Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Prevent further hair loss
• Method 2 of 4: Use natural remedies
• Method 3 of 4: Fight hair loss with professional treatments
• Method 4 of 4: Understanding your hair loss
• Tips
• Warnings

It is normal to lose 50 to 100 hairs per day. If you lose more hair, you may be experiencing hair loss. Excessive hair loss, or alopecia, occurs when the cycle of hair growth and loss is disrupted or your hair follicle has been destroyed and replaced by scar tissue. Hair loss can affect your scalp or the entire body. You can lose hair due to heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or medications. Men, women and children can all experience hair loss. However, through the use of medications and lifestyle changes, it is possible to combat hair loss.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Prevent further hair loss

1. Reduce tension. High stress levels can lead to certain types of hair loss. Try to stay relaxed. Meditate, take a walk, or do yoga. If necessary, write in a diary to get your daily stressors in order. Hair loss due to stress does not have to be permanent. If you manage to reduce your stress levels, your hair can grow back. The following types of hair loss are caused by too much stress:
   • If you have telogen effluvium, significant stress forces large numbers of hair follicles into a resting phase. Within a few months, the affected hair will suddenly start to fall out when you comb or wash your hair.
   • In trichotillomania, you have an irresistible urge to pull hair from your head, eyebrows, or other areas of your body. You may be doing this because of stress, tension, loneliness, boredom or frustration.
   • Stress can also cause alopecia areata. With these, your immune system attacks your hair follicles, causing hair loss.
2. Treat your hair right. Avoid tight hairstyles, such as braids, buns, or extensions. Don't twist, rub, or pull your hair excessively. Be careful when washing your hair with warm (not too hot) water. Don't brush your hair too hard. You can avoid pulling out excess hair by using a wide-tooth comb. Limit harsh treatments to your hair as much as possible, such as using hot rollers, a curling iron, hot oil treatments and perms.
3. Drink lots of water. Your hair shaft consists of 25% water. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. This will help you get enough moisture and promote hair growth.
4. Include herbs in your diet. Sage is believed to increase the density of the hair, while rosemary may stimulate hair growth. You can use both spices in cooking. Use them weekly and buy fresh rosemary instead of dried if possible. Balanced diet will also help prevent hair loss.
   • You can also mix rosemary with almond oil. Apply the mixture directly to your scalp, on the bald areas.

Method 2 of 4: Use natural remedies

1. Apply raw onion juice topically. The application of onion juice to the scalp has been shown to be effective in treating patchy hair loss. The sulfur in the onions has been found to increase collagen production and aid in hair growth. Researchers think the flavonoids in onion have anti-inflammatory properties. Although you can buy onion juice at the store, you can also make it yourself, as follows:
   • Chop an onion into fine pieces.
   • Squeeze the spa with your hand or a juicer.
   • Apply the juice to the scalp and let it sit for about 15 minutes.
   • Wash your hair gently.
   • Repeat this two to three times a week.
2. Make a mixture of garlic and coconut oil. Like onions, garlic is high in sulfur which can also stimulate hair growth. Coconut oil contains an abundant amount of essential fats, minerals and proteins, which reduce hair loss and broken hair. The iron and potassium in garlic make your hair stronger. To make an ointment from garlic, do the following:
   • Collect several garlic cloves and coconut oil.
   • Crush the garlic cloves with a garlic press.
   • Mix the garlic with a teaspoon of coconut oil.
   • Boil this mixture for a few minutes. Stir gently.
   • After the mixture has cooled, apply it to your scalp in a gentle massaging motion. Repeat this two to three times a week.
3. Take a capsaicin supplement. According to a study in Growth Hormone & IGF Research, capsaicin, the compound in peppers responsible for their sharpness, has been shown to stimulate a growth factor related to hair growth. Subjects took a supplement of 6 mg daily for five months. Talk to your doctor about including the supplement in your diet.
4. Massage your scalp with jojoba oil. Rub the oil into your scalp and hair. Focus on areas of hair loss in particular. Jojoba oil has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is why it can help with certain types of hair loss. You can get jojoba oil at health and wellness stores and some grocery stores.

Method 3 of 4: Fight hair loss with professional treatments

1. See a doctor. If you are concerned about your hair loss, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss different treatment options. There are several alternatives, including surgery, medication, and laser treatment. Which option you pursue will depend on your budget, severity of hair loss, and your available time.
   • In some cases, hair loss is due to estrogen deficiency or thyroid problems. Identifying and treating these underlying issues can solve the problem by reducing or stopping your hair loss.
2. Take medicine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two drugs intended to combat hair loss. The first, Minoxidil (Rogaine), is a liquid or foam available at drug stores. Both men and women can benefit from this medicine. For women, this is the only approved remedy for hair loss. Rub the product into your scalp twice a day. The product works because new hair grows and / or prevents extra hair loss. Finasteride (Propecia) is a prescription drug available only to men. One takes a daily pill.Many finasteride users experience delayed hair loss and some may experience new hair growth. You must keep taking both medications for a lasting effect.
   • Possible side effects of Minoxidil are: irritation of the scalp, unwanted hair on the face and hands and an accelerated heartbeat.
   • Some uncommon side effects of finasteride are decreased libido, decreased sexual function and a higher risk of prostate cancer. Women who may be pregnant should not touch broken tablets.
3. Consider surgery. With permanent hair loss, hair transplantation or surgical hair restoration are possible options. In this treatment, the surgeon removes small pieces of skin, each containing a few hairs, from your scalp. Then these are applied to the bald spots.
   • Your doctor may ask you to take hair loss medication before and after your surgery to improve your results.
   • An operation for baldness is expensive and can cause a lot of pain. You may end up with infections or scarring.
4. Use laser therapy. Both men and women can have their baldness treated with low power laser combs. The procedure is FDA approved. To treat your hair at home, slowly move the laser comb back from the front of your scalp and then from the side to the center. A beep will sound every four seconds to let you know when to move the comb. A recent scientific study found that a laser comb (applied three times a week) can stimulate hair growth.
   • Each treatment takes approximately 10-15 minutes. Your hair should be treated three times a week.

Method 4 of 4: Understanding your hair loss

1. Find out how your hair loss is progressing. Do you have gradually thinning hair at the top of your head or circular or patchy bald patches? Is your hair falling out with fists at the same time? Are you losing hair on your head or all over your body? Do you have flakes of skin on your scalp? Knowing what symptoms you have will help determine the cause of your hair loss.
2. Find out the cause of your hair loss. Hair loss can happen at any point in a person's life and for many reasons. Hormonal changes, illness, burns, and trauma can all cause hair loss. A family history of androgenetic alopecia, or baldness, caused by variations in the androgen dihydrotestosterone, is also a contributing factor. However, hair loss is not caused by poor blood circulation to the scalp, vitamin deficiencies, dandruff or by wearing a hat or cap very often. In addition, it is not true that a gene passed on from your maternal grandfather causes baldness.
   • Androgenetic alopecia (baldness) affects both men and women. In men, the hairline starts to recede from the forehead as the letter M. Women usually keep their hairline but get a wider parting.
   • Patchy hair loss that looks like coin-sized smooth bald patches could mean alopecia areata.
   • If there are significant changes in your hormone balance, such as in women during menopause, hair loss can occur. Talk to your doctor about treating your hair loss with hormone therapy.
   • Physical or emotional shocks can cause hair loss. You may lose handfuls of hair while combing or washing your hair. In general, your hair will look and feel thinner. Bald spots are unlikely.
   • Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, can cause hair loss. Hypothyroidism treatment can stop hair loss.
   • If you experience hair loss all over your body, it may be the result of certain medical treatments, such as cancer chemotherapy. Your hair will usually grow back over time.
   • Ringworm is another cause of hair loss. Bald patches can spread over the scalp. Other symptoms include broken hair, redness and moisture.
3. Understand the risk factors associated with baldness. If you have androgenetic alopecia instead of hair loss caused by illness or trauma, understand the associated risk factors. Men with alopecia are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, prostate enlargement and prostate cancer, diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. Women who suffer from androgenetic alopecia are at an increased risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Tips

• You may want to consider wearing a wig or scarves to hide your hair loss. If your hair loss is due to a medical condition, your insurance can cover the cost of the wig. Your doctor should prescribe a wig for you.

Warnings

• If you've tried all of the self-care methods and nothing seems to work, you should see your doctor. Also consult your doctor if your child has unexplained hair loss. In some cases, hair loss can be a symptom of a more serious problem.