Hair loss –
We all love our hair very much. They are the identity of our personality. That’s why we get panic when they start thinning.
Do you have hair loss? Here I am going to tell you about the solution. Nowadays, it has become a problem for everyone. Let’s see what are the causes, types, symptoms, and homeopathy medicines for it.
Hair loss is also known as hair fall, alopecia or baldness. It means hair loss from the body, but commonly it refers to hair fall from the scalp i.e. head.
We have approximately 1 to 1.5 lac hairs on our head. On average we lose 100 hairs per day, and this loss is substituted by the new ones. If you are losing more than 100 hairs, you are suffering from hair loss.
A single hair consists of a hair shaft, a root, and a follicle. Hair is made of a protein called keratin.
Hair follicle grows in the following manner –
- Anagen – growing phase
- Catagen – a transitional phase
- Telogen – short resting phase
- Exogen – hairs fall out.
Common types of hair loss –
Some types are temporary and some are permanent.
Androgenetic Alopecia –
The most common type of hair loss, affecting both men and women. Commonly known as male pattern or female pattern hair loss. It is hereditary in nature.
Male Pattern Hair Loss –
In this pattern, hair loss can begin at any time & progress over the years. Many men become bald leaving a margin of hairs along the bottom of the scalp.
Female Pattern Hair Loss –
In female pattern, the hairline generally doesn’t recede. Hairs slowly get thinner from the scalp. In this type, baldness is a rare condition.
Telogen Effluvium –
The thinning of hairs occurs due to physical or psychological events. This is very common in pregnancy. When a large number of follicles go into the resting phase, hair loss occurs. It does not cause complete baldness, but hairs appear thin at vertex and temples.
Telogen effluvium may occur due to thyroid imbalance, fever, childbirth, surgery. It can also result from vitamin, mineral, iron deficiencies.
Anagen Effluvium –
It is a type of rapid hair loss due to medical treatment such as chemotherapy. After chemotherapy ends, hair usually grows back on its own.
Alopecia Areata –
An autoimmune condition, which means the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissues, including the hair follicles. This causes hair to fall out and prevents new hair from growing.
It occurs mostly in children and adults with sudden hair loss. Hairs fall in patches from the scalp. Hairs from eyebrows and eyelashes may also fall out.
This disease may lead to alopecia totalis or complete hair loss.
Tinea Capitis –
It is a common type of hair loss in children due to a fungal infection of the scalp. Also known as scalp ringworm. Hairs fall out in patches, circular spots causing bald spots.
Trichotillomania –
It is a mania in which people pull their hair out, resulting in hair loss. Hair loss recurs if the behaviour is stopped. Psychotherapy is the best treatment for this condition.
Traction Alopecia –
Hairstyles, such as tight ponytails, pull hairs away from the scalp with such force that hairs are damaged and fall out. Most of the time, hair regrows after changing the hairstyle.
Hypotrichosis –
A rare genetic condition in which very little hair grows on the scalp and body. Many people in this condition are bald by the age of 25 years.
Other rare conditions –
Cicatricial Alopecia
Dissecting Cellulitis of the Scalp
Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia
Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia.
What causes your hair to fall out?
Skin conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis in which there is excessive secretion of sebum on the scalp. Excessive oily or dry scalp caused due to hormonal imbalances also can cause hair thinning.
Psychological – hair thinning is a sensitive issue for both men & women. Hair is an essential part of personality and self-image, especially for women as it belongs to the feminity and attraction.
Hair loss can cause psychological stress as it affects their personality. In some people causes psychological distress.
Men too are uncomfortable talking about the hair fall.
There are some factors that lead to hair loss –
- Medicinal – medications used for diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, oral contraceptive pills, hormone replacement therapy, steroids, can cause hair loss temporarily or permanently.
- Excessive Intake of Vitamin A.
- Protein deficiency.
- Trauma to hairs as in traction alopecia, rigorous hair brushing, scalp massage, hair styling can break off and reduce hairs.
- Trichotillomania – i.e. compulsive pulling and bending of the hairs.
- Chemotherapy & radiotherapy – it causes about 90% of hair loss. In most cases, hair starts re-growing after treatment is over.
- Pregnancy – During pregnancy, hairs get thicker due to increased levels of the hormone estrogens. Hair loss usually starts after childbirth as the estrogen levels drop down. Hairs grow back normally and no treatment is needed.
Other causes –
- Alopecia areata – also known as spot baldness. It’s an autoimmune condition.
- Alopecia areata Universalis – all hairs are lost from the body.
- Diseases – hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, AIDS, malnutrition, iron deficiency, fungal infections, folliculitis, mites.
- Involutional alopecia- due to ageing.
- Pollution – air and water pollution, environmental toxins.
- Hereditary – in this case, hair loss is permanent. Baldness runs in families. Hair transplant is the only treatment.
- Smoking and alcohol.
- Ageing.
Signs and symptoms –
- Depending upon the cause, it can occur in different ways.
- It can happen suddenly or gradually.
- It can affect your whole body or scalp only.
- Hairs get thin slowly on the top of the head – this is common both males and females. You will notice more hairs in the hairbrush after combing and in the bathroom after shampooing your hairs.
- Sudden loss of hair in patches or in spots.
- Complete loss of hairs on the whole body.
- Unusual hair loss in the areas like eyebrows, above ears, the backside of the head indicates alopecia areata.
Diagnosis is made on –
- Signs and symptoms.
- History by the patient.
- Daily hair count.
- Pull test.
- Pluck test.
- Scalp biopsy.
- Trichoscopy.
- Generally, male and female patterns don’t need any investigations.
How can I stop & prevent hair loss?
- Do not use any harmful chemicals for hairs, such as dye, bleach.
- Wearing wig.
- Hair transplantation.
- Dandruff treatment.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Dietary supplements – rich in iron, calcium, proteins.
Can hair grow back after thinning?
Yes. Homeopathy medicines help to regrow hairs after thinning, eliminating its root causes.
Homeopathy medicines for hair loss in males and females –
Homeopathy cures the disease in a natural, safe way permanently. Homeopathy treats the disease at physical as well as psychological levels because homeopathy thinks that there is always a psychodynamic reason behind every disease.
That’s why while taking a case, both physical and mental symptoms are considered. Mental and physical causes behind hair fall can be treated successfully by homeopathy.
Homeopathic medicines are not disease-specific. They are selected on the concern, reaction, adaptation of the patient to the disease. Even if two people suffer from the same illness, they might need two different homeopathic medicines.
Best homeopathic medicines for hair loss –
Aurum met –
It is a good remedy for hair loss, especially in baldness i.e. alopecia capitis totalis. Pain in the head with sensation as if hairs were pulled. Hairs from eyelashes also fall out.
Aurum patient has a feeling of self-condemnation and worthlessness with suicidal thoughts. Mental depression, hopelessness with ill effects of grief, anger, disappointed love is also well marked in aurum.
Baryta carb –
Medicine for baldness in young people. Hair loss particularly from the vertex. Hairs falling out from moustache. Masculine distribution of hairs in women. Mental weakness, loss of memory with low confidence. Confused, childish, bashful, fear of strangers. Physically and mentally backwards.
Graphites –
Indicated in alopecia areata with brittle, dry, grey hairs. Hair loss in spots and patches. Plica Polonica, hairs stick together. Hairs fall from nostrils. Hair loss in alcoholics. Falling out of hairs on the skin. Stout, a fair, fatty patient who catches a cold easily. There is burning of the vertex with itching and humid eruptions on the scalp.
Kali carb –
Dryness of hairs accompanied by falling of hairs from the sides and temples. Hair falling in alcoholics. Eruptions over hairy parts with hair loss. Kali carb patient is sensitive to every atmospheric change. Great dryness of hairs with falling out. Never wants to be alone, despondent, very irritable and sensitive to noise, pain, and touch.
Lachesis –
Hair loss due to grief, during pregnancy, and when touched. Hair falls from the lateral half of the eyebrows. Skin eruptions over hairy parts. Jealousy with tearing the hairs. Desire to pull own hairs or someone else’s. Lachesis patient is loquacious, jealous, amative, sad, suspicious in nature.
Lycopodium –
Premature baldness and greying of hairs. Eruptions on hairy parts which destroys hairs. Hair falling after childbirth, grief, abdominal disease, menopause. Hair loss in spots from vertex and temples. Plica Polonica with an offensive smell from hairs. Sticks together pulled out easily. Headstrong and haughty during sickness. The weakness of memory with confusion. Averse to undertake new things.
Natrum Mur –
Eczema over the margin of hairs from ear to ear. Hair fall due to grief, during lactation, from forehead and temples. Pain in the head while combing hairs. Hair loss in drinkers. Indicated in alopecia capitis totalis. Psychic causes of illness with grief, depression, fright, anger. Irritability at little things with awkwardness.
Nitric Acidum –
Falling of hairs with a sensitive scalp. Hair loss following delivery from the vertex. Sore pain while combing the hairs. The delusion of hair falling out. Fear of losing hair. Eruptions at the margins of hair with a sensitive scalp. The nitric acid patient is irritable, headstrong, sensitive to noise, touch, pain, pressure.
Phosphorus –
Indicated in alopecia areata, alopecia capitis totalis. Dryness of hairs at the roots with falling. Hair loss in menopause. Hair falling in occiput and forehead. Premature greying of hairs. Itching of scalp due to dandruff, falling out of hair in large bunches. Restlessness, indifference, oversensitive to all impressions with fear of death when alone.
Silicea –
Alopecia capitis totalis in young people. Dry, thin, grey hairs with sensitiveness to brushing. Hair falling from eyelashes with a sensation of hair in the eyes. Hairs from nostrils fall out. Hair loss due to defective nutrition.
These are the leading homeopathic medicines for hair loss.
Arnica montana, Sulphur, Thuja, Sepia, Zincum met, Carbo veg, Acid flour, Arsenic album, Calcarea carb, and many more are also used in the treatment of hair loss depending upon the totality of symptoms.
“I believe that human health is a precious thing which may not be compromised at any cost. That’s why I strongly believe in Homeopathy because it is so natural and NO harming side effects at all”.