While most British Asians are genetically gifted with naturally good and bouncy hair, in recent years, that particular image has been proven as a myth. Several issues are causing severe hair fall in people from this community- a major being stress and anxiety. Anxiety can lead to conditions that causes hair loss, and in turn make living with hair loss far more stressful.
Having said that, it is important to note that not all hair loss is related to stress. It is crucial that you identify the actual source of the problem. Some could be naturally age related or triggered by medication or change of location, water and climate or simply due to some underlying health conditions that need immediate attention.
Moreover all conditions of hair fall cannot be termed as 'hair loss'. When one loses hair regularly it is often termed as 'hair shredding', because within a certain period of time, it grows all back. However, if hair sheds faster than it replaces or stops growing altogether- leading to bald patches- it is officially termed as 'hair loss'.
It’s normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day. But when the body sheds significantly more hair every day, a person has excessive hair shedding.
It is common in people who have experienced one the following stressors: Lost 20 pounds or more, Given birth, Experiencing lots of stress (Caring for a loved one who is sick, going through a divorce, losing a job), Had high fever, Undergone an operation, Recovering from an illness, especially if had a high fever or Stopped taking birth-control pills
Most people notice the excessive hair shedding a few months after the stressful event. As your body readjusts, the excessive shedding stops. Within 6 to 9 months, the hair tends to regains its normal fullness. If the stressor stays with you, however, hair shedding can be long lived. People who are constantly under a lot of stress can have long-term excessive hair shedding.
On the other hand, hair loss could be hereditary, or caused by immune system overreaction, drugs and treatments, hairstyles that pull on the hair, harsh hair care products or compulsion to pull out one’s hair. If you have hair loss, your hair will not grow until the cause stops.
TYPES OF HAIR LOSS
Thinning hair all over the head
If you are shedding more hair than usual, there could be a problem with the hair cycle. Each hair follicle, the part of the skin that produces the hair, goes through a cycle with three phases: growth (90% of the time), resting (5-9%), loss (remaining)
Possible reasons: A deficiency in vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin D, vitamin B12 or iron, can lead to this type of hair loss, says Dr Vicky Jolliffe, a consultant dermatologist at the Royal London Hospital and an alopecia specialist. Over-exercise, diets, illness and surgery can all reduce the supply of these nutrients needed for hair growth.
What to do: Once you’ve identified the cause, the problem can usually be corrected and the hair cycle should normalise within six months to a year. She says while it’s tempting to just try a ‘hair-boosting’ supplement, see your GP first to rule out anything serious, such as a thyroid problem or PCOS.
However, it’s not always possible to find a clear cause and solution.
Patchy hair or total baldness
Random bald spots is an auto-immune problem where the immune system attacks the hair follicle, causing inflammation and stopping the hair growth cycle.
Possible reasons: These forms of hair loss are thought to have a genetic link, and 20 per cent of those affected have a family history. It’s also associated with other auto-immune conditions, such as eczema and dermatitis.
What to do: The most common treatment is prescription steroids, applied on the scalp, injected or sometimes orally. These calm inflammation and are effective in about 70 per cent of cases. Another option is contact immunotherapy, where a chemical solution is applied to the scalp to create an irritant reaction, kick-starting the follicles into working again.
Pattern hair loss
Male or female pattern hair loss is the most common type. Half of all men are affected by the age of 50. In men, the hair starts to diminish in volume on the crown and temples and recedes around the temples, leaving hair on the back and sides of the head. In women, the hair thins on the top and crown and usually starts with a widening through the parting. Pattern baldness is caused by the hair follicles shrinking (miniaturisation) until they finally stop functioning altogether.
Possible reasons: The problem is thought to be partly related to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more potent form of the hormone testosterone. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have higher levels of DHT, but you could be more sensitive to it. While there may be a family link, some experience pattern hair loss with no family history of it.
Many women develop pattern hair loss with the menopause, due to the drop in the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Pattern baldness is also linked to polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Permanent hair loss can also be caused as a complication of another condition, such as ringworm or when hair is pulled out of the follicle, such as through wearing tight braids or the use of hair extensions.
What to do: There are two main drugs, finasteride and minoxidil, that can help pattern baldness. Dr Jolliffe reportedly said, ‘Finasteride puts the brakes on hair loss and prevents progression, while minoxidil optimises what you have left. ‘I often use the two together.’
NATURAL FOOD TO HELP REDUCE HAIR LOSS
SPINACH: Spinach is iron rich and it contains sebum, which acts as a natural conditioner for hair. The leafy green also provides omega-3 acids, magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron. All help keep hair lustrous, shiny and, most importantly, out of the drain. Spinach is only one of the 8 Superfoods You Should Eat Every Day!
GREEK YOGURT: Greek yogurt is rich in vitamin B5 (known as pantothenic acid), which helps with blood flow to your scalp and hair growth. Check out our picks for the Best Greek Yogurts for Weight Loss!
CINNAMON: It smells like the holiday season and improves circulation, which brings oxygen and nutrients to your hair follicles.
OATMEAL: Oats are rich in iron, fiber, zinc, iron, omega-3 fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which stimulate hair growth, making it thick and healthy.
GUAVA: V Although we often think of oranges as the best source of vitamin C, one guava packs four to five times as much.
EGGS: Eggs are packed with a B vitamin called biotin, which helps hair grow and strengthens brittle fingernails.
LENTILS: Full of protein, iron, zinc and biotin, lentils also have plenty of folic acid. The body needs folic acid to restore the health of red blood cells that supply skin and scalp with hair-healthening oxygen.
BARLEY: Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that can actually absorb damaging UV light and protect skin cells. It also repairs sun damage on the scalp, which can cause hair to thin. I
NUTS AND SEEDS: Walnuts and other nuts contain oils that add to the amount of elastin in your hair. Elastin keeps hair supple and stops it from breaking. Walnuts are just one of the 6 Best Nuts for Weight loss!
SWEET POTATOES: Beta carotene protects against dry, dull hair and stimulates the glands in your scalp to make an oily fluid called sebum.
SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS: Copper may help hair maintain its natural color — even if you don’t happen to be ginger, apparently. A 2012 study showed that low copper intake could be linked to premature graying. Shiitake mushrooms are rich in the mineral.
References: https://www.aad.org, www.dailymail.co.uk/health and http://www.eatthis.com
