Hair Loss / Alopecia
Hair loss or alopecia is partial or complete loss of hair resulting from illness, functional disorder, or hereditary disposition. It usually develops gradually. Roughly 100 hairs are lost from the head every day. The average scalp contains about 100,000 hairs. Each individual hair survives for an average of 4-1/2 years, during which time it grows about half an inch a month. Usually in its 5th year, the hair falls out and is replaced within 6 months by a new one. [1] Genetic baldness is caused by the body's failure to produce new hairs and not by excessive hair loss. Both men and women tend to lose hair thickness and amount as they age. Inherited or 'pattern baldness' affects many more men than women. About 25% of men begin to bald by the time they are 30 years old, and about two-thirds are either bald or have a balding pattern by age 60.
Typical male pattern baldness involves a receding hairline and thinning around the crown with eventual bald spots. Ultimately, one may have only a horseshoe ring of hair around the sides. In addition to genes, male-pattern baldness seems to require the presence of the male hormone testosterone. Men who do not produce testosterone (because of genetic abnormalities or castration) do not develop this pattern of baldness. Some women also develop a particular pattern of hair loss due to genetics, age, and male hormones that tend to increase in women after menopause. The pattern is different from that of men. Female pattern baldness involves a thinning throughout the scalp while the frontal hairline generally remains intact.
Baldness is not usually caused by a disease, but is related to aging, heredity, and testosterone. In addition to the common male and female patterns from a combination of these factors, other possible causes of hair loss, especially if in an unusual pattern, include:
- Hormonal changes (for example, thyroid disease, childbirth, or use of the birth control pill) - A serious illness (like a tumor of the ovary or adrenal glands) or fever - Medication such as cancer chemotherapy - Excessive shampooing and blow-drying - Emotional or physical stress - Nervous habits such as continual hair pulling or scalp rubbing - Burns or radiation therapy - Alopecia areata -- bald patches that develop on the scalp, beard, and, possibly, eyebrows. Eyelashes may fall out as well. This is thought to be an immune disorder. - Tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp)
Causes of Hair Loss / Alopecia
Alopecia is caused by aging, change in hormones, certain illness, family history of baldness, burns or trauma. Other possible causes of hair loss especially if in an unusual pattern, include alopecia areata (bald patches that develop on the scalp, beard, and, possibly, eyebrows; eyelashes may also fall out as well), autoimmune conditions (such as lupus), burns, certain infectious diseases (such as syphilis), chemotherapy, emotional or physical stress, excessive shampooing, blow-drying, fever, hormonal changes (example: thyroid disease, childbirth, use of birth control pills), nervous habits (such as continual hair pulling or scalp rubbing), radiation therapy, tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp), tumor of the ovary or adrenal glands.
Preventing Hair Loss
Following are helpful tips for prevention and coping up with hair loss.
* Brushing and washing away hair that is falling out. * Cleaning hair and scalp gently with a herbal powder twice a week, and massage the scalp. * Harshier damaging products containing bleach, peroxide, ammonia, alcohol, or lacquer to be avoided. * Avoiding heat, curling irons, and hot rollers. * Keeping hair short and easy to style. * To avoid breaking hair strands, braids or ponytails to be avoided. * Wide toothed comb to be used. * Head to be protected from sun with a hat and sunblock having SPF of at least #15. * Satin pillow or a hair net can be used while sleeping. HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT for Hair Loss / Alopecia
Hair-loss is again just an indicator that there is something not well in your body. The hairs may fall due to a local infection or due to a systemic disorder or deficiency. The treatment also varies accordingly. The following homeopathic medicines are often found indicated in cases of hair fall:
Alum, Ars, Bar-c, Carbo-veg, Flour-ac, Graph, Lyco, Nat-m, Nit-ac, Phos-ac, Phos, Selen, Sep, Syph, Thallium, Vinca.
The homeopathic treatment for hair loss varies according to the cause of hair fall. Alumina, Arsenicum album, Baryta carbonica, Carbo vegetabilis, Flouricum acidum, Graphites, Lycopodium, Natrum muriaticum, Nitricum acidum, Phosphoricum acidum, Phosphorus, Selenium, Sepia, Syphilinum, Thallium and Vinca minor are the useful remedies. Locally, Arctium lappa, Ceanothus, Malva sylvestis and Tropaeolum can be applied in mother tincture form mixed with coconut or other oil. Phosphoricum acidum 5C, Ambra grisea 9C are given if the hair loss is due to repeated sorrows. If it is due to depression, irritability and anxiety, Nitric acid 5C and Arsenicum album 9C can be given. If it is found in slow, constipated and sycotic patient graphites 5C and Thuja 9C may be helpful. Lycopodium, Sepia and Natrum muriaticum can be given for hair loss after pregnancy.