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All about the hair

Last Updated 25 September 2018, 06:00 IST

As we age, we tend to experience some amount of hair loss. This is common and is known as alopecia. There are other kinds of hair loss too due to dandruff, an excessively oily scalp, illness, thyroid imbalance, stress, as well as hair damage caused by procedures like hair dyeing, bleaching, straightening, perming etc.

Hormonal imbalances can also cause hair loss, while nutritional deficiency is probably one of the most common causes of hair loss. That is why diet is so important. Post-pregnancy hair loss is routine. During menopause too, women face problems of thinning hair. However, hair loss in women does not normally progress to baldness, as in men.

Getting into details

Hair loss in men can be due to hereditary and hormonal factors. It is called male pattern baldness. In many cases, the hair and scalp are very oily. Actually, oily hair can compound the problem of hair loss. However, this can be treated by a clinical treatment, where hair tonics are applied and proper diet is given.

Diet is important, as vitamins strengthen our immune system. We recommend taking sprouts daily. These can be made from kala chana, moong, rajma beans, etc. Sprouts contain amino acids, which are very beneficial to the hair. Include fresh fruits, raw salads, leafy green vegetables, whole grains and curd in your daily diet. If the scalp is oily, or if there is dandruff, drink plenty of water. Add the juice of a lemon to a glass of water and have it first thing in the morning. Ask your doctor to prescribe vitamin and mineral supplements. Try to reduce stress. Learn yoga and practice it daily, including deep breathing exercises. Learn relaxation techniques to improve your overall well-being.

Often, the problem of hair loss can lead to anxiety and stress. Obviously, the fear of becoming bald is the cause of anxiety. We try to provide enough information to reduce anxiety and stress, which can actually make the problem of hair loss worse.

However, if at all the situation progresses to hairfall, there are options like wearing a wig. Apart from that, you can go for hair weaving, extensions or transplant. Hair weaving is done if the person is partially bald. The hair is actually woven to the roots of the existing hair or, sometimes glued on. Then it is said to grow naturally. Partial hair extensions are becoming more popular in the hair weaving method. However, washing the hair and keeping the scalp clean poses a problem and one has to go periodically to get the weave tightened when the hair grows out. Hair transplant is a surgical procedure, in which a portion of the scalp which contains hair is taken, along with the hair follicles, and grafted in the bald areas. The hair then begins to grow in the bald areas. Nowadays, the procedure has become very advanced and is said to be better than hair weaving. It may be done in one session, or may take several sessions.

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(Published 25 September 2018, 05:53 IST)

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