Hair Care Center
Hair Loss
Today, there are millions of people suffering from hair loss or
baldness. Hair loss is usually found to occur in adults but can also
affect teenagers. Hair loss during the early years of life is often the
result of injury, sickness, or improper nutrition. It is now a
well-established fact that people undergoing chemotherapy for treating
cancer are at great risk of losing most of their hair. Hair loss in
teenagers is especially a cause of concern because appearance matters a
lot during these years. The good news is that hair loss during childhood
and youth is often temporary. Once the problem causing the hair loss is
tackled, hair starts growing back naturally.
Our hair is mostly made up of a protein known as keratin. Every strand of hair is made up of three parts: the hair shaft that grows outside, the root below the skin, and the follicle from which the hair grows. The lower end of the follicle produces melanin, which is responsible for hair color. It is absolutely normal if you lose 50 to 100 strands of hair per day. These lost hairs are replaced by new ones, which grow in the same follicles. However, if you lose more than 100 hairs per day, you should consult a doctor and get investigated to find out the cause of this hair loss. Hair loss is medically known as alopecia.
Hair loss can affect you at any point in your life. The cause of hair loss varies from person to person. There are many diseases that can give rise to hair loss. Hormonal conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or thyroid disorders can interfere with hair production and result in hair fall. People with liver or kidney diseases and lupus are also at a risk of losing hair. Teenage girls and women are often victims of polycystic ovary syndrome, in which hormonal imbalances can produce severe hair loss along with menstrual disturbances and weight gain.
The use of certain medications can also lead to hair loss. Medications used to prevent and treat acne, such as isotretinoin, are known to cause hair loss as their side-effect. Some drugs used in the treatment of bipolar disorder in teenagers can also trigger hair fall. Chemotherapy drugs used for treating cancer and diet pills that contain amphetamines are also responsible for facilitating balding. Some forms of cancer, especially leukemias and lymphomas can cause hair loss even before starting treatment.
Eating unhealthy food can also lead to hair loss. This is one of the main reasons of hair loss in people with eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. Our hair needs enough proteins, vitamins, and minerals to grow naturally. Vegetarian people are also at a risk of suffering from hair loss as they do not get enough proteins from vegetables. They should therefore make it a point to eat a bowl of mixed pulses twice daily and include legumes like soyabean in their meals regularly to fulfill the protein requirements of their body.
How to Prevent Hair Loss
Hair loss or balding is often considered to be a hereditary problem.
Therefore, people tend to believe that there are no specific ways of
preventing hair loss. However, there are many ways of doing so and
facilitating regrowth of hair. Genetically speaking, it is true that a
man with a bald father or grandfather is likely to carry the gene that
is responsible for hair loss. Balding of this type is known as
male-pattern balding or androgenic alopecia. This is the only type of
hair loss that cannot be prevented or reversed. Certain forms of
treatment can at the most retard its progress.
It has been found that people who color their hair tend to suffer from hair loss because the harsh chemicals in the colors damage the roots of the hair as well as the scalp. It is advisable to allow hair to gray naturally or to color it using safer alternatives like Henna. Braiding the hair very tightly can also result in significant hair loss. Faulty eating habits, certain medications, and chronic debilitating illnesses can also affect your hair adversely. Wearing a cap for long hours can be a reason for hair loss. Washing hair regularly with a gentle shampoo is recommended, because strong shampoos may ruin your hair.
Cystine, arginine, methionine, lysine, and cystiene are five amino acids that can help to prevent hair loss and stimulate hair growth. Protein is a nutrient that is essential for the growth of the body as well as hair. Lack of protein makes your hair go into the resting phase and eventually fall out within months. Fish, eggs, meat, nuts, dairy products, grains, and seeds are some of the good sources of protein. Include them in your daily meals to keep hair loss at bay. A balanced diet is not only beneficial for your hair, but also for your body.
A balanced diet essentially consists of anything that contains nutrients in the right quantities. You should always try to avoid processed foods and opt for natural foods. Overcooking food must also be avoided as this decreases the nutritive value of the food item. Most people believe that they should stay away from fats to remain healthy. However, the truth is that fats are required by the body to produce energy and there are some good fats, which are very useful to the body. Twenty five to thirty percent of our diet must constitute healthy fat.
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