What type of hair loss do you have?

The average scalp contains about 100,000 to 150,000 hair. The normal hair life cycle lasts for 2 to 3 years. At any given point of time, about 90% of the hair on your scalp is growing and about 10% of the hair is in a resting phase. After 2-3 months, the resting hair is shed and new hair starts to grow in its place. It is normal to shed some hair every day. You lose roughly 100 hair strands every day. But, some people may experience more than normal hair loss. Partial or complete loss of hair is called alopecia.

If your hair loss is distinctly noticeable. you need to find out what kind of hair loss you are suffering from. The various different kinds of hair losses are:

Natural hair loss

The rate of hair growth slows as you age. Both men and women tend to lose hair thickness and amount as they age. If you notice gradual thinning of hair with age, then you have Involutional alopecia. More and more of your hair follicles go into a telogen (resting) phase. The remaining hair becomes shorter and fewer in number.

Temporary hair Loss

You may experience temporary hair loss over the scalp weeks to months after a stress episode like child birth, fever, severe illness, stress and sudden weight loss. The hair shedding will decrease after few months. Such type of hair loss is called Telogen effluvium. This happens due to changes in the growth cycle of hair. A large numbers of hairs are in the resting phase (telogen) at the same time. After 2-3 months, there is massive shedding and subsequent thinning.

 Male or female pattern baldness

If you are a male with a receding hairline and gradual disappearance of hair from the crown, you may be suffering from Androgenic alopecia referred to as male pattern baldness. In this condition, you may experience hair loss as early as in your teens or early 20s. Men with androgenic alopecia may notice hair loss at the top of the scalp and a receding hairline particularly along the temples. The typical pattern begins at the hairline which then gradually moves backward and forms an ‘M’ shape. Finally the hair becomes finer, shorter, and thinner, and creates a U-shaped pattern of hair around the sides of the head. Miniaturization is the progressive decrease of the hair shaft’s diameter and length in response to hormones causing thinning of hair. It is characteristic of androgenic alopecia. Hair follicles that are producing healthy hair begin to produce thinner (decreased in diameter), shorter, more brittle hair with weaker shafts. It is a genetically predisposed condition that can affect both men and women. If you are a woman with general hair thinning over the entire scalp and most extensive hair loss at the crown with front hairline intact, you may be suffering from androgenic alopecia referred to as female pattern baldness. The central hair part may become wider with time. As hair thinning occurs, the scalp becomes progressively more visible. The hair loss rarely progresses to total or near total baldness. You may notice hair thinning in your 20s but you are not very likely to experience noticeable thinning until your 40s or later because the pace of hair loss tends to be gradual.

Patchy hair loss

If you are a child or young adult with one to two totally smooth, round patches of hair loss, mostly on the scalp, you may be sufferinf from Alopecia areata. The hair loss may also be seen in the eyebrows, and arms, legs or beard. It is often sudden in onset. The hair usually grows back in 6 months to 1 year in one area but will fall out in another area. In some people the hair may become thinner without any patches of baldness. In some, it may grow and break off, leaving short stubs which resemble exclamation point. Alopecia areata is generally considered an autoimmune condition, in which the body attacks its own hair follicles. In alopecia totalis, an extensive form, the entire scalp goes bald. If you have complete loss of scalp hair and body hair, you have alopecia universalis. It is the most severe form of alopecia areata and can occur at any age. For severe forms, treatment includes injecting small amounts of steroids like triamcinolone into affected patches to stimulate hair growth. Other treatments such as oral steroids, immunosuppressives, Contact immunotherapy or Psoralen with Ultraviolet A Light (PUVA) therapy are available.

Tinea capitis or ringworm of the scalp

It’s fungal infection of the scalp which usually affects school-age children and goes away at puberty. It’s rare in healthy adults. It involves only parts or whole of the scalp. Hair breaks off at areas that are infected causing bald scalp with small black dots. The skin has inflamed (red swollen) round, scaly areas and pus-filled sores called kerions. You may have a low-grade fever or swollen lymph nodes in the neck. The scalp is itchy. It is contagious from sharing combs and hats.Once the infection is cured, the hair grows back. Griseofulvin, terbinafine or itraconazole are used for 4 – 8 weeks to treat ringworm in the scalp

Traction alopecia

This is a type of hair loss caused by force applied to the hair because of particular hairstyles. You may notice small, localized hair loss in certain areas caused by persistent pulling or force on hair roots. Tight braids and ponytails can pull hard enough on hair to make them fall out.

Hair pulling disorder

Some people have the habit of voluntarily twisting or pulling their own hair often the scalp and eyelashes. This is referred to as Trichotillomania. It is a psychological disorder seen most frequently in children. Hair patches in trichotillomania show broken-off hair.

Controlling hairfall is a few meals away

Tired of sweeping countless strands of hair on the floor? Or are you losing sleep over a receding hairline? Then it’s probably time to get up and take control of your hairfall. A normal individual loses about 70-100 strands of hair daily which are replaced by new strands. But in case of severe
hairfall, the quantity of hair lost each day increases with or without a reduced rate of newer hair growth.

Hair loss is a concern for both men and women, but more visible in men. About 50 per cent men complain of thinning of hair along with a receding hairline by the age of 45 or more.  In case of women, the complaints of thinning of hair or severe hairfall start around the age of 50 or post-menopause.

Why do we lose hair?
The most common reason for hair loss is the male hormone testosterone, which is also found in women. Increased consumption of medication could also cause hairfall. Hormonal changes in women during periods of pregnancy, lactation, menopause or thyroid disease are also responsible for increased hair loss. Inadequate intake of protein, low levels of iron and zinc or a deficiency of essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6) results in increased hairloss.

Dealing with hair loss
It is important to provide every follicle the nutrition it needs. Substantial intake of quality protein via non-vegetarian or vegetarian sources is a must. You can opt for soyabean and soy products, pulses, lentils, milk, curd and nuts. Iron can also be obtained from other sources like green leafy vegetables, gardencress seeds, dates, raisins, eggs etc.

Nuts and seeds are good sources of magnesium and zinc, that promote hair nourishment. Fish, flaxseed, flaxseed oil, walnuts, mustard seeds and soyabean are also good sources of essential fatty acids that promote hair nourishment.

The health of your hair depends on the circulation to the scalp and the nutrients in your blood. Regular exercise will stimulate circulation. Coriander juice with mint and curry leaf juice helps provide beneficial nutrients.

Foods high in sugar content, caffeine, alcohol can increase hairfall due to the production of cortisols and stress hormones. Research also proves that smoking leads to faster graying of hair. Topical application of almond oil, castor oil or olive oil on the scalp has shown to be beneficial. Herbs like tulsi, brahmi, amla, rosemary, sage and triphala improve the health of the scalp and reduce hair loss.

One should also take care while washing hair. Don’t over dry your hair as it becomes brittle. Use mild shampoos and conditioners. Using hot water for washing, irons and hot blowdryers can also damage hair. Be gentle while brushing and combing your hair.

Hairfall is a manifestation of the body’s health status. Prolonged hairfall should not be ignored, diet should be modified and medical help should be sought before the problem gets out of hand.

Proven Hair Loss Treatment Options

No one wishes to have hair loss problems. But, we both understand that this is often the case. Sometimes hair loss starts as early as age Twenty.

The great news is that there are several hair loss products for guys that are are proven to be very effective. Yet this is the scoop. . . .they aren’t sold in the stores and you will never see their advertisement on TV.

I am referring to the natural hair loss products that all men should use. If perhaps you have not heard just how effective these procedures are, allow me to enlighten you. In terms of stopping hairloss, there’s one main thing you must do as a man.

Manage DHT within your body and you are likely to grow back your hair. It’s just that simple. One way to achieve this is by making use saw palmetto extract. This herb is not expensive and it may be bought in any shop.

The extract prevents the DHT from achieving your hair follicle cells and killing them slowly and gradually. This is why so many men have a receding hairline that is growing to be more and more serious with time.

You definitely want to obtain control of DHT to be able to keep your hair. A number of people will tell you that balding is obviously a genetic thing, but research verifies that this is not correct. There are numerous causes impacting on whether an individual loses their hair or not.

A few of these causes are insufficient nutrients in the human body, reduced blood flow in the hair scalp, emotional stress, and many additional factors.

There really isn’t a motive to invest in hair loss treatments which are sold in supermarkets or even on morning shows when you know of the different natural home remedies that exist.

PS. Hair loss treatments are not dangerous, still it is recommended to to visit a doctor before making use of them.