Everyone loses hair, and it is normal to lose about 50 to 100 hairs every day. However, if you start to see bald patches or thinning on your head, you may be experiencing hair loss. It can affect just your scalp or your entire body. It is a concern for women, men, and children. Hair loss has many causes, it can be a result of stress, hormonal changes, medications, medical conditions, or heredity. Hereditary hair loss is the most common cause. Factors such as age, significant weight loss, diabetes, and lupus can increase your risk of hair loss. Hair loss has many different signs, depending on what’s causing it. It may cause gradual thinning, bald patches, or complete baldness.
Yes, hair loss can be frustrating for some people. Fortunately, there are many ways you can prevent hair loss. However, if it’s caused by your genetics, then you are out of luck because it is not preventable, but it can always be treated. Here are some tips on how to avoid and restore hair loss:
Take extra care of your hair
The key to protecting yourself against hair loss is by keeping the scalp clean using a mild shampoo. Always wash regularly and watch out for harsh formulas. Harsh formulas may dry your hair and cause it to break, which will eventually lead to hair loss. It is also advisable to give your hair extra care such as massaging coconut oil into the scalp and deep conditioning the hair with olive oil. Lauric acid in coconut oil can help bind protein in hair and protecting it from breakage. When you massage coconut oil into the scalp, you may stimulate better blood flow and regrowth. The same goes for olive oil, it will protect your hair from dryness and breakage, and it may also help slow genetic hair loss.
Minimize Stress
Stress is one of the most significant causes of hair loss because it can stop the hair from growing. Stress can also cause your immune system to attack hair follicles (autoimmune), which will result in a bad case of hair loss. Everyone manages and minimizes stress and you can start by getting enough sleep, stay active by exercising regularly, eating healthy, drink more water, and avoid too much alcohol.
Take supplements
There are a number of vitamins that you can take to help your hair grow faster and stronger. Research has determined how vitamin A, B, C, D, iron, zinc, and selenium are essential to your hair growth and retention process. Multivitamins can be found almost everywhere, at the grocery stores and drugstores. You can also ask your doctor to prescribe one. The most popular supplements for hair growth is Biotin (vitamin H or B7). You can consider specialized supplements such as Viviscal. However, if you do not want to take more supplements, having a nutrient-rich diet that covers all the vitamins may also help you.
Cut out your bad habits
Things you routinely do, and might not notice, can contribute to your hair loss. Some of these bad habits are shampooing too frequently, skipping meals, hot showers, mishandling wet hair, or using the wrong brush. Frequent shampooing can lead to breakage and thinning hair and aggressive towel-drying while your hair is still wet can snap it off. Avoid tight braids or ponytails that pull your hair as it can lead to excessive shedding. Try to avoid drying your hair with a hair-dryer because it can irritate your scalp. Always be gentle with your styling and note that heat styles (like straightening and curling iron) may damage the hair shaft. If you want to dye your hair, use organic hair dyes or products that do not contain ammonia or peroxide.
Medical Treatments
Many people see their hair regrow without treating it, but others may want treatment. In some cases, the hair will not re-grow. Several medical treatments will help you restore your hair or stop your hair from shedding. The most popular treatment is laser therapy. Low-level laser therapy can help improve hair density for people with genetic hair loss or undergoing chemotherapy. You can find home laser devices easily, but it may take a while to see results. Alternatively, you can also try PRP Therapy, which will use your own blood to promote hair loss. Recently, hair transplant has also become a popular way to restore hair.