Hair Loss - General Overview

Hair has been an important part of human beauty. Human society looks at hair and hairstyles as beauty symbol and gives a great deal of cultural importance. Healthy hair and a good hairstyle bring glory to any beautiful face. There are many conditions and diseases which lead to hair loss; also if we do not take proper care of our hairs, it results in hair loss.

Our hairs undergo a natural life-cycle, where they grow during a particular period and then at the end of the cycle, they shed. Right after a new hair starts growing in a follicle (The number of hairs on a person’s scalp depends on different factors, environments etc.); it keeps growing there for a period which varies from 2 to 6 years. Normally, scalp hair grows about one to one and half inch a month. This growth is affected by the age of a person, as the age increases, the hair growth slows down. After growth period, resting period of hairs starts where they stop growing, this period is of two to three months during which hair shed. Again a new hair is replaced in the same follicle and it undergoes the same life-cycle.

Losing 50 to 100 hairs per day is normal, and has nothing to worry about, however if you experience excessive hair loss, your hairs are shedding when you comb, hairs are becoming pale or thinner and falling down and if you are loosing hair in large amount, you should visit your dermatologist and you also should start taking care of your hairs. People should get diagnosed so that a proper treatment can be identified and employed to help them in such situations. It is always possible to prevent hair loss.

The problems and diseases related to skin and hairs are treated after gathering information about the patient. Dermatologists, physicians ask the patient about his/her diet, all types of medications the patient is taking or has taken during last six months, if the patient has a family history of hair loss, the way patient takes care of his/her hairs, if the patient suffered any illness or any type of surgery during last few months, if the patient is a woman they doctor will ask question about the menstrual cycles, pregnancy etc. There are some more factors, effects of which are evaluated in order to proceed with treatment. Sometimes hair samples are examined, blood sample is checked, or a scalp biopsy may be required for an accurate diagnosis. The dermatologists try to find out the probability of getting proper response for the treatment of the problem.

If hair loss is caused due to the side effect of any medicine, your doctor will try giving you a substitute for that medicine and help preventing hair loss. If your hairs are under attack of any infection, then the doctor will try to find a proper solution and the treatment will be given accordingly. Sometimes, people with hormonal problem experience hair loss, this hormone imbalance can be corrected to prevent further hair loss. There are various types of medicines available which may help slow or prevent the hair loss. There are some good solutions which are available in market without prescription which can be applied to the scalp.

Along with this, we should take proper care of our hair so as to prevent hair loss. Use of good hair oil is always first step of hair care. The hair-oil should be applied to the hairs properly, scalp should be massaged and the oil should be allowed to enter the roots where it helps in strengthening the roots of hairs. In India, various home–remedies are used to make hair stronger and beautiful. Use of curd, egg-bulk, sticky fluid from the aloe leafs and coconut oil etc. can help make your hairs healthy and look beautiful.

If there is no proper treatment available for the type of hair loss you are experiencing, then you may consider trying different artificial options like wigs, different hairstyles, hairpieces and artificial hair replacement.