Hello everyone, I’m Dr. Geetika Mittal Gupta and I’m a cosmetic dermatologist and founder of ISAAC Luxe. Off-late, I’ve been getting tens of queries of hair care, hair loss and hair thinning. Today I’m going to tell you basics of hair care, hair loss, at home and dermatology treatments that are readily available and safe to use.
The Basics Of Hair Care
As Indians, we have different hair textures so my first tip would be to identify and embrace your hair texture. Be it curly, straight or wavy, embrace your natural texture and then work on a hair care routine. Do the basics: warm up some coconut oil and give yourself a hot oil massage, be regular with your trim appointments and eat right. Adding biotin and Omega 3-6-9 to your diet will add a natural shine to your hair.
Hairfall
It’s normal to lose 50-100 strands per day. This is a normal turnover process in which old hair fall off to be replaced by new, young hair. So it generally takes around 20-25% of scalp hair loss before the woman realizes that she is losing more hair than usual. Many women also suffer from hair loss shortly after giving birth. Normal hair loss pattern resumes 3-4 months later.
Causes Of Hairfall
1. Your hair may be in the shedding phase
The hair on the scalp grows about .3 to .4 mm/day or about 6 inches per year. Unlike other mammals, human hair growth and shedding is random and not seasonal or cyclical. Anagen is the active phase in which your hair actually grows. Catagen phase is a transitional stage about 3% of all hairs are in this phase at any time. This phase lasts for about 2-3 weeks. Telogen or the resting phase usually accounts for 6% to 8% of all hairs. This phase lasts for about 100 days for hairs on the scalp. So if you’re shedding hair it could be because you’re in the telogen phase. If hairs enter the resting phase too early, excess shedding and noticeable thinning can occur.
2. It could be your genes
If your family has a history of baldness or alopecia, you can be at an increased risk of hair loss. It’s a myth that balding skips a generation. More balding people you are related too more likely you’ll also face hair loss. About half the people with a balding parent on either side of the family will inherit the dominant gene for baldness.
3. It could be mechanical
Pulling back your hair or sporting tight hairstyles, braids and bun or overly using a hair straightener can lead to a condition called traction alopecia. This is often seen as bald or sparse spots in the front of the hairline.
4. It could be a hormonal imbalance.
These could be in the form of thyroid, PCOD, pregnancy and menopause can cause hairfall. Test for TSH, LH, FSH and DHEAS and testosterone, androstenedione and prolactin levels to know more and then consult a dermatologist.
5. Infections and illnesses
Scalp infections, viral fevers, dengue can cause hair shedding and hair fall too.
6. It could be a deficiency
Deficiency in iron, vitamin D and protein could lead to hair loss. A simple blood test could help diagnose the condition.
7. It could be stress.
Improper sleep and other mental stress can cause hair thinning and hairfall. Make sure you sleep for 6-8 hours every night and take out time to meditate or just relax from time to time.
8. Brittle Hair
Hair colour doesn’t cause hairfall but an improper hair care routine can lead to brittle hair. If you make most of the serums, leave-in conditioners and hair spas. Olaplex helps too.
Solutions Of Hairfall/Hair Loss
Start by not ignoring hair fall and taking the help of an expert.
1. Hormonal treatments like spironolactone, oral contraceptives or metformin are suggested for treating the imbalances.
2. Dietary changes with low inflammation or anti-inflammatory foods, low GI foods like quinoa with little to no refined sugars and carbs can make a difference too.
3. Oral supplements: Take a combination of biotin, amino acids (like lysine), vitamins and natural extracts for the same.
4. Collagen supplements: When taken for some time, the increase in collagen stimulates cell growth. You will see an improvement in hair texture and skin texture too.
5. Topical applications: Minoxidil is a topical application that helps regrow hair and is used in a variety of concentrations in hair products. Minoxidil opens potassium channels and widens blood vessels. This helps better transport and supply of nutrients to the hair follicles thereby stimulating hair growth. If hair growth is going to occur with the use of minoxidil, it usually occurs after the medicine has been used for several months and lasts only as long as the medicine continues to be used.
6. Brittle hair: Good haircare starts at home. If you have fragile or brittle hair, stop using styling equipment on your hair too often. If you colour your hair, make sure you opt for colour-protecting shampoos and conditioners. Opt for Olaplex treatments since it helps strengthen hair bonds from within.
Dermatological Treatments For Hairfall & Hair Loss
1. If you have thinning hair, you may want to consider mesotherapy or hair PRP. Mesotherapy is a painless, non-invasive and non-surgical cosmetic hair restoration procedure. This cosmetic procedure involves a solution of ingredients being injected into various locations in the scalp to stimulate the mesoderm layer. The ingredients used in this mixture include vitamins such as biotin, zinc, amino acids and growth factors to encourage the hair’s natural regeneration and regrowth process.
2. Hair PRP is a wonderful treatment. It works like fertiliser for new hair growth. It has to be done once in a month for 4 months at least.
3. Hair Transplant: Up to 95% of men with thinning hair undergo baldness due to a hormone called DHT, which makes their hair follicles shrink. In this case, you may want to consider getting a hair transplant after consulting your dermatologist. Depending on your age, hormones and medical analysis in relation to hair loss will a doctor assess if you’re a candidate for a hair transplant. Essentially, hair transplants work by removing hair that has active hair growth and transplanting them to thinning or balding areas of your scalp. The surgeon usually moves hair from the back or side of the head to the front or top of the head. There are two types of transplant procedures: slit grafts and micrografts better known as FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) Or FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation).
I hope this helps you. If you have any more questions,
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