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Hair Loss

 

General Info
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.
 
Causes
 
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.
 
Treatment
 
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.
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.
 
More Info
 
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.
 
FAQ's
 

Which specialist should I see if I have hair loss?
You should see a Dermatologist and a General Physician.
 
Is stress a factor in hair loss?
Sometimes stress can play a role in diffuse loss. Stress-induced loss ordinarily regrows within a year of eliminating the cause.
 
How long does it take to see results from any treatment program?
Best results are often seen after the two-year mark. This is because hair follicles undergo a relatively long dormancy period in between growth cycles (usually about 3 months). In addition, hair only grows about inch per month in non-thinning areas and usually considerably slower in thinning areas. Since it generally takes several cycles of growth/fallout/regrowth, with the hair getting thicker and longer each time, it can take a great deal of time to see noticeable improvement. Note that best regrowth results are seen with hair that was lost within the last five years and in areas of the scalp in which there is still some fine hair.
 
What is DHT?
Dihydrotestosterone, which is produced from testosterone by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. DHT is the androgen thought to be most responsible for male pattern baldness. DHT has a very high affinity for the androgen receptor and is estimated to be five to ten times more potent than testosterone. Other androgens that may be significant in pattern loss include androstenedione, androstanedione and DHEA (especially in women). All of these fall into hormonal pathways that can potentially result in elevation of DHT downstream via various enzymes. It is possible that certain DHT metabolites may play a role in pattern loss as well.
 
Glossary
 
Alopecia Areata - Alopecia Areata is the medical term for hairloss which occurs in patches on the scalp.
Androgens - Androgens are often referred to as male hormones.
DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) - DHT is a male hormone that is suggested to be the main cause for the miniaturisation of the hair follicle and for hair loss. DHT is formed when the male hormone testosterone interacts with the enzyme 5-alpha reductase.
Baldness -  Receding hairline
Scalp - tissue covering the skull
Follicle - The hair follicle houses the root of the hair.
Scleroderma - A disease of the skin and connective tissue that can cause hair loss over the affected areas.
Testosterone - A predominantly male hormone which promotes the development of male characteristics.
Keratin - A protein by which hair is made and also makes up the nails and the outer layer of our skin.

 

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