Hair loss is a common problem faced by people globally. More than 80% of males and 55% of females worry about their hair issues. This article deals with the causes of hair loss, ways to grow back hair, and treat hair fall.

Causes of Hair Loss

For almost 70% of people in the world, hair and hairstyles are precious. And, one of the most searched questions we might come across is ‘what causes hair fall?’ Here, you will find some common causes of hair loss, causes specific to females, and foods that may cause hair fall.

Common Causes

• Hormones
  Both males and females can go through hormonal imbalances leading to thinning or loss of hair. In most cases, the treatment of hormonal imbalances helps in getting rid of hair fall.
• Genes
  Researchers link hair loss with the AR gene present in the “X” chromosome. If your doctor says that it’s genetic (in your case), hair loss can’t be prevented. It can be, however, slowed to some extent.
• Autoimmune diseases
  Severe immune system diseases have a connection with alopecia (hair loss from the scalp). Plus, some medications given for the treatment of such disorders can influence your hair growth too. For example, arthritis medicines may lead to hair thinning in some patients.
• Diet
  A variety of nutritional deficiencies can contribute to hair loss. Taking a low-calorie diet and foods deprived of protein, iron, essential fatty acids, and zinc sources are linked to baldness.
• Shampooing too often
  Shampooing your hair too often may be the cause of your hair loss problem. These products are meant to clean your hair and scalp. They help in extracting excess oil from your scalp. Though, applying them daily might lead to follicle damage.
• Medical conditions
  Conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, thyroid disorders, viral infections (including HIV/AIDS), etc may impact your hair growth. These diseases might give rise to baldness as you reach later stages. Plus, a chemotherapy medicine can cause hair loss which is not limited to the scalp.
• Stress or shock
  Some kind of stress or sudden shock (demise of a close relative, losing a job, etc) is one of the lifestyle-related causes of hair loss. This is possible because stress may fluctuate your hormones and lead to thinning of hair.

Specific to Females

• Giving birth
• Having a high fever
• Recovering from a severe illness

Foods that may cause Hair Loss

• Fruits
  • Watermelons
  • Pineapples
• Vegetables
  • Carrots
  • Sweet potatoes
• High-Glycemic Index Foods
  • Wheat bread
  • White rice
  • Chips
  • Rice crackers
  • Potato fries
• Drinks
  • Alcohol
  • Diet Soda

Treatment of Hair Loss

Hair loss treatment is different for all hair types. Some people experience hair fall at an early age due to medications, some may have it in their genes, while others may have hormonal problems. The cause varies and so do the treatment methods. The following are certain ways your doctor may recommend to treat hair loss fast.

Medicines

• Finasteride
• Minoxidil
• Spironolactone
• Dutasteride

Surgery

Hair loss surgery or transplantation is a surgical process in which your doctor removes hair follicles from one part to transplant them to the bald part. The part from where the hair follicles are taken is called the donor site whereas the receiver part is called the recipient site. Mainly, this technique helps in the treatment of male-pattern baldness.

Laser Therapy

Laser therapy is one of the reliable treatment options for hair loss. Experts may also call it cold laser therapy or red light therapy.  During the therapy, the surgeon irradiates photons into scalp cells. The weak cells on your scalp absorb them and initiate hair growth. The two main pros of laser therapy include:

• It’s painless
• It’s non-invasive

Onion Juice

It is quite a useful way to support hair growth and strengthen existing hair on your scalp. Onion juice also shows certain properties that stimulate hair growth in both males and females. It does so by providing extra sulfur that promotes collagen (a protein essential for hair) production. One can easily make a partition of hair, apply the juice, and massage/spread it on the entire scalp.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

It is a three-step process. During PRP, your doctor draws blood from your body, processes it to meet the requirements, and injects it into your scalp. Platelet-rich plasma therapy may trigger natural hair growth. However, it is mostly combined with other treatment options for desirable results.

Oil Massages

Massaging your scalp with lukewarm oil (tea tree, lavender, bergamot, cedar wood, peppermint, or thyme) for about 15 minutes twice weekly helps nourish the hair follicles. Besides giving shine to your hair, it adds value to the nutritional bank of your scalp. You can even wash your hair right after massaging.

Foods that Treat Hair Loss

• Eggs
• Carrots
• Spinach
• Oats
• Prunes
• Sweet potatoes
• Low-fat dairy products
• Avocado
• Black beans or rajma
• Seed
• Beans
• Meat
• Lentils and chickpeas
• Kiwi

Contact your doctor to understand which treatment option is better for you. Don’t take any new medicine unless recommended by your medical practitioner.