Buzz
Losing 50 to 100 strands of hair daily is entirely normal. However, if you shed more than this amount, you might be experiencing hair loss. Excessive hair fall or, more severely, balding, often occurs when the hair growth and shedding cycle is disrupted or when hair follicles are destroyed and replaced by scar tissue. Hair loss can affect the scalp or the entire body. There are numerous reasons for hair loss, including genetics, hormonal changes, underlying medical conditions, or medication use. Men, women, and children are all at risk of experiencing hair loss. Fortunately, this condition can often be managed with proper medication and lifestyle changes.
Steps
Preventing Excessive Hair Loss
Reduce stress. Excessive stress can lead to hair loss. Therefore, try to relax whenever and wherever possible. Consider practicing meditation, walking, or yoga. Keeping a journal can also help alleviate daily stress. Stress-related hair loss is usually temporary. If you manage to relieve stress, your hair is likely to grow back. Below are some types of hair loss caused by excessive stress:
- If you suffer from telogen effluvium, the cause is stress pushing a large number of hair follicles into a resting phase. Within a few months, affected hair may suddenly fall out in large amounts when brushing or washing.
- Trichotillomania, also known as hair-pulling disorder, involves an irresistible urge to pull out hair from the scalp, eyebrows, or other body areas. This condition often arises during extreme stress, loneliness, fatigue, or frustration.
- Stress can also trigger alopecia areata, where the immune system attacks hair follicles, leading to hair loss.
Handle your hair with care. Avoid tight hairstyles like braids, buns, or ponytails. Refrain from twisting, rubbing, or pulling your hair aggressively. Be gentle when washing your hair with warm water (avoid hot water). Avoid vigorous brushing. A wide-tooth comb can help prevent hair breakage while detangling. Minimize the use of heat-styling tools like blow dryers, curling irons, hot oil treatments, and long-lasting hair styling products.
Stay hydrated. Hair strands typically contain 25% water. Therefore, aim to drink at least eight 240 ml glasses of water daily. This habit helps keep your body hydrated and supports healthy hair growth.
Incorporate herbs into your daily meals. Sage is believed to enhance hair thickness, while rosemary stimulates hair growth. You can use these herbs in your cooking. Try to include them weekly, opting for fresh herbs over dried rosemary when possible. Enjoying a balanced diet also helps prevent hair loss.
- You can also mix rosemary with almond oil. Apply this mixture directly to bald spots on your scalp.
Apply Natural Hair Care Remedies
Use pure onion juice. Onion juice, when applied to the scalp, has been proven effective in treating patchy hair loss. The sulfur in onions promotes collagen production and encourages natural hair growth. Researchers believe the flavonoids in onions have anti-inflammatory effects. While you can buy onion juice, if you prefer to make and apply it yourself, follow these steps:
- Chop the onions finely.
- Use your hands or a juicer to extract the juice.
- Apply the juice to your scalp for 15 minutes.
- Rinse your hair gently.
- Repeat this process 2 to 3 times a week.
Create a mixture of garlic and coconut oil. Similar to onions, garlic is believed to be rich in sulfur, which can promote hair regrowth. Meanwhile, coconut oil contains essential fats, minerals, and proteins, all of which help reduce hair breakage. The iron and potassium in garlic also play a crucial role in strengthening hair. To make a garlic ointment, follow these steps:
- Gather several garlic cloves and coconut oil.
- Crush the garlic using a garlic press.
- Mix the crushed garlic with a teaspoon of coconut oil.
- Boil the mixture for a few minutes, then stir gently.
- Once cooled, massage the mixture onto your scalp. Repeat this process 2 to 3 times a week.
Consider taking capsaicin supplements. A study in Growth Hormone & IGF Research found that capsaicin—the compound responsible for the spiciness in peppers—can stimulate growth factors related to hair growth. Try taking 6 mg of capsaicin supplements daily for 5 months. Consult your doctor about incorporating these supplements into your diet.
Massage your scalp with jojoba oil. Gently rub jojoba oil onto your scalp and hair, focusing on areas with hair loss. Jojoba oil has anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective for certain types of hair loss. You can find this oil at health stores or grocery stores.
Treat Hair Loss with Professional Methods
Consult a doctor. If you're concerned about hair loss, seek medical advice for treatment options. There are many choices, including medication, laser therapy, and surgery. Your choice depends on your budget, the severity of hair loss, and its duration.
- In some cases, hair loss may stem from estrogen deficiency (a female hormone) or thyroid issues. Identifying and treating these underlying problems can help reduce or stop excessive hair loss.
Use medication. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications to combat hair loss. The first is Minoxidil (Rogaine), an over-the-counter liquid or foam treatment suitable for both men and women. For women, it is the only FDA-approved treatment for hair loss. Apply it directly to the scalp twice daily. This product is effective in stimulating new hair growth and/or preventing further hair loss. Finasteride (Propecia) is a prescription medication exclusively for men, taken as a daily pill. Many users experience reduced hair loss, and some even notice new hair growth. Consistent use of both medications is necessary to see noticeable results.
- Possible side effects of Minoxidil include scalp irritation, increased facial or hand hair growth, and a faster heart rate.
- Finasteride side effects may include reduced sexual desire, impaired sexual function, and an increased risk of prostate cancer. Pregnant women should avoid handling broken or crushed tablets.
Consider surgery. For persistent hair loss, hair transplantation or surgery may be the best option. If you choose this treatment, a surgeon will extract healthy hair follicles from areas of your scalp with dense hair and implant them into thinning or bald areas.
- Your doctor may recommend using hair loss medications before and after surgery to enhance results.
- Hair restoration surgery can be costly and may cause significant discomfort. Risks include infection and scarring.
Try laser therapy. Both men and women can treat hair loss using FDA-approved laser devices like the HairMax Laser comb. This device stimulates hair growth and is effective for treating baldness. To use it at home, slowly move the comb from the front to the back of your scalp, then from side to side. A beep will sound every 4 seconds to prompt you to reposition the device. Recent studies confirm that regular use of laser therapy, three times a week, improves hair growth.
- Each session should last 10–15 minutes, performed three times weekly.
Understand Your Hair Loss Condition
Identify how your hair is falling out. Typically, you might notice thinning at the crown or patchy bald spots. Are you losing clumps of hair? Check if hair loss is limited to your scalp or affects body hair as well. Is your scalp scaly? Recognizing these symptoms can help pinpoint the cause of your hair loss.
Understand the root causes of hair loss. Hair loss can occur at any stage of life due to various reasons. Hormonal changes, illness, excessive heat styling, and emotional trauma can all contribute to hair loss. Additionally, a family history of hair loss or balding caused by hormonal imbalances can exacerbate the condition. However, hair loss is rarely linked to poor scalp circulation, vitamin deficiencies, dandruff, or frequent hat-wearing. Another misconception is that genetic factors from the maternal grandfather can cause hair loss.
- Hormonal hair loss affects both men and women. In men, hair typically thins from the forehead, forming an M-shaped pattern. In women, the hairline remains intact, but the sides gradually thin.
- Excessive hair loss leading to smooth, round bald patches the size of coins may indicate alopecia areata.
- Significant hormonal changes, such as menopause, can trigger hair loss. Consult a doctor about hormone-balancing treatments.
- Physical or emotional shock can cause hair to fall out in clumps during brushing or washing. Over time, the hair may appear thinner, unlike patchy hair loss.
- Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, can also lead to hair loss. Treating the thyroid condition may stop hair loss.
- If hair loss occurs all over the body, it may be related to medical treatments like chemotherapy. Hair usually regrows after treatment.
- Fungal infections, such as ringworm, can cause hair loss. Scaly patches may spread across the scalp, accompanied by broken hair, redness, and oozing.
Be aware of hair loss risk factors. If hair loss occurs in patches rather than general thinning due to illness or emotional stress, it’s important to understand associated risk factors. Men with this condition often face coronary heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. Women with patchy hair loss are at higher risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Tips
- Consider wearing a wig or scarf to cover areas of hair loss. If hair loss is due to a medical condition, insurance may cover the cost of a wig. Your doctor can prescribe a wig for you.
Warnings
- If you’ve tried all home remedies without seeing any improvement, consult a doctor immediately. You should also seek medical advice if your child is experiencing unexplained hair loss. In some cases, hair loss can be a sign of a serious underlying condition.
