Our normal cycle of hair growth involves daily loss of hair. Expect to lose hair from the 10% which is in a resting phase. Hair loss tends to get noticed when the loss is beyond the usual limit. Reasons for this are many including: Hair loss can be due to several factors including: There are more than one reason for hair loss. Alopecia areata: This is typically present with one or more identifiable 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 is another reason for hair loss where all the scalp hair has fallen. This is an uncommon condition.
Hereditary factors: This can affect 25% of men by the time they are 30 years of age. It is primarily genetic but is also due to the male hormone testosterone. Unhealthy hair is produced or hair production is stopped by Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) generated by the conversion of testosterone. Men not possessing any testosterone would also not have male pattern baldness.
Skin diseases: yet another cause for hair loss which affect the scalp. Such conditions include dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, scalp fungus such as ringworm and tinea captis.
Sudden illness or fever: big chunks of hair sometimes fall out after an illness or fever. This is however a temporary event.
Childbirth, menopause, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and aging are some of the other factors which could be behind hair loss. Though these are the primary reasons for hair loss, there could be several others also.
With the right hair loss treatment, you can stop hair loss as well as promote re-growth. Some ways you could treat hair loss naturally are:
1. One way is to include vitamins A, B, C and E in your diet. This promotes hair growth. 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. If you want to treat conditions of alopecia areata, try some essential oils like that of thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedar wood.
3. Avoid scalp abuse – Avoid daily use of chemical shampoos and blow drying. Your hair and scalp stand to get damaged if you use harsh chemical processes like coloring as well as straightening. Even a daily hair wash with hot water can damage hair as well as the scalp with the drying up of natural oils and hair breaking easily.
4. Herbal therapy: Powders of amla, shikakai, henna and ritha as shampoo and conditioner can be effective therapy options. Prevention of graying and hair loss could be achieved if you use amla powder, an effective anti-oxidant and one of the richest sources of natural vitamin C. This makes it a great shampoo which thoroughly cleanses the hair without depleting it of its natural oils. Henna is a wonder natural conditioner after this.
5. Lead a stress free life: To do this, do exercises and meditation. Remember stress initiates hair loss. Give up Smoking: Smoking causes constriction of the blood vessel which supply blood to the scalp. Avoid sun exposure since the UV rays could damage the scalp.