Hair Fall

Hair fall: Its causes, diagnosis and natural treatment

Hair fall is a growing matter of concern among young men and women. Baldness or losing up scalp hair is not a life threatening problem, but one could face a lot of humiliation or distress sometimes. It is very normal to lose some strands of hair every day. This is a very common problem among both males and females. It is perfectly normal to lose some strands daily. Normally those fallen hair are replaced by new baby hairs, and it all goes unnoticed.

But problem arrives when the loss of hair is noticeable. If there is a hair loss that is more than usual, it can easily be noticed from the bathroom floor, to comb and even on the pillows. This situation is not just alarming but can cause psychological stress too.

This condition is also known as Alopecia if said in medical terms.

Actually, Alopecia is a disease that causes spot baldness and hair loss, in a certain area. This condition is common in older adults and rarely seen in children. But if there is massive hair fall, it simply means that you need to consult a dermatologist.

What are the root causes of having hair fall ?

There are many underlying causes of hair fall and baldness. And before treating the problem of hair loss, it is important to figure out the cause of hair fall in an individual.

The reasons behind facing vigorous hair fall is,

1. Hereditary – if there is a family history of baldness and massive hair fall, the chances of baldness may occur in a person.

Other causes include,

2. Hormonal changes- hormonaldisbalances’ in a person can trigger temporary hair loss. Main reasons of these kind of hormonal changes are : –

  • Pregnancy at the wrong age
  • Periods after a child’s birth
  • Changes in the use of birth control pills, and
  • Menopause

3. Nutritional deficiency – lack of certain vitamins and minerals in the body can lead to the problem of hair fall. Deficiency of iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, and protein can cause hair fall in an individual.

Many times, it is seen that some medical conditions can cause excessive hair loss for a limited period of time.

4. Thyroid – hair is very sensitive when it comes to show the symptoms of any underlying disease. And thyroid is one of those medical conditions that bring hair loss and hairs fall for a temporary period.

5. Other than thyroid, some medical conditions can cause hair loss which needs a treatment. These are permanent or long term baldness. And this must be paid an immediate attention. This includes problems like,

  • High blood pressure
  • Depression
  • Cancer and,
  • Heart problems

6. Hair fall can even be caused by some physical or emotional shock that is creating any pressure on mind, such as,

  • Death in a family
  • Extreme weight loss or weight gain
  • High fever
  • Constantly thinking about something, which may cause stress or anxiety.

How to diagnose the problem of hair fall?

It is very easy for a person to know if they are suffering from massive hair fall or not.

There is hardly anyone who does not pay attention to their hair!

And as soon as you look down at your pillow, or comb you could notice a bunch of locks that is unusually present on them. And this could be one of the alarming situations for you to see the doctor.

Other than self-diagnose some medical conditions like lupus or other auto immune diseases can be a risk for hair fall too. So if you have any underlying disease, keep a regular check on your hairs and keep an appointment ready with the doctor whenever necessary.

What are the possible treatments provided for hair fall?

  1. Medications –

For any basic problem the first option provided, consists of medication. If you have the problem of hair fall, and went for a checkup, the doctor will provide some prescription to treat the hair loss.

This is the primary step taken to reduce the risk of baldness in an individual.

  1. Medical procedures or surgery –

This involves hair transplant surgery to extend the hair in a certain patch. This type of surgery is rather expensive and risky. Some side effects of hair transplant surgery includes,

  • Patchy growth of hair
  • Bleeding
  • Scars, and
  • Different infections.

And for better results, there is a need for repeating the surgery again, which could be more harmful for the hair and health!

But the question still remains, that,

What is the cure for hair fall ?

  1. Ayurveda –

The cure for hair fall is available in Ayurveda. And the most important part of Ayurveda is,

  • Prevention – following some of these methods, may prevent the problem of hair loss naturally. This includes,
  • Do not tie your hair tightly, avoid pony tails, braids etc.
  • Do not pull, twist or pluck your hair unnecessarily.
  • Use any gentle shampoo to wash the hair, for better results use baby shampoo.
  • Avoid heat and styling products, like
  1. Blow dryer
  2. Hair straightener
  3. Coloring products
  4. Heated combs, etc.
  • If it is really important to use those products, do remember to naturally dry the hair beforehand and use the product in minimum heat.

The Ayurvedic cure for hair fall is,

  • Eat protein and iron rich diet to reduce hair loss.
  • Add green leafy vegetables, salads, raw vegetables and fresh fruit to the diet on regular basis.
  • Keep a regular routine of bowel movement, and do not change the cycle.
  • Use herbs like, Amla and Shikakai for washing the hairs, they are a better alternative to chemical based shampoos.
  • Oiling and massaging on scalp is very necessary to stop hair fall, massage with coconut hair oil twice a week, to keep the roots strong.
  • Green Coriander leaf pack is very useful to reduce hair loss. Make a paste of coriander leafs, and apply on the roots, at least once or twice a month. To control untimely hair loss.