Although shedding of a dozen hair strands is normal, excessive amounts of hair shedding could be a sign of an underlying condition. This may lead to alopecia areata (hair loss).
Causes of hair loss
There are many factors that cause hair loss.
- Hormonal imbalance
When there is an imbalance in the level of certain sex hormones in men and women and also the thyroid hormone, it leads to hair loss. Women in particular, due to hormonal imbalances, lose a lot of hair before and around menopause. - Heredity
When there is a family history of baldness or alopecia areata, it is genetically transferred to the offspring. Many people experience hereditary hair loss, which is common. - Stress
Stress is one of the major factors of hair loss. Stress and hair loss seem to be interrelated. When in stress, the hair follicles go through the telogen phase (resting phase before falling out) instead of the growth phase and begin to fall out. - Medications
Sometimes, hair falls out in response to certain medications taken for other comorbid conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and other inflammatory disorders. - Hair Treatments
Hair treatment like blowouts, hair straightening, curling, and perming in excess leads to severe hair loss. One needs to subject their hair to lesser treatments and try to go natural as much as possible.
Types of hair loss
- Male or female pattern alopecia or baldness
Both men and women lose hair that can lead to baldness owing to many factors such as hormonal imbalances, hereditary factors, and intake of medications for certain conditions. - Telogen effluvium
This is a condition where the hair follicles are transitioned directly to the telogen phase, the resting phase, before it falls. This is a scalp disorder and can be temporary. - Alopecia areata
This is a condition where hair falls out in patches and results in permanent hair loss. It is an autoimmune condition where the hair follicles are recognized as foreign bodies by the immune system. As a result, it affects hair growth. - Scalp disorders
Increased dandruff that is untreated could contribute to hair loss along with scalp infections characterized by itching and flakiness. Sometimes, scalp scarring could occur due to infections and can weaken the hair follicles, retarding hair growth and causing hair strands to fall out.
Medications
Minoxidil or ROGAINE® is a widely used medication that is used to treat hair loss. It is known to induce the anagen phase, the growth phase, prematurely and helps the hair follicles.
Prevention
- Choose natural hair care products.
- Avoid hair treatments and coloring. In case the hair undergoes treatment, considerable time should be given for the hair to regenerate before the next treatment.
- One should use a mild shampoo and mix it with a little water instead of directly applying it on the scalp.
- Must use a proper hairbrush and keep the scalp clean, free from infection.
- Any scalp disorder should be looked at immediately by a professional to prevent excessive hair loss.
- One should take care of their diet. A healthy, well-balanced diet, particularly rich in biotin helps in hair loss. This includes yogurt, eggs, milk, and other dairy products.
