The Magical Effect of Natural Herbs on Your Hair
Did you know that your scalp naturally loses 50-100 hair strands in a day? Yes! You need not go into panic mode every time you notice hair on your floor or comb. Because normally, new hair starts growing out of those follicles within no time. But, has your lost hair not been replaced with new hair growth for a long time? If yes, you might be experiencing actual ‘hair loss’ or alopecia. In this article, let’s discuss in detail about various factors that trigger hair loss and how you can control it with time-tested Ayurvedic practices and remedies at home. Highlights: Types Of Hair Loss What Causes Hair Loss? Hair Loss Signs & Symptoms How To Cure Hair Loss? How To Prevent Hair Loss? How To Diagnose Hair Loss? Types Of Hair Loss Androgenic Alopecia This is also called hereditary thinning. It is a genetic condition [1] that affects both men and women. Patients can notice a receding hairline or gradual hair thinning from the frontal scalp and crown region. In the case of men, it is called male pattern baldness, which can begin as early as teens or early twenties. In the case of women, it is called female pattern baldness, which usually occurs at the age of forties and later. Alopecia Areata It is an autoimmune disease that causes round and smooth patches of hair loss on the scalp along with other body parts. ‘Indralupta’ in Ayurveda is often correlated with alopecia areata. In about 90% of people with alopecia areata, hair regrows after undergoing appropriate treatments. However, in some cases, it may lead to complete baldness called ‘alopecia totalis’. Researchers claim that about 25% of men, who are going to be affected by hair loss, notice the first signs of the condition before they turn 21 years old. Cicatricial (Scarring) Alopecia This is a rare condition in which the hair follicles get destroyed due to high inflammation (aggravated Pitta) in the body. Scarring alopecia [2] has symptoms like a burning sensation, tingling, pain, or itchy scalp conditions. This kind of hair loss can be rapid or gradual. It may result in permanent hair loss as scar tissues replace your hair follicles. Ayurvedic treatments can promote hair regrowth only if scarring has not occurred. Involutional Alopecia It is a natural condition in which the hair starts gradually thinning out as you age. In old age, the duration of anagen (growing phase) of your hair decreases naturally. Thus, the amount of hair that goes to the resting phase increases due to an increase in Vata levels in your body. Alopecia Universalis It is a condition in which the hair starts to fall out from all parts of the body [3] including eyelashes, eyebrows and pubic hair. Genetic factors in combination with other hair loss factors can result in alopecia universalis. Hair regrowth in this condition varies from person to person. The patient may find positive results in treating the condition through Ayurvedic practices. However, the hair may not grow back in some people. Trichotillomania This type of hair loss is usually observed in children with psychological disorders. The child feels a constant urge to pull out the scalp hair. Telogen Effluvium It is a temporary hair loss condition caused due to abrupt changes occurring in your hair growth cycle. In telogen effluvium, a large amount of hair prematurely enters the resting phase at the same time. This eventually results in hair shedding and hair thinning. Vedix offers you a customised ayurvedic hair care regimen. Just take our hair quiz to get products customised just for you! Take Hair Quiz What Causes Hair Loss? Ancient Ayurvedic scripts termed baldness or alopecia as ‘Khalitya’ if the hair is lost gradually. In case of the occurrence of sudden hair loss, it is termed as ‘Indralupta’. According to Ayurveda, the condition of your hair and scalp depends on the harmony of vital biological energies in your body: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Any imbalances occurring in these tri-doshas would lead to a variety of scalp and hair problems. In other words, all the reasons behind your hair problems, which eventually lead to hair loss, can be narrowed down to the root cause – vitiation in your dosha levels. Now, let’s understand various factors that disrupt the balanced state of your dosha levels, in turn causing hair loss. Underlying Medical Condition Your hair loss can be the first sign of an underlying disease. Almost 30+ diseases like thyroid-related conditions, anemia, etc. can result in hair loss. When the disease is addressed by bringing the deranged doshas to a balanced state, the hair loss stops automatically and it starts to regrow. Illness After certain illnesses like a major surgery, severe infection, high fever, or flu, you may experience a temporary hair loss (telogen effluvium). Some Cancer Treatments Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can also cause sudden hair loss (alopecia areata) with great distress. However, it is often a temporary condition. Ringworm On The Scalp It is a contagious fungal infection that is common in children. If neglected, it may lead to hair loss and balding on the scalp. Post-Pregnancy After giving birth to the child, new moms notice severe hair loss. This is due to the sudden drop in estrogen levels [4]. Postpartum hair loss is temporary and with proper Ayurvedic hair care, it starts to regrow within a few months. Menopause Due to sudden alterations in the hormone levels during menopause, the doshas are vitiated causing a temporary hair loss. Although the hair starts to regrow after a while, it may not be as voluminous in your 40s. Stress Experiencing stressful events leads to an increase in Pitta dosha drastically. This in turn causes severe hair loss. Weight Loss A sudden decrease in weight can also cause hair loss, which often occurs 3-6 months after a weight loss. It is a temporary condition and the hair grows healthily with a proper diet and Ayurvedic hair care. Excess Vitamin A Excess intake of vitamin A can lead to hair loss. It can be controlled by cutting down the intake of
