health care information

Beautiful shining hair is akin to beauty & health. However, many people experience unjustified loss of hair loss, which negatively affects their social life and self perception. Hair loss can be attributed to several reasons including hormone changes, dandruff, exposure to chemicals, side effects of strong medications, side effects of radiation, etc. Sometimes hair loss can be the most visible aspect of some serious diseases, inadequate nutrition, or serious physical conditions.

Causes of Hair Loss

Stress & associated hormone changes

Side effects of some medicines

Ill health of liver, kidney and other internal organs

Radiation

Dandruff & other skin diseases

Incomplete nutrition – lack of proteins, minerals (like zinc) & vitamins

Exposure to chemicals

Excess use of shampoo, soap

Application of too much or too little oil

Kinds of Hair Loss

Hair loss can be classified into different kinds according to the nature of hair loss.

Alopecia areata is characterized by loss of hair in circles. This is mainly induced by stress and mental trauma. Certain physical conditions like Systematic Lupas Erythematosus (SLE) can also be a cause of this condition.

Alopecia totalis is characterized by total loss of hair from the head, leaving behind a bald head and even barren eyebrows. The skin of head turns smooth.

Diffuse alopecia condition has unhealthy, thin and short hair.

Trichotillomania is another condition, prevalent among children, characterized by the children pulling their hair and eating it. Children do this without their conscious knowledge and the hair they eat can remain in the stomach as a ball of hair, leading to pain.

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss found among men. This is caused by excess activity of androgen, a hormone. Women too can suffer from this problem.

Holistic Food to Prevent Hair Loss

Every nutrient that helps in normal body functioning is also required for proper hair growth. Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids (fat), minerals and vitamins play important roles in body functioning and hair growth as well. Inadequate nutrition also first reflects on the hair.

The Essential Food Items to Take to Prevent Hair Loss

Include in your diet a good mixture of everything listed below. Take a mix of everything in moderation. Curcuma longa, cumin seed, etc are good spices to prepare food. Similarly, gooseberry (Embellica officinale), dried grapes, pea (small green pea), etc also promote good physical health and hair growth.

Green and colored vegetables

Wholegrain rice and wheat

Carbohydrate rich root items – tapioca, sweet potato, etc

Egg

Milk and dairy products

Fruits – especially orange, grapes, and other slightly sour fruits

However, the quality of the atmosphere, ground, etc under which the plants grow also affect the quality of the food you take. Food crops grown with excess use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, etc have very limited quality.

Food Items to Avoid

If you care about your hair and physical health, avoid the following items.

Soft drinks

Fast food

Overly cooked food

Processed food (canned, packaged)

Agreed, these items are good for your tongue. However, what is good for your tongue may not be good for your body, blood and hair.

Hair Care Precautions

Note the following points to take good care of your hair.

Gently dry your hair with a clean towel after bathing

Always use a clean comb

Don’t comb wet hair

Don’t comb your hair too often

Comb your hair in the direction of its growth and not against it

Don’t use shampoos that contain chemicals – better option is natural shampoos prepared from hibiscus leaves, henna, grounded small green pea, etc

Apply enough oil on hair 30 minutes before bathing – coconut oil, sesame oil, etc are enough

Be gentle on your hair. Don’t rub your hair violently and use hair dryer sparingly. Shampoos that contain chemicals actively destabilize your hair. You can prepare natural herbal shampoo from materials available from your backyard itself and it is better than any shampoo that you pay big prices for.

Ayurvedic Means of Hair Care and Hair Growth Measures

Ayurveda suggests different hair oils for healthy hair growth. Amalaki (Emblica officinale) is a major component of Ayurvedic hair oils. Massage your scalp with these oils and you can see healthier hair growth.

Treatments for Hair Loss

Allopathy medicine has quite a few treatments for hair loss, which are listed below.

1. Minoxidil – this medicine prescribed for blood pressure is prescribed for hair loss too. Apply the medicine on your scalp. Effectiveness is 10-20%. Hair loss will come back once you stop using the medicine.

2. Finasteride – this medicine usually prescribed for prostrate enlargement is handy treatment against hair loss. Temporary loss of libido and lowered quality of semen are the usual side effects of using this medicine. Women shall not use this, as it can cause the women to give birth to handicapped child.

3. Hair transplantation – hair from one part of the head is transplanted to other parts of scanty hair growth. Strip incision, laser grafting, punch grafts, etc are the main types of hair transplantation treatments. The possibility of hair fall in two-three years and the scars at the areas where hair is taken are to be taken care of.

4. Scalp Reduction – a kind of plastic surgery, where skin of hairless area is removed and the skin from hairy area is stretched. The success depends on hairless area of head and the elasticity of skin.

5. Hairpiece or toupee – wigs are attached to the skin, without being noticed. Can wear and tear in the long run.

In case of hair loss, cure is almost impossible and even prevention is difficult. Put your focus on better physical and mental health than worrying about lost hair. Follow

Some of us seem to forget that the hair is still every bit a part of our human bodies. This means that it is always affected by whatever the entire body system undergoes. This has led a lot of people to think that there might be a connection between hair health and stress. Could it be possible that there is a link between stress and hair loss?Hair LossGenetic and hormonal changes are the two main factors affecting hair loss.  This implies that stress has less of a role in majority of hair loss cases. Stress however can make hair loss worse among people who are already genetically predisposed to it. In people who do not have hair loss due to genes and hormones, stress may be the major causal factor.Stress and Hair LossExperts are unanimous in agreeing that stress and hair loss is related. There are of course different types of stressful experiences. A person could be either physically or emotionally stressed. Hair loss can happen when either of the two types of stress appears. In most cases though, it is a combination of physical and emotional factors that work together to bring about hair loss. Examples of conditions and situations where the connection between stress and hair loss is apparent include the following:- Pregnancy and childbirth – Surgery – Severe illness – Accident or trauma – Difficult personal life conditions or environment – Mentally, physically or emotionally draining work – Worrying too much over financial status or situationTelogen EffluviumPeople who have both stress and hair loss in their lives may be suffering from a condition known as telogen effluvium. Under normal circumstances, we all have 80%-90% of our hair strands in the growing phase and the remaining portion in the resting phase. Eventually the resting hair strands will fall off. In people with both stress and hair loss there is an increase in the normal percentage of hair strands in the resting phase. This results in a noticeable increase in hair shedding. All of a sudden you may feel that there may be more strands of hair on your brush or pillow than normal.Another school of though is that stress greatly affects our immune system which in turn, influences the health of hair. The link between stress and hair loss may become more evident when the immune system is weakened by stress. Some experts theorize that because of the stressful conditions, the immune system may suddenly turn against the body, attacking cells and tissues including the hair follicles. This results in increased hair shedding.SolutionsSolution is easy for those who are suffering from both stress and hair loss. Your first step would be to attempt to reduce stress or move away from a stressful situation. If you are severely ill for example, take time away from daily concerns to properly recuperate. If work is causing you a lot of stress, move away from it temporarily by having a vacation.If you cannot temporarily move away from stressful situations, then learn to cope with them. Reduce stress and hair loss by learning stress reduction techniques like meditation and progressive relaxation.

The best start to preventing hair loss is understanding the basics of hair, what it is, how it grows and what causes it to start falling out. With this information you will find that it is possible to prevent your hair loss.
Androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as male pattern baldness, is the condition that over 95% of people with hair loss have, and it is caused by increased levels of DHT. This type of hair loss is commonmly caused by a genetic sensitivity to DHT and 5-alpha-reductase. The enzyme 5-alpha-reductase is responsible for converting testosterone to DHT, the substance identified as the end-cause for hair loss.
It has also been found that the more recessive the hair gene, the more likely it is for one to suffer from hair loss. Blond-haired people possess a larger propensity for hair loss than darker-haired individuals, and thus Caucasian persons have a greater propensity for hair loss than non-Caucasian individuals.
The scientific developments of the past several decades are bringing hope to many trying to prevent this type of hair loss. Treatments like Rogaine and Propecia have been shown to be effective at reducing DHT levels in people. Surgical restoration techniques have also improved greatly have also helped a number of people who would have previously had to settle for gradual hair loss or poor covering products.
Studying the role of DHT in preventing hair loss has even led to the discovery of several herbal solutions for hair loss prevention. Products like Provillus and Procerin use a blend of herbs such as saw palmetto, nettles, rosemary and horsetail as the basis for effective hair loss products. Even more promising is the fact that the hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia is found to occur primarily in Western civilizations, meaning that there are likely dietary practices that contribute to hair loss. This lends to the possibility that improving ones diet could help in preventing hair loss.
Hair is a living protein, and as with any part of our bodies we must be sure to maintain proper health to optimize the chances of continuing to grow a healthy head of hair. Proper nutrition is vital to preventing hair loss, since the hair is a living and growing part of the body’s system. A healthy balanced diet, exercise, vitamins and herbal hair loss supplements will all aid in your hair loss prevention efforts.
Remember, the restoration of hair growth is not an overnight process. The process takes time regardless of the method chosen. Be patient, even the most effective hair loss products will take at least 3 months to show signs of improvement. Don’t give up, many people have had great success at preventing hair loss.
Keep in mind that the body is a system, and it is the abuse of this system by improper nutrition and environmental causes that lead to most common hair loss. Through returning the body back to its natural state, hair loss can be prevented and restored.