Hair specialist (examining person's head). "Well, I am sorry, Mr. Rao, but your baldness has gone too far. I am afraid the only cure is a transplant. "Don't be daft man, I'd look bloody stupid with a kidney on my head."
Hair loss is one of the common problems among all of us. All hairs are shed at the end of their growth cycle, so some degree of hair loss is normal. If you have excessive hair loss, it makes sense to first understand the possible causes. There are many possible causes of hair loss, however most hair loss is normal, and part of each person's genetic program.
The most common type of hair loss is related to both genetic and hormonal make up, and is called androgen-dependent hair loss. About 50% of children with a balding parent of either sex will themselves become bald over a period of time.
Commonly used name for this type of hair loss is male or female pattern baldness:-
Male pattern baldness: Is characterized by a receding hairline, and moderate to extensive loss of hair, especially on the crown area.
Female pattern baldness: causes an overall thinning of hair on the head, and a moderate loss of hair on the crown or at the hairline.
Hair Loss-Couses
One of the primary cause of hair loss is a high amount of the male hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) within the hair follicle. DHT is produced from testosterone in the prostate, various adrenal glands, and the scalp. After a period of time, an over abundance of DHT causes the hair follicle to degrade and shortens the active phase of the hair.
Another factor that has been linked to hair loss is the amount of sebum in the scalp. Sebum contains a high amount of DHT, and clogs pores in the scalp, both of which cause the malnutrition of the hair root. The amount of sebum in balding hair is related to the amount of oil in the hair. Meanwhile most doctors agree that frequent shampooing is advised in hair loss cases with oily scalps.
The most important cause of hair loss is inadequate nutrition. Even a partial lack of almost any nutrient may cause hair to fall. But hair grows normally after a liberal intake of these vitamins. A high protein and and an iron rich diet is recommended for hair loss. An adequate intake of raw vegetables, fresh fruits, salads, green leafy vegetables should be included in the diet on a regular basis.
Another important cause of falling hair is stress, such as worry, anxiety and sudden shock. Stress leads to a severe tension in the skin of the scalp. This adversely affects the supply of essential nutrition required for the healthy growth of hair.
General debility, caused by severe or long standing illnesses like typhoid, syphilis, chronic cold, influenza and anaemia, also gives rise to hair disorders. It makes the roots of the hair weak, resulting in falling of hair. An unclean condition of the scalp can also cause loss of hair. This weakens the hair roots by blocking the pores with the collected dirt. Heredity is another predisposing factor which may cause hair to fall.
How can Hair Loss be Treated
The healthy condition of the hair depends, to a very large extent, on the intake of sufficient amounts of essential nutrients in the daily diet. Hair is made of keratin, a protein, which also makes up the nails and the outer layer of our skin.
A WELL BALANCED DIET:
Women require 60 grams, men 80 to 90 grams, adolescent boys and girls 80 to 100 grams of protein. It is supplied by milk, buttermilk, yogurt, soyabean, eggs, cheese, meat and fish. A deficiency of some of the B vitamins, of iron, copper and iodine may cause hair disorders like falling of hair and premature greying of hair.
Persons with a tendency to lose their hair should thus take a well balanced diet . An adequate quantity of vegetables seeds, nuts green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, egg and milk should be included in their diet regularly.
HAIR CARE GUIDE
SURGICAL HAIR RESTORATION:
There are many surgical procedures which will help to restore the hair from falling. Surgical restoration is the only permanent solution to baldness. It involves a series of operations that extract plugs of scalp from the sides and back of your head, where hair grows densely, and implant them on top and in front, where you are going bald.
SCALP REDUCTION:
Scalp reduction is performed on patients with well-defined bald spots in the crown area of the scalp. It is sometimes done in conjunction with hair transplantaion to reduce the size of the bald scalp, especially in patients who do not have enough donor hair to cover the bald areas.
TISSUE EXPANSION:
Silicon bags are inserted beneath an area of hairy scalp and gradually inflated with saline water over a six-week period. This causes the hair-bearing skin to stretch, thus increasing the amount of hair-bearing scalp. After removing the bags, expanded hair bearing skin is lifted and moved to an adjacent bald area where a similar sized patch of scalp has been excised.
Lern more about Hair Loss
HOME REMEDIES
Several home remedies have been found useful in the prevention and treatment of hair loss.
The most effective among these remedies is a vigorous rubbing of the scalp with the fingers, after washing the hair with cold water. The scalp should be rubbed vigorously till it starts to tingle with heat. This will activate the sebaceous glands and energise the circulation of blood in the affected area, making hair growth healthy.
Mustard oil, boiled with henna leaves, is useful in promoting healthy growth of hair. About 250 grams of mustard oil should be boiled in a tin basin. A little quantity of henna leaves should be gradually put in this oil till about 60 grams of these leaves are thus burnt in the oil. The oil should then be filtered through a cloth and stored in a bottle. Regular massage of the head with this oil will produce abundant hair.
Daily application of refined coconut oil mixed with lime water and lime juice on the hair, prevents loss of hair and lengthens it. Application of the juice of green coriander leaves on the head is also considered beneficial.
Another effective home remedy for loss of hair is the application of coconut milk all over the scalp and massaging it into the hair roots. It will nourish the hair and promote hair growth. Coconut milk is prepared by grinding the coconut shavings and squeezing them well.
Amla oil, prepared by boiling dry amla pieces in coconut oil, is considered a valuable hair tonic for enriching hair growth. A mixture of equal quantities of fresh amla juice and lime juice used as a shampoo stimulates hair growth and prevents hair loss.
Regular use of castor oil as a hair oil helps the luxuriant growth of the hair.
Washing the hair with a paste of cooked black gram dhal, (urad dhal) and fenugreek (methi) lengthens the hair. A fine paste made from pigeon pea or red gram (arhar dhal) can also be applied regularly on bald patches, with beneficial results.
Certain home remedies have also been found useful in case of patchy loss of hair. The seeds of lime and black pepper seeds, ground to a fine paste, is one of the valuable remedies. This paste applied on the patches, has a mildly irritant action. This increases blood circulation to the affected area and stimulates hair growth. The paste should be applied twice a day for a few weeks.
These home remedies will be definitely effective and useful for preventing hair loss.
What Causes Hair Loss
The cause of hair loss may vary from a local condition affecting the scalp to an ailment affecting the whole body.
The common causes of hair loss are listed below:
Androgenetic Alopecia: Androgenetic alopecia is the male-pattern baldness that runs in families. The hair is lost in an M-shaped pattern, with loss at the crown and temples and sparing of the sides and back of the head. Such alopecia may also be seen in women with loss of hair in the front and central part of the head. Women with this type of baldness may show excess androgen levels and should be evaluated for other conditions like hirsutism, polycystic ovarian syndrome, acne and infertility.
Telogen Effluvium: Telogen effluvium is a condition where the normal balance between the resting and growth phases of hair is disrupted, resulting in a predominant telogen phase. Thus, it leads to excessive shedding of hair and a decrease in the total number of hair. Some of the conditions that can result in telogen effluvium are:
Physiological stress like surgery, severe illness, emotional crisis or pregnancy.
Medical condition: Medical conditions that can cause hair loss include:
Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
Systemic amyloidosis
Liver or kidney failure
Inflammatory bowel disease
Lymphoproliferative disorders
Autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis
Chronic infections like HIV and secondary syphilis
Inflammatory disorders like psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis
Nutritional factors: Nutritional factors that can cause hair loss include:
Zinc deficiency
Iron deficiency
Severe decrease in protein, fatty acid and calorie intake due to starvation or dieting
Malabsorption syndromes and pancreatic disease
Vitamin D deficiency
Medications: Medications that can cause telogen effluvium are oral contraceptives, androgens, retinoids, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and anticoagulants.
The event may have occurred up to 3 months before the hair loss incident. Treatment of the underlying condition usually results in resolution of the hair loss. Thus, telogen effluvium is a sign of an underlying condition and not a disease by itself.
Alopecia Areata: Alopecia areata is a condition where the patient suffers from a localized hair loss. When the hair loss extends to the whole scalp, the condition is called alopecia totalis. If it is accompanied by hair loss over the entire body, it is called alopecia universalis. The hairs over the affected area resemble exclamation points, that is, the hair is thinned out but the caliber of the hair at the base remains the same. It may be associated with autoimmune conditions. Most patients recover without treatment in 6 to 12 months. Recurrence occurs in 30% cases. Prognosis is worse if the condition lasts for more than a year, if it worsens, begins before puberty, is present in other members of the family or in patients of Down’s syndrome.
Anagen Effluvium: Loss of hair in the anagen phase occurs due to chemotherapy, radiotherapy (radiotherapy can also cause telogen effluvium), heavy metal poisoning and boric acid poisoning. Hair loss usually appears 1 to 2 weeks following the trigger and is noticeable by 1 to 2 months. Alopecia areata also results in loss of hair of the anagen phase.
Trichotillomania: Trichotillomania is a psychiatric condition where the patient plucks out his or her own hair. It may develop between 8 to 12 years of age. The hair loss appears bizarre, with incomplete areas of clearing. In some cases, the patient may also eat up the plucked hair resulting in obstruction in the intestines.
Traction alopecia: Traction alopecia is a condition where the person suffers from hair loss due to tight tying of hair in ponytails or plaits. A change in hair style is necessary to prevent further hair loss in these patients.
Tinea capitis: Tinea capitis is ringworm infection of the scalp. It is a type of fungal infection where there may be a boggy lesion on the scalp over which the hair are increasingly fragile and breaks easily.
Cicatricial alopecia: Cicatricial alopecia is a condition where the hair follicles are permanently destroyed, resulting in permanent hair loss. It could be caused by a number of conditions like inflammation, autoimmune conditions like discoid lupus and infections like cellulitis.
Hair loss is one of the common problems among all of us. All hairs are shed at the end of their growth cycle, so some degree of hair loss is normal. If you have excessive hair loss, it makes sense to first understand the possible causes. There are many possible causes of hair loss, however most hair loss is normal, and part of each person's genetic program.
The most common type of hair loss is related to both genetic and hormonal make up, and is called androgen-dependent hair loss. About 50% of children with a balding parent of either sex will themselves become bald over a period of time.
Commonly used name for this type of hair loss is male or female pattern baldness:-
Male pattern baldness: Is characterized by a receding hairline, and moderate to extensive loss of hair, especially on the crown area.
Female pattern baldness: causes an overall thinning of hair on the head, and a moderate loss of hair on the crown or at the hairline.
Another factor that has been linked to hair loss is the amount of sebum in the scalp. Sebum contains a high amount of DHT, and clogs pores in the scalp, both of which cause the malnutrition of the hair root. The amount of sebum in balding hair is related to the amount of oil in the hair. Meanwhile most doctors agree that frequent shampooing is advised in hair loss cases with oily scalps.
The most important cause of hair loss is inadequate nutrition. Even a partial lack of almost any nutrient may cause hair to fall. But hair grows normally after a liberal intake of these vitamins. A high protein and and an iron rich diet is recommended for hair loss. An adequate intake of raw vegetables, fresh fruits, salads, green leafy vegetables should be included in the diet on a regular basis.
Another important cause of falling hair is stress, such as worry, anxiety and sudden shock. Stress leads to a severe tension in the skin of the scalp. This adversely affects the supply of essential nutrition required for the healthy growth of hair.
General debility, caused by severe or long standing illnesses like typhoid, syphilis, chronic cold, influenza and anaemia, also gives rise to hair disorders. It makes the roots of the hair weak, resulting in falling of hair. An unclean condition of the scalp can also cause loss of hair. This weakens the hair roots by blocking the pores with the collected dirt. Heredity is another predisposing factor which may cause hair to fall.
A WELL BALANCED DIET:
Women require 60 grams, men 80 to 90 grams, adolescent boys and girls 80 to 100 grams of protein. It is supplied by milk, buttermilk, yogurt, soyabean, eggs, cheese, meat and fish. A deficiency of some of the B vitamins, of iron, copper and iodine may cause hair disorders like falling of hair and premature greying of hair.
Persons with a tendency to lose their hair should thus take a well balanced diet . An adequate quantity of vegetables seeds, nuts green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, egg and milk should be included in their diet regularly.
HAIR CARE GUIDE
SURGICAL HAIR RESTORATION:
There are many surgical procedures which will help to restore the hair from falling. Surgical restoration is the only permanent solution to baldness. It involves a series of operations that extract plugs of scalp from the sides and back of your head, where hair grows densely, and implant them on top and in front, where you are going bald.
SCALP REDUCTION:
Scalp reduction is performed on patients with well-defined bald spots in the crown area of the scalp. It is sometimes done in conjunction with hair transplantaion to reduce the size of the bald scalp, especially in patients who do not have enough donor hair to cover the bald areas.
TISSUE EXPANSION:
Silicon bags are inserted beneath an area of hairy scalp and gradually inflated with saline water over a six-week period. This causes the hair-bearing skin to stretch, thus increasing the amount of hair-bearing scalp. After removing the bags, expanded hair bearing skin is lifted and moved to an adjacent bald area where a similar sized patch of scalp has been excised.
Several home remedies have been found useful in the prevention and treatment of hair loss.
The most effective among these remedies is a vigorous rubbing of the scalp with the fingers, after washing the hair with cold water. The scalp should be rubbed vigorously till it starts to tingle with heat. This will activate the sebaceous glands and energise the circulation of blood in the affected area, making hair growth healthy.
Mustard oil, boiled with henna leaves, is useful in promoting healthy growth of hair. About 250 grams of mustard oil should be boiled in a tin basin. A little quantity of henna leaves should be gradually put in this oil till about 60 grams of these leaves are thus burnt in the oil. The oil should then be filtered through a cloth and stored in a bottle. Regular massage of the head with this oil will produce abundant hair.
Daily application of refined coconut oil mixed with lime water and lime juice on the hair, prevents loss of hair and lengthens it. Application of the juice of green coriander leaves on the head is also considered beneficial.
Another effective home remedy for loss of hair is the application of coconut milk all over the scalp and massaging it into the hair roots. It will nourish the hair and promote hair growth. Coconut milk is prepared by grinding the coconut shavings and squeezing them well.
Amla oil, prepared by boiling dry amla pieces in coconut oil, is considered a valuable hair tonic for enriching hair growth. A mixture of equal quantities of fresh amla juice and lime juice used as a shampoo stimulates hair growth and prevents hair loss.
Regular use of castor oil as a hair oil helps the luxuriant growth of the hair.
Washing the hair with a paste of cooked black gram dhal, (urad dhal) and fenugreek (methi) lengthens the hair. A fine paste made from pigeon pea or red gram (arhar dhal) can also be applied regularly on bald patches, with beneficial results.
Certain home remedies have also been found useful in case of patchy loss of hair. The seeds of lime and black pepper seeds, ground to a fine paste, is one of the valuable remedies. This paste applied on the patches, has a mildly irritant action. This increases blood circulation to the affected area and stimulates hair growth. The paste should be applied twice a day for a few weeks.
These home remedies will be definitely effective and useful for preventing hair loss.
The cause of hair loss may vary from a local condition affecting the scalp to an ailment affecting the whole body.
The common causes of hair loss are listed below:
Androgenetic Alopecia: Androgenetic alopecia is the male-pattern baldness that runs in families. The hair is lost in an M-shaped pattern, with loss at the crown and temples and sparing of the sides and back of the head. Such alopecia may also be seen in women with loss of hair in the front and central part of the head. Women with this type of baldness may show excess androgen levels and should be evaluated for other conditions like hirsutism, polycystic ovarian syndrome, acne and infertility.
Telogen Effluvium: Telogen effluvium is a condition where the normal balance between the resting and growth phases of hair is disrupted, resulting in a predominant telogen phase. Thus, it leads to excessive shedding of hair and a decrease in the total number of hair. Some of the conditions that can result in telogen effluvium are:
Physiological stress like surgery, severe illness, emotional crisis or pregnancy. Medical condition: Medical conditions that can cause hair loss include: Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism Systemic amyloidosis Liver or kidney failure Inflammatory bowel disease Lymphoproliferative disorders Autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis Chronic infections like HIV and secondary syphilis Inflammatory disorders like psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis Nutritional factors: Nutritional factors that can cause hair loss include: Zinc deficiency Iron deficiency Severe decrease in protein, fatty acid and calorie intake due to starvation or dieting Malabsorption syndromes and pancreatic disease Vitamin D deficiency Medications: Medications that can cause telogen effluvium are oral contraceptives, androgens, retinoids, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and anticoagulants.The event may have occurred up to 3 months before the hair loss incident. Treatment of the underlying condition usually results in resolution of the hair loss. Thus, telogen effluvium is a sign of an underlying condition and not a disease by itself.
Alopecia Areata: Alopecia areata is a condition where the patient suffers from a localized hair loss. When the hair loss extends to the whole scalp, the condition is called alopecia totalis. If it is accompanied by hair loss over the entire body, it is called alopecia universalis. The hairs over the affected area resemble exclamation points, that is, the hair is thinned out but the caliber of the hair at the base remains the same. It may be associated with autoimmune conditions. Most patients recover without treatment in 6 to 12 months. Recurrence occurs in 30% cases. Prognosis is worse if the condition lasts for more than a year, if it worsens, begins before puberty, is present in other members of the family or in patients of Down’s syndrome.
Anagen Effluvium: Loss of hair in the anagen phase occurs due to chemotherapy, radiotherapy (radiotherapy can also cause telogen effluvium), heavy metal poisoning and boric acid poisoning. Hair loss usually appears 1 to 2 weeks following the trigger and is noticeable by 1 to 2 months. Alopecia areata also results in loss of hair of the anagen phase.
Trichotillomania: Trichotillomania is a psychiatric condition where the patient plucks out his or her own hair. It may develop between 8 to 12 years of age. The hair loss appears bizarre, with incomplete areas of clearing. In some cases, the patient may also eat up the plucked hair resulting in obstruction in the intestines.
Traction alopecia: Traction alopecia is a condition where the person suffers from hair loss due to tight tying of hair in ponytails or plaits. A change in hair style is necessary to prevent further hair loss in these patients.
Tinea capitis: Tinea capitis is ringworm infection of the scalp. It is a type of fungal infection where there may be a boggy lesion on the scalp over which the hair are increasingly fragile and breaks easily.
Cicatricial alopecia: Cicatricial alopecia is a condition where the hair follicles are permanently destroyed, resulting in permanent hair loss. It could be caused by a number of conditions like inflammation, autoimmune conditions like discoid lupus and infections like cellulitis.
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