There are a number of reasons for hair loss. These include diet and nutritional deficiency, stress, medications, genetics, etc. As much as 30% of the population suffers from hair loss. Prevention is better than cure and if you can take care of a few aspects, you will be able to reduce hair loss to a great extent.
It is important to have a healthy and balanced diet to prevent nutritional deficiency that can lead to hair loss. You can consider taking a high quality, natural and organic multivitamin/multi-mineral tablet to bridge the nutritional gap in your diet. Adequate intake of good quality protein such as soy isolates to compensate for what you are not able to manage through your diet goes a long way in ensuring the health of your hair.
It is a good idea to avoid indiscriminate use of chemicals on your hair. The fallout of using chemicals is that they badly damage your hair and make it brittle. If the hair becomes brittle, it breaks faster. Bleaches, perm lotions, and hair colors are chemicals that can damage your hair if used on a regular basis. The lesser the chemical treatments to your hairs the better they will be. Do not color your hair more frequently than once in 6 to 8 weeks. When you do color your hair, go for semi-coverage and not full dyeing.
Massaging your scalp with your finger tips increases the blood flow to the hair follicles and this in turn improves the nutrient availability. It will be very helpful if you massage your scalp two times a day. Exercising also improves blood circulation and supports hair growth.
Refrain from frequently blow drying your hair. It is better to allow the hair to become dry naturally. If at all you have blow dry your hair, keep the temperature setting at the lowest point possible and also keep the dryer away from the head. Hair proteins become weak due to heat. Regular heating and drying can cause brittleness and fragility. This may lead to hair loss.
Carefully handle your hair when styling it. Styles that require you to pull your hair tightly and use elastic bands, plastic clips, etc., can cause hair loss if you do it on a daily basis. Using rollers, especially the heated rollers, is likely to cause hair loss.
Avoid vigorous rubbing with a towel after washing the hair. Pat your head gently and softly. Regularly wash your hair with a mild shampoo. You should also avoid brushing wet hair. Brush your hair only when it is dry using a soft-bristled brush.
Try to get your stress under control. Excessive loss of hair may be an indication of the stress levels that your body and mind are subjected to. You can practice relaxation techniques to bring down the effect of stress.
If you happen to experience severe hair loss due to medication for an illness or surgery, antibiotics used for infections, etc., talk to your physician and find out if the dosage can be reduced. The possibility of switching drugs may also be considered in consultation with the physician.
If genetic predisposition is the cause of your hair loss, you can try minoxidil (Rogaine). You may be required to apply this medication twice a day to the scalp. Though the drug works for both the sexes, women are advised to use a formula that contains lower minoxidil content in order to prevent side effects.
Skin conditions of the scalp such as seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff, fungal infections and psoriasis cause inflammation, making it difficult for hair to grow. Use medication as prescribed by a physician such as a medicated shampoo for dermatitis, light therapy or medication for psoriasis, or antifungals for fungal infections.
Consider taking ginkgo biloba in supplementation or any other for as it is considered to a potent herbal remedy against hair loss. It improves blood circulation to the scalp and makes more nutrients available to the hair follicles. Saw palmetto herb is also found to be helpful in preventing hair loss in men because of its ability to not only slow down hair fall, but also stimulate growth of new hair. Extracts and tinctures made out of this herb block the receptors for dihydrotestesterone.
Hair loss may not be a disease, but can cause a lot of stress for people and lead to other illnesses. Traditionally, hair loss is associated with aging and losing appearance. Premature hair loss can, therefore, cause you to lose your self confidence. In the best interest of boosting your health as well as self esteem, you must take into consideration and follow some of the tips discussed above in detail to prevent hair loss and associated problems.