Hair Fall & Thinning - Causes & Dietary Tips To Prevent It!

While combing your hair, tufts of hair coming out with your brush does not make up for a good sight. It is said that your hair adds to your personality. So, when you start experiencing hair thinning and hair fall, naturally it affects your look as well as confidence.

The various causes/factors leading to hair loss include:

Skin diseases affecting the scalp like fungal infection of scalp known as tinea capitis, seborrhoea (dandruff), eczema of scalp, or lichen planus. Some other causes of hair fall include:

1. Genetic factors
2. Hormonal changes including those that occur after childbirth and during menopause
3. Nutritional deficiencies due to a diet that lacks iron (leading to anemia), and also lack of protein intake
4. Recovery from acute fever like typhoid and erysipelas leads to diffuse hair loss
5. Drug use like the ones that are used in treating high blood pressure, joint pains, cancer, or depression. Anagen effluvium refers to the condition of hair loss due to chemotherapy in a cancer patient
6. Physical trauma/injury to the head
7. Emotional trauma like constant stress or grief due to loss of a family member/close friend
8. General diseases like diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis, Hypothyroidism or AIDS
9. Auto-immune related hair loss in which the hair cells are mistaken for a foreign body and are destroyed by the immune cells of the body
10. Hairstyles like tight braids or ponytails where the hair is tightly pulled backwards leading to traction alopecia; indiscriminate use of hair colors and hair straighteners
11. Trichotillomania, which is a mental disorder in which the affected person voluntarily pulls out his/her scalp hair

There are a number of ways by which you can combat hair thinning and subsequent hair fall. There are some regimens you need to follow:

1. Have a healthy and balanced diet rich in nutrients and proteins. The antioxidants present in vegetables and fruits prevent hair fall.
2. Drink lots of water as it will keep you hydrated. Staying hydrated is one of the best ways to tackle the menace that hair thinning is.
3. You should get adequate rest each day. Lesser sleep hours are directly associated with malfunctioning of the hormones and a weakened immune system, both of which directly impact hair thinning and hair loss.
4. Use a good herbal shampoo that is rich in organic substances and proteins and low in ‘paraben’ (group of preservatives present in cosmetic products, primarily shampoos) and sulphur content.

Some measures which you can adopt to prevent this condition are:

1. Eggs are great for promoting thicker hair. You can either consume it or use the egg yolk directly on your scalp. Let the egg yolk on your hair for 30 minutes and then wash it off with mild shampoo and lukewarm water.
2. Olive oil adds to the health of your hair, acting as your home-based hair spa. Massage your hair with olive oil and leave it for 40 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water. You can also use honey to make a concoction out of it.
3. Avocado is a natural way to moisturize your hair and scalp. The fruit is rich in vitamin E, which thickens your tresses. You can also include avocado along with olive oil to make a thick hair paste. Apply it on your scalp and wash it off with a mild shampoo after 30 minutes.
4. Castor Oil, which is available in any local medicine store, is the easiest way you can get thicker hair. It has Vitamin E which makes your hair and scalp healthy. You can mix castor oil with coconut oil to make it thicker. Use this concoction on your scalp to fight hair thinning as well as to get the lost shine back.

Homeopathy has some very effective solutions for preventing and curing hair loss. The best part about Homeopathic treatments is that they not only root out the problem but also ensures it doesn't come back. If you are also suffering from hair loss issue, kindly contact a Homeopath to solve it.