Alopecia, Hair Fall and Homeopathy
Alopecia
The most common alopecia is the one which occurs due to male hormone androgen. It affects over 95% of people with hair loss. As people age, both men and women tend to lose hair thickness and amount, sometimes by becoming very fine and colourless vellus. Apart from higher levels of the androgenic hormone testosterone, factors like aging, heredity, environment and personal hygiene play significant role.
Androgenic alopecia affects more men than women, which is called as male pattern baldness. 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. The cause mainly is male androgenic hormone testosterone, because men who do not produce testosterone (because of genetic abnormalities or castration) do not develop this pattern of baldness. The typical pattern of male baldness begins at the hairline. Gradual receding hairline to form ‘M’ shape can be seen in almost all cases.
In such cases remaining hair may also become finer and shorter. This is followed by thinning around the crown with eventual bald spots, ending only a pattern of horseshoe ring of hair around the sides. This type of baldness may affect women too, because women also have androgens. This female pattern baldness is mainly due to changes in the androgens’ level, but it is also associated with genetic predisposition and aging. During menopause many women encounter such hormonal changes and find thinning of hair in the head and coarser facial hair. Mostly in these cases follicles remain alive and there are chances of new hair growth. Unlike male pattern baldness, in female pattern baldness the hair thins all over the head, but the frontal hairline is maintained. There may be a moderate loss of hair on the crown, but this rarely progresses to total or near baldness like in men.
Homoeopathic management for Alopecia
Homoeopathy has a positive role in alopecia cases. There are individualistic remedies for many causes of alopecia like from grief, depression, emotional disturbances, menopause, pregnancy, parturition, etc. If alopecia is due to skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis and fungal infection, remedy is selected based on these. This selection will help in enhancing hair growth, controlling dandruff, promoting blood supply through peripheral vessels, acting as hair tonic, etc.
Hair fall
Thinning hair and hair loss are a common hair problem. Reasons can range from the simple and temporary a vitamin deficiency to the more complex, like an underlying health condition. In many cases, there are ways to heal both male and female hair loss. It all depends on the cause. Here are some common and not-so-common reasons why you might be seeing less hair on your head.
Physical stress
Any kind of physical trauma—surgery, a car accident, or a severe illness, even the flu—can cause temporary hair loss. This can trigger a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium. Hair has a programmed life cycle: a growth phase, rest phase and shedding phase. When you have a really stressful event, it can shock the hair cycle, (pushing) more hair into the shedding phase. Hair loss often becomes noticeable three-to-six months after the trauma. The good news is that hair will start growing back as your body recovers.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is one example of the type of physical stress that can cause hair loss (that and hormones). Pregnancy related hair loss is seen more commonly after your baby has been delivered rather than actually during pregnancy.
Too much vitamin A
Overdoing vitamin A-containing supplements or medications can trigger hair loss. The Daily Value for vitamin A is 5,000 International Units (IU) per day for adults and kids over age 4; supplements can contain 2,500 to 10,000 IU. This is a reversible cause of hair loss and once the excess vitamin A is halted, hair should grow normally.
Lack of protein
If you don’t get enough protein in your diet, your body may ration protein by shutting down hair growth. This can happen about two to three months after a drop in protein intake, they say. There are many great sources of protein, including fish, meat, and eggs. Vegetarian sources include soya, lentils like chick peas etc.
Male pattern baldness
About two out of three men experience hair loss by age 60, and most of the time it’s due to male pattern baldness. This type of hair loss, caused by a combo of genes and male sex hormones, usually follows a classic pattern in which the hair recedes at the temples, leaving an M-shaped hairline.
Heredity
Female-pattern hair loss, called androgenic alopecia, is basically the female version of male pattern baldness.
Emotional stress
Emotional stress is less likely to cause hair loss than physical stress, but it can happen, for instance, in the case of divorce, after the death of a loved one, or while caring for an aging parent. More often, though, emotional stress won’t actually precipitate the hair loss. As with hair loss due to physical stress, this shedding will eventually abate. While it’s not known if reducing stress can help your hair, it can’t hurt either. Take steps to combat stress and anxiety, like getting more exercise, trying talk therapy, or getting more support if you need it.
Anemia
Almost one in 10 women aged 20 through 49 suffers from anemia due to an iron deficiency (the most common type of anemia), which is an easily fixable cause of hair loss. You doctor will have to do a blood test to determine for sure if you have this type of anemia. A simple iron supplement should correct the problem. In addition to hair loss, other symptoms of anemia include fatigue, headache, dizziness, pale skin, and cold hands and feet.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is the medical term for having an underactive thyroid gland. This little gland located in your neck produces hormones that are critical to metabolism as well as growth and development and, when it’s not pumping out enough hormones, can contribute to hair loss.
Vitamin B deficiency
Like anemia, simple supplementation should help the problem. So can dietary changes. Find natural vitamin B in fish, meat, starchy vegetables, and non-citrus fruits. As always, eating a balanced diet plentiful in fruits and vegetables as well as lean protein and “good” fats such as avocado and nuts will be good for your hair and your overall health.
Autoimmune-related hair loss
This is also called alopecia areata and basically is a result of an overactive immune system. The immune system sees the hair as foreign and targets it by mistake.
Lupus
Other autoimmune diseases such as lupus can also cause hair loss. Again it’s a case of mistaken identity: overzealous immune cells attack the hair.
Dramatic weight loss
Sudden weight loss is a form of physical trauma that can result in thinning hair. This could happen even if the weight loss is ultimately good for you. It’s possible that the weight loss itself is stressing your body or that not eating right can result in vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Loss of hair along with noticeable weight loss may also be a sign of an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia.
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is another imbalance in male and female sex hormones. An excess of androgens can lead to ovarian cysts, weight gain, a higher risk of diabetes, and changes in your menstrual period, infertility, as well as hair thinning. Because male hormones are overrepresented in PCOS, women may also experience more hair on the face and body.
Managing PCOS can correct the hormone imbalance and help reverse some of these changes.
Antidepressants, blood thinners, and more
Certain other classes of medication may also promote hair loss. More common among them are certain blood thinners and the blood-pressure drugs known as beta-blockers.
Over styling
Vigorous styling like rebonding, colouring and hair treatments over the years can cause your hair to fall out. Examples of extreme styling include tight braids, hair weaves or corn rows as well as chemical relaxers to straighten your hair, hot-oil treatments or any kind of harsh chemical or high heat. Because these practices can actually affect the hair root, your hair might not grow back.
Trichotillomania
Trichotillomania, classified as an “impulse control disorder,” causes people to compulsively pull their hair out. Unfortunately, this constant playing and pulling can actually strip your head of its natural protection: hair. Trichotillomania often begins before the age of 17 and is four times as common in women as in men.
Aging
It’s not uncommon to see hair loss or thinning of the hair in women as they enter their 50s and 60s.
Homoeopathic managemant for hair fall*
Hair fall is a common problem. Homoeopathy has effective remedies for the managemant of hair fall. There is varied number of reasons for hair fall ranging from some nutritional deficiencies to an underlying disease.
Homeopathy has a preventive effect on hair fall regardless of its causes and it has also shown amazing results on rejuvenation and regrowth of hair. It corrects the cause by helping the body’s immune system to work better. There are certain homoeopathic remedies which have been exceptionally useful for arresting hair fall.
Consult a qualified homeopathy physician for alopecia & hair fall management. Self-medication is not advisable.