Hair Loss – Causes, Treatment and Preventions

Hair tends to grow at a different frequency for different people. On average, hair tends to grow around one and a half-inch every month. Generally, we shed between 50 and 100 single hair strands each day. Hair shedding is a part of our natural equilibrium; some tend to fall out while others continue to grow. When the balance is interrupted i.e. when more hair falls out and less keep growing — hair loss ensues. Hair loss is different than hair shedding. The medical term for hair loss is “alopecia”.

In Ayurveda, increased hair fall is termed as khalitya and is classified under Shiro roga. Khalitya is primarily a concern due to the predominance of Pitta dosha, which can be corrected by following a good diet, having a healthy lifestyle and indulging in ayurvedic therapies and pitta-balancing keshya herbs.

Cycles of hair growth

Our hair goes through three cycles:

• The anagen phase (growing phase) can last from two years to eight years. This phase generally represents about 85% to 90% of the hair on your head.
• The catagen phase (transition phase) is the time when hair follicles shrink, which takes about two to three weeks.
• The telogen phase (resting phase) takes about two to four months. At the end of this phase, the hair falls out.

In a nutshell, hair growth is cyclical, and every year, there could be a time you lose more hair than usual. If this phase is lasting for a few days only, there’s no cause for concern, as it could just be a sign of renewal. It is usually observed that hair tends to shed a few extra strands during change of seasons, especially in the monsoon. However, if it lasts for more than a few days, for over a month, it is time to take notice and understand the pattern.

Causes of Hair Loss

Physiological changes such as puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause and nutritional deficiencies are some of the most common causes of hair fall. Besides these, intake of certain medications, too much stress, hormonal imbalances such as PCOD and hypothyroidism, also lead to hair fall.

Hair damage (caused by the way you wash, manage and dry your hair on a daily basis) is a close second, but in this case, the hair fall is not from the roots. The first step is to understand the cause.

What are the different types of hair loss?

There are three namely anagen effluvium, telogen effluvium and FPHL.

• Anagen effluvium: This is caused by medications that poison a growing hair follicle (like chemotherapy).
• Telogen effluvium: This is caused by an increased number of hair follicles reaching the telogen phase, which is the stage where hair falls out.
• Androgenetic alopecia/female pattern hair loss (FPHL)/baldness: This type is the most common in which hair thins over the top of the head and on the sides.

Essential Nutrients to increase your Hair Health and reduce Hair Loss

When we are prone to hair fall, we most often change our Ayurvedic shampoo, conditioners and hair treatments. However, we mostly forget to look at our diet and make suitable changes to that.

The condition of your hair is an outward sign of your inside health. Sudden hair loss could also result from crash weight-loss diets that eliminate certain food groups leading to nutritional deficiencies. Iron deficiency is a common reason people start to get flaky hair that starts to shed. Zinc deficiency too, leads to hair loss and a dry scalp. To counter hair loss enrich your diet with five nutrients:

• Zinc
• Biotin
• Vitamin D
• Iron
• Protein

You need to eat healthy, not just to lose weight, but also to maintain good skin and hair. Excess sugar and processed foods interfere with the absorption of certain minerals. Extremely low protein diets may result in hair loss since your hair is primarily made of protein. Dry, brittle, and weak hair is a result of low protein diets. The amino acid lysine is particularly important since it’s commonly found in keratin. A good hair diet should include chicken, fish, dairy products, legumes and nuts and eggs. Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin, which is used to synthesize the Keratin Growth Factor, the hormone your body uses to synthesize keratin. Very little biotin can cause brittle hair and may lead to hair loss.

Ayurvedic Dietary Guidelines for Hair Loss

As per the ancient science of Ayurveda, hair fall happens due to the aggravation of Pitta (heat) element in the body. It gets aggravated due to a faulty lifestyle and poor dietary choices such as an excessive intake of tea, coffee, spicy food, dry fruits, non-vegetarian meals, alcohol and oily food. Less fluid intake is also one of the many reasons.

Ayurveda suggests a Pitta Pacifying Diet and Lifestyle for Hair Loss

Avoid hot and spicy food items, tea, coffee, dry fruits, oily foods, eggs and non-vegetarian meals, as they tend to increase heat in the body. Additionally, avoid food items that are pungent, sour and salty in taste as they increase the pitta element in the body, when taken excessively. 

Include the following in your diet:

• Foods with sweet, bitter, and astringent properties
• Cooling things like Coriander, Cumin, Fennel, Mint, Cilantro etc.
• One cup of Fennel water after meals
• Leafy greens, pulses, and lentils
• Nuts and seeds: sesame seed, sunflower seed, and soaked almonds and raisins
• Dark grapes, sweet plum, dates, pomegranate and sweet berries
• Herbal teas like peppermint and liquorice
• Dark grape juice, pomegranate juice, coconut water and cucumber juice

Ayurvedic Hair Loss Remedies as per different causes

• If the hair fall is due to a scalp infection or dandruff, use neem. Neem leaves help in clearing any dandruff or fungal infection on the scalp, and naturally promote scalp health and prevent hair fall. Make a paste of neem leaves, apply it on the scalp, and keep it on for 30 minutes, before washing your hair.Alternatively, you can use a neem-based shampoo.
• If the hair fall is due to stress, nervine tonics should to be added. You can use the following herbal mixture: take 1 tsp powder of Brahmi + Jatamansi + Amla + Shankhpushpi after meals with normal water twice a day.
• For pregnancy and post-pregnancy-induced hair loss, intake of essential micronutrients such as Iron and Calcium are vital, as during this period, a deficiency of these nutrients causes hair loss.
• For scalp itching – apply Onion Juice onto your scalp. The high sulphur content in onions helps to improve the blood circulation, reaching the hair follicles.
• For any nutritional deficiencies leading to hair loss, this mixture is suggested: mix powdered Indian gooseberry (amla) and white sesame seeds in equal amounts and take 1 teaspoon of this mixture twice a day with water.
  
  
• Shirodhara for Hair loss: Shirodhara is an Ayurvedic therapy in which a continuous stream of warm medicated oil is poured over the forehead for about 30 to 60 minutes. As the oil drips over the forehead and covers the hair and scalp as well as the hairline, it nourishes all the hair follicles, takes care of the dry scalp and dry hair, while hydrating and moisturizing the scalp, hairline around the neck and forehead. This can be very beneficial for the hair, especially when repeated regularly on a monthly basis.
  

FAQs

• What is the best treatment for hair loss?

We suggest a 3-step hair loss treatment

Step -1 Oiling with Bhringraj Head massage oil (2-3 times a week)

Ayurvedic treatment for hair loss always starts with Shiroabhyanga i.e. an oil massage. For this, use a Bhringraj head massage oil with precious ingredients like Bhringraj herb (food for hair), Mulethi, Brahmi herb, Henna, Anantmool, Lodhra, black sesame oil, virgin coconut oil, goat’s milk & herbal extracts. It is excellent for preventing hair fall, for promoting new hair growth and for controlling dandruff.

Step -2 Cleansing with Bhringraj and Shikakai Hair Cleanser

Bhringraj improves hair growth and reduces hair fall. Shikakai infusion and liquorice contain micronutrients that help in dandruff treatment and stimulate the growth of new hair. If you have dry and frizzy hair, you should use hair conditioner hair post cleansing.

Step -3 – Nourish the scalp with Hair Vitalizer regularly

Hair Vitalizers are potent hair serums that strengthen hair follicles, prevent hair loss and increase the density of hair. Shake well and spray thoroughly on your scalp after towel- drying.

• Can I Prevent Hair Loss?

You can prevent hair loss by using natural hair care products designed specifically for your hair type. Practicing good hair habits such as using a natural bristle brush, applying full strokes from the scalp to the tips of your hair to distribute the hair’s natural oil, being gentle and avoiding brushing wet hair, will help you prevent hair loss.

• Can lost hair grow back?

If hair loss is due to genetics or autoimmune diseases, it may not be reversible. However, you may be able to delay or prevent the process by addressing the underlying causes such as nutritional deficiency, stress, thyroid imbalances, unhealthy hair habits, usage of bad styling products and certain medications.

Hair loss can take 3-6 months to reverse.

• What is the best treatment for women’s hair loss?

The combination of a Pitta pacifying diet, remedies as per the causative factor and the above-mentioned 3 step treatment for hair loss is one of the best treatments to prevent hair loss in women. Additionally, it is vital to understand that hair loss treatments can be challenging when causes relate to disease, ageing, heredity and physical stressors such as injuries.