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.
REFERENCE WORKS
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed, McGraw-Hill
Davidson's Principles and Practise of Medicine, 17th ed, 1996,
Churchill Livingstone
New Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory, William
Boericke, 2nd revised ed., 2001, B. Jain
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