Hair loss: causes, treatment, medications and folk remedies

There are many reasons why hair can fall out, and without an experienced professional, it will be very difficult to deal with it.

Hair loss can be assessed by hair counting. To do this, you must collect and count lost hair on a daily basis: on a pillow, comb or drain in the bathroom, and record the amount of hair. This should be done within 7 days, if you find more than 100 hairs per day, this is already a sign of serious hair loss and you should contact a specialist. By the way, such a hair counting diary is very useful and such a test should be carried out twice a year. You can conduct another test, which I usually conduct in the clinic: this test is carried out on different parts of the head, for this you need to take a small lock of hair, up to 100 hairs and pull slightly, if at the same time the hair falls out easily and painlessly, then most likely you have pathological hair loss.

Before fighting hair loss, you need to install the reason for their loss, which can be very difficult and you cannot do without a specialist.

Hair Loss Causes

All reasons can be divided into two groups. Those that come from the inside of the body, because it is the hair that is the first to react to malfunctions in our body, for example, at first hair may fall out, and then the liver begins to ache. And another group, these are external unfavorable factors that we ourselves create for our hair, but they are easier to eliminate than the first group.

Before moving on to the reasons, I would like to dwell separately on the tokai reason as heredity(bald men and women in the family), while, if we are talking about female alopecia, then 80% of baldness is transmitted through the mother's line if the mother has healthy hair, then remember what hair your grandfather has on the mother's side if he has androgenic alopecia, that is, there is a high probability that it was passed on to you by inheritance. This is the worst loss (baldness), since it is almost impossible to prevent it. Most often, with androgenic alopecia, the doctor prescribes a drug - minoxidil and its other hiking, some people use it every day all their lives, but if you stop rubbing it, the hair immediately begins to fall out.

Internal causes of hair problems

1 Hormonal imbalance, can occur during puberty, after childbirth, or during menopause. During pregnancy, the increased level of hormones and it does not allow "old hair" - to fall out, that is, hair in the resting stage, which should have fallen out, so during pregnancy, the hair of many women becomes thicker. And after the birth of a child, the amount of estrogen in the female body drops, the hormonal background normalizes, and all those hairs that stayed on the head during pregnancy begin to fall out in large quantities. Many women experience hair problems after childbirth, and the structure of the hair itself may even change. My friend had curly hair all her life, and after giving birth, she became straight. Such loss is most often associated with a change in hormonal levels and a lack of vitamins and trace elements, especially iron, because a lot of blood is lost during childbirth, plus you shared all the necessary nutrients with the child, that is, he took as much as he needed.

Very often, girls aged 15 to 20 years have pronounced problems with hair, this is due to the fact that androgens are actively produced in the body.There may also be a hormonal disruption in which the process of activating the male hormone testosterone and its transition to the DHT form (dihydrotestosterone) occurs, and at the same time the hair is depleted and falls out according to the male type, or as it is also called the androgenic type of hair loss. More than 80% of women who have hair loss are caused by hormones. In women, hormone-induced hair loss occurs more in the crown area, causing the scalp to show through the hair.

2 Diseases of the thyroid gland... In case of problems with the thyroid gland, diffuse hair loss may appear. Diffuse baldness, as a rule, appears all over the head. Hair becomes thinner, depleted, and then falls out. Most often, this is due to insufficient supply of essential nutrients to the hair roots.

3 Surgery, especially under general anesthesia or trauma... After the operation, somewhere in 3-4 months, very often occurs intense hair loss, this is due to physical stress (surgery) and emotional (experiences before surgery) stress that the body experiences during surgery. After the operation, replenish the body with trace elements, especially iron, zinc, B vitamins, they help to recover faster after the operation. It is necessary to raise the body's immunity and I want to say that it will take quite a long time, sometimes even more than a year.

4 Iron-deficiency anemia, which can develop after childbirth, heavy periods, with strict diets for weight loss. It is the lack of iron that most often provokes hair problems in young girls. Iron-deficiency anemia today occurs in every second woman of childbearing age, although ten years ago - in every fifth woman.

5 Circulatory disorders... All nutrients are delivered to the hair along with the blood, and if the capillaries are narrowed and blood circulation is impaired, then, accordingly, the hair will starve, even if you eat the healthiest hair products. This can be corrected with a scalp massage, daily brushing, and exercise or yoga.

6 Gastrointestinal problemsare very common causes of hair loss. Hair health is affected by gut health and even more than you might think. It is said that 80% of our immune system is located in the colon. An imbalance in the intestinal microflora can cause various diseases, ranging from allergies and problems with the skin, hair, and ending with a decrease in immunity. Worms, liver and pancreas problems also cause hair loss.

7 Taking medications, even taking antibiotics, can cause hair loss, or pressure pills, antidepressants, birth control pills and many others, with prolonged use can cause hair loss. After the abolition of hormonal contraceptives, increased hair loss is quite common.

8 Chemotherapy for cancer, it manifests itself in different ways depending on the treatment regimen and the dosages of drugs used, it happens that the hair falls out only partially, and sometimes it completely falls out, but after the end of the treatment, the hair is restored again, sometimes it is said that it is even better than it was.

9 Improper nutrition, which is accompanied by a lack of vitamins and minerals that hair needs every day. Ensure that your food is complete, balanced and present hair products.

10 Diseases of the scalpfungal infections. This can be dandruff, flaking, seborrhea (dry or oily), ringworm, eczema, psoriasis, furunculosis, and others. The main thing is not to self-medicate, but contact a specialist so as not to aggravate the situation.

External causes of hair loss

1 Postponed severe stress. After suffering stress, hair growth is usually restored spontaneously, just as it began to fall out abruptly, and hair loss stops abruptly. But if you have constant worries at work, at home, then coping with the loss will be much more difficult. The release of stress hormones disrupts the blood supply to the hair papillae and causes a slowdown in hair growth, and hair from the growth stage enters the resting phase. If you cannot withstand stress on your own, then it is advisable to drink sedatives.

2 Incorrectly selected carecan also cause hair loss. First, determine your hair type (if you cannot on your own, then contact an experienced hairdresser) and carefully look at the line of hair products that you buy, so that they match your type, especially when it comes to choosing a shampoo, you can read in more detail. how to choose the right shampoo for normal, dry and oily hair.

3 Frequent dyeing and perm, which make hair thinner and more brittle, and after chemistry and dyeing, the hair needs high-quality restoration. Because after dyeing, even the most gentle, the top layer of the hair - the cuticle - is destroyed, what can we say about perm.

4 Permanently blow-dry your hair (hot air). Never dry your hair with hot air, but slightly warm air at a distance of 20 cm, and using thermal protection, also do not dry wet hair immediately, dry it with a towel for a few minutes, apply thermal protection and then use a hair dryer.

5 Frequent use of flat curlers and irons... During intense hair loss, stop using these devices for a while. And also before each use of the iron and curling iron, do not forget to apply special products that can protect your hair from thermal effects.

6 Wrong hairstyles, hairstyles such as a ponytail, tight braids, dreadlocks using tight elastic bands can damage the hair, and the constant use of styling products (foams, varnishes) negatively affects the hair structure.

7 Incorrectly matched comb... A good quality hairbrush plays a major role in hair care. If your hair is falling out a lot, try using a wide-toothed comb to reduce the risk of damage and hair loss when brushing. Try to choose natural combs and remember not to brush your hair when wet.

8 Hard, bad water with which you wash your hair... I think many in our time can complain that chlorinated, hard water flows from the tap and there is little that can be done about it. But, at the end of shampooing, you can rinse your hair with acidified water with the addition of vinegar or lemon juice: 2 tablespoons per 1 liter of water, this procedure will perfectly soften the water and normalize the pH of the scalp. Or rinse your hair with a decoction of herbs that are very suitable for hair loss: calamus, nettle, hop cones and sage, for more details on how to use different herbs for hair, you can read in this article:herbs for hair.

9 Physical activity and adequate sleep... We all know that movement is life, and I think that says it all. No one says to constantly sit in the gym and exhaust yourself with workouts, it is enough to do exercises every morning, driving the blood throughout the body, and all important nutrients will come to the hair along with the blood. And lack of sleep is one of the main causes of depression, apathy and even stress, and today stress is one of the main causes of hair loss in women.

Which doctors should you contact

It is important that you understand that it is precisely on the exact identification of the cause of hair problems that their recovery depends.

As we already said, before starting treatment, you need to undergo diagnostics, take tests and identify the cause. To do this, you will first need to contact trichologist, or dermatologist, who will supervise your treatment, but most likely he can appoint a consultation with other doctors:

• Gynecologist - we already know that for our health it is necessary to visit a gynecologist once every six months, so it will not be superfluous, but nevertheless, the gynecologist can send for hormone tests if there are suspicions and do an ultrasound.
• Endocrinologist - check the condition of the thyroid gland and thyroid hormones. Because hair is directly dependent on the proper functioning of the thyroid gland.
• Gastroenterologist - I would even say that this doctor's consultation is mandatory, even if you have never had any complaints. Almost all gastrointestinal problems can subsequently cause hair loss. And dysbiosis in which all useful substances, whether in food or in tablets, are not absorbed by the body, and if the acidity of the stomach is the same. I think a specialist will more accurately determine the connection between hair and the work of the digestive tract.
• Neuropathologist - if you have rapid fatigue, general fatigue, irritability, problems with the nervous system or blood circulation, be sure to consult a specialist.

For a diagnosis of hair loss, the following tests may need to be done:

blood chemistry, is done in order to see protein, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and much more;

hair trichogram, with the help of a trichogram, the doctor determines the condition of the hair roots under a microscope and the phase in which the hair is located, a low percentage of hair in the growth phase indicates significant hair loss. To make the trichogram result more accurate, you should not wash your hair for two to three days before the trichogram.

hair trichoscanning - this is a more modern version of the trichogram, where using a special camera and software, you can get data on the number of hairs, calculate the percentage of hair in the growth phase in the resting phase, determine the density, thickness and rate of hair growth. To do this, the hair is shaved on the specified area of ​​the head in advance, then the area is photographed, and after three days, photographed a second time. Then the hair that has grown during these three days is counted, as well as the roots from which the hair has not grown. And only then, based on these calculations, you can calculate the percentage of hairs that are in the growth phase and based on this, an assessment of hair loss is made. As a result, if more than 85% of the hair is in the growth phase, then there is no hair loss, and if the value is lower, then it can be argued about alopecia.

blood test for hormones - there can be two types of hormone analyzes: tests for female sex hormones (Progesterone, Prolactin, Estradiol, Dihydrotestosterone) and an analysis for thyroid hormones (TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyrotropin), free T3 (free triiodothyronine), free T4 (free thyroxine) ), antibodies to thyroid peroxidase (AT-TPO, microsomal antibodies), antibodies to thyroglobulin (AT-TG). This does not mean that you will need to take all types, the doctor will determine which ones are right for you.

a blood test for ferritin levels, even if hemoglobin is normal, this test needs to be done. Ferritin is the main indicator of iron stores in the body, plays an important role in maintaining iron in a biologically useful form, which directly affects the condition of the hair.

blood test for zinc, magnesium and calcium levels in the body, all these minerals can cause severe hair problems, or even baldness, and there can also be a blood test for vitamin and amino acid levels in the body.

Effective hair loss treatment

If you have found any specific health problems, for example, problems with the gastrointestinal tract or with the thyroid gland, then the respective doctors (gastroenterologist or endocrinologist) prescribe a special treatment for these diseases, but do not forget about the specific hair treatment. There should be no rush in the treatment of hair and your doctor should approach the treatment in a comprehensive manner, in the treatment of hair loss, the following can be involved:

1 Medication, medications. Basically, these are pills that work to eliminate the deficiencies of vitamins and micro-macro elements in the body, for example, with a lack of vitamin B7, they can prescribe - "Medobiotin" or "Volvit", with a lack of zinc, which causes baldness, they can prescribe "Zincteral", or "Ascocin", with a lack of iron - "Totem" or "Tardiferon" or in general vitamins in a complex, for example, vitamins of group B: "Milgamma", "Neurobeks", "Neurovitan", or a full complex of vitamins, microelements: "Pantovigar" - special vitamins for diffuse hair loss, "Perfectil", "Special dragee Merz" and many others.

2 Anti-hair loss shampoos and masks... Shampoo alone will not cope with this problem, but in combination it can help well. Shampoos should be chosen special, against hair loss or to stimulate hair growth. Try shampoos that are free of sulfates, silicones and parabens, which drain and damage your hair, making it brittle. Special masks also play an important role in restoring hair growth, so you shouldn't neglect them.

3 Medicinal serums, lotions for topical application to be rubbed into the scalp. Today there are a huge number of them, but the doctor will recommend which will suit you best. They need to be used in courses of several months.

4 Mesotherapy of the scalp. The essence of mesotherapy is the introduction of intradermal vitamins, trace elements and other drugs into the scalp. This technique allows you to significantly improve blood supply, as well as provide the hair follicles with all the necessary beneficial nutrients, prevent problems associated with hair loss, hair structure and scalp condition.

5 Plasma lifting of the scalp... Plasmolifting - treatment and hair restoration by injection. The peculiarity of plasmolifting is that your own blood is taken for the procedure. Blood is taken from a vein, and then it is poured into a vacuum tube and placed in a centrifuge, where the blood is processed and purified. Then the plasma is drawn into a syringe and micro injections are made into the scalp. Today it is one of the best and most effective ways to combat hair loss, and the results are even noticeable in androgenic alopecia. The article Plasmolifting for hair (my experience), you can familiarize yourself in detail with this procedure, the results and feelings of one of the girls who is treating hair loss.

6 Darsonvalization... Darsonval is a device that improves blood circulation; it acts on the scalp with high frequency impulse currents. It is used for all types of baldness, as with the help of Darsonval it is possible to strengthen and stimulate hair growth. It also perfectly disinfects the skin, reduces the oiliness of the scalp, improves overall tone and promotes deeper penetration of cosmetics. You can read more about Darsonval in the article: Darsonval for hair loss.

7 Scalp massage. The massage makes the hair roots work intensively. You can sign up for a massage course with a specialist, or you can do it yourself. Simply massage your scalp with your fingertips, moving them slowly in a circle while applying light pressure. About 10 minutes of this massage every day will be sufficient.

8 Folk, home remedies, which will help fight hair loss, no worse than purchased ones. You can get acquainted in more detail with folk methods of hair treatment, you can here.

After eliminating the negative factors that affect hair loss, you will immediately see the restoration of hair growth and an increase in hair density.