HAIR LOSS. WHAT YOU CAN (AND CANNOT) DO ABOUT IT
Causes of hair loss in women and men. How to choose a remedy for hair loss
INNA CODRU , OCTOBER 01, 2018
Hair is an important part of the picture that we present to the world every day. It affects how you hold your head and how your body moves, and it basically affects how you feel every day. Hair can also indicate the state of health of the whole organism as a whole - if your hair is thick and shiny, it emphasizes the good health of its mistress. If they are rare, brittle or faded, then this may already indicate some health problems. Various options are possible, from a genetic predisposition to a simple lack of vitamins necessary for the body at your age . So how do you keep your hair as healthy and beautiful as possible? Let's look at the main points.
HAIR ANATOMY
Did you know that you were immediately born with all the hair follicles you have (about 5 million), and you will no longer have new ones? As they grow, the follicles move apart, fill with "life" and thick, beautiful hair begins to grow from each available follicle. The hair follicle is part of a small unit made up of hair, the sebaceous glands that secrete oil to keep the hair healthy, and a tiny muscle that is ready to stand the hair up when the skin crawls!
Hair throughout the scalp is in one of three growth phases: anagen, the active growth phase; catagen, the final stage; and telogen, the stage when new hair pushes out old hair and you find it in your brush or on the shower floor.
It is generally accepted that losing up to 100 hairs a day is quite normal, but what happens when you start losing more than you expected in handfuls? Not only can this cause panic, it should raise questions about why your hair is falling at such an alarming rate. Excessive hair loss can be triggered by the genetic code, lifestyle, diet, illness, hormonal changes and emotional stress. And in many cases, a combination of these factors.
CAN HAIR LOSE DUE TO GENETIC PREDISPOSITION? SOMETIMES YES.
Hair loss in women and in men (alopecia), can be caused by a genetic component. That is, if many of your relatives struggled with hair loss, then you, with a high probability, will suffer the same "fate". In fact, hair loss or thinning is often referred to as "androgenetic alopecia," meaning that genetic predisposition and androgens (testosterone-related hormones) may play a role. For men, a pattern of baldness at the back of the head is characteristic. In women, this is usually manifested by increased hair loss, starting from the sides of the head and spreading to the top of the head. In both cases, finer hair grows much more slowly.
In most cases, people make do with what they have. If you are a man and have a beautiful head shape, you can emphasize your brutality by shaving your head. Things are a lot more complicated for women, who tend not to like to shave their heads, but an experienced stylist can help create the look that suits your hair. You can also try medications such as minoxidil and finasteride (Rogaine and Propecia) under your doctor's care, naturally. Go ahead.
WHAT CAN CAUSE HAIR LOSS
Smoking, certain medications, and obesity can cause alopecia, but smoking is the biggest risk factor. Low-level irritation from chemicals such as synthetic fragrances and sodium lauryl sulfate can also cause scalp irritation and hair loss. Excessive exposure to heat can also cause increased brittleness and other damage to the hair over time.
Fortunately, most of the lifestyle factors that affect excessive hair loss can be changed, so put aside cigarettes and check the beauty products you buy for sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Instead, use products made with gentle, natural, nourishing ingredients and organic essential oils such as rosemary, peppermint, and geranium. Let your hair dry out more naturally and try using the natural oil hair mask (see Recipe below) regularly to see if your hair loss will decrease and your hair growth will increase over the next six months.
HOW DIET AND HAIR LOSS ARE RELATED
A healthy, balanced diet is critical for most of your body's organs, including your hair, so unexpected hair loss can be the first sign that a vitamin or mineral is missing from your diet. Moreover, this is the first and most simple place where you need to start looking for clues. Vitamins, proteins, minerals, and fats all play a role in hair growth, promoting hair health at various stages of growth.
Basically, healthy hair needs: proteins, B vitamins (especially B-12 and B-7, also called BIOTIN ), vitamin C, iron, vitamin A and zinc. In particular, regular consumption of foods such as fish, spinach, pumpkin seeds, tofu, quinoa, beans, walnuts, eggs, oysters, yogurt, and lentils can keep hair shiny and healthy. You can also supplement your diet with zinc or biotin (both of which have gained quite a lot of popularity, although not always approved by the medical profession). Finally, a supplement called Viviscal, which has become quite popular in the West, is a proprietary blend of shark and shellfish powder. This remedy has shown good results in the study, you can try it if you have nothing against sharks and shellfish.
SOME DISEASES CAN DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY CAUSE HAIR LOSS
Autoimmune conditions (lupus, thyroid disease, dermatomyositis, and scleroderma) can cause significant hair loss. Cardiovascular disease and diabetes may require medications that can also cause alopecia. Some skin conditions, such as lichen planus or seborrheic dermatitis, can cause thinning and subsequent hair loss.
You should not self-medicate assuming that you have one of these diseases. If you notice that you are starting to lose your hair intensely, then be sure to see a doctor to get the right diagnosis and treatment, especially if your hair loss has started suddenly.
HOW HORMONES AFFECT HAIR LOSS
What hormones affect hair loss? Hippocrates once noted that eunuchs do not go bald. They practically did not produce testosterone and its derivatives, DHT (dihydrotestosterone), and therefore they did not have the androgenic effect of these hormones in their body. Women with excess or imbalanced androgens, such as those with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS, also known as Stein-Leventhal Syndrome) or those taking hormone replacement therapy, often experience hair loss as a side effect. Adjusting your medications or changing hormone therapy by your doctor can help correct imbalances and lower androgen levels in the blood.
THE LINK BETWEEN HAIR LOSS AND STRESS
Stress can cause hair loss in many ways. An acute traumatic event - the loss of a loved one, a serious illness, even a joyful "shock" at the birth of a child - can lead to a massive flight of hair from your head in two to three months. This situation is called the telogen effect and results in dramatic hair loss, especially with severe stress disorder.
In most cases of telogen effluvium (a form of temporary hair loss), the problem resolves on its own over time, as long as you keep your hair healthy as normal. Growth can be stimulated by topical application of minoxidil (Rogaine) once a day and possibly by regular use of diluted rosemary essential oil on the scalp.
HOW TO PREVENT HAIR LOSS AND TREAT IT NATURALLY
In general, treatment for hair loss in women and men should be comprehensive, including a supportive diet, appropriate supplements, stress management, and the use of healthy hair products. In particular , coconut oil to stimulate hair growth, olive oil against dry hair , castor oil to strengthen hair. At the moment, the drug that seems to be the most beneficial with the fewest side effects in men and women is minoxidil, used once a day as a mousse on the scalp. There is some hope that innovative technologies aren't on the horizon when it comes to treating hair loss - they will probably find a cure for baldness before a cure for the common cold.
As with any aspect of health maintenance, hair health is an evolving, ever-changing condition that requires balance, perseverance and patience. Working with your hair, which you should consider as a dynamic part of your body and not a static accessory, will lead to wonderful results over time. Even after your hair is restored, it will continue to change over time and, over the years, will become a little thinner than when you were 18 years old. But despite this, hair supports and enhances your personality, especially you will take care of it with love, as well as any other part of your body.
MASK AGAINST HAIR LOSS AT HOME
A fairly simple recipe for a mask that can be used before washing your hair for 20-30 minutes:
- 1/2 cup organic jojoba oil
- 20 drops peppermint essential oil
- 30 drops rosemary essential oil
- 15 drops of geranium essential oil
THE ORDER IS THIS:
- Mix all ingredients in a glass bottle or jar and shake well.
- Apply the oil to your fingertips and massage into the scalp (Do this three times a week).
- Leave the oil on your scalp for 15-30 minutes, then wash your hair with an SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) free shampoo.
- Add a few drops of this hair oil to your conditioner or skin care products.
Do not delay in solving this problem. After all, hair loss will not stop on its own. Therefore, use the tips above and return your hair to its former density and attractiveness.