Conditions Affecting Hair Growth

Invest in your hair; it’s the crown you will never take off! Our mood depends on how good our hair looks. So, we need to take good care of our trees (hair).

According to an NCBI research study, the hair follicles of men and women are the same. The difference between the appearance of hair in men and women is due to the type of hair produced by the hair follicles or the hair care tips, practiced by each individual.

It’s normal to lose between 50 and 100 strands of hair in a day; serious hair loss— medically termed as alopecia areata is a sign that something is wrong with the body. Here are some hair loss causes for your better understanding of :

• Genetic or hormonal imbalances and medications:Our hormones are essential for hair growth. If there is a slight change in our hormones, it can affect the body and hair growth. This also implies to any medications we take as they can have an impact on our hair growth.
• It can be difficult to stop stress, but it’s necessary that we learn to manage it as it can be a leading cause of hair loss. The bright side is that not all hair loss cases are permanent, so they can be fixed.
• Nutritional deficiencies: It is essential to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. If we do not consume the necessary nutrients (proteins, vitamins, minerals and iron levels) for our body; we’re not fuelling our body functions to give the finest results. Nutritional intake becomes even more important during specific periods when hair really needs that extra support. E.g. during summer, postpartum hair loss (hair loss in women after the baby arrives) or when early menopause symptoms (when the body has a lot of hormonal imbalances), start to show.
• Low biotin (B complex vitamins) or vitamin H levels:It is another cause of decreased hair growth. Biotin is also necessary to produce keratin, a protein that promotes strong nails and hair.
• Cosmetic procedures and excessive hair cleansing:Certain cosmetic procedures and excessive hair cleansing can have a harsh effect as it strips our hair’s natural oils that strengthen and help hair regrowth. These procedures can cause extreme hair loss. Always use products made from natural ingredients to safeguard your hair and scalp, against the harmful effects of chemicals.
• Hair ageing or androgenetic alopecia: It includes the weakening of the hair shaft, ageing of the hair follicle and ageing of the hair scalp. Hair ageing can be caused by external factors, such as oxidative stressors from the environment (UV radiations), smoking, nutritional deficits or pollution. Intrinsic factors are genetic premature greying and androgenetic alopecia (a common form of hair loss in men and women). Another hair ageing factor can be medical conditions, such as cancer, kidney disease, skin rashes or allergic reactions on the scalp.
• This can cause hair photo-ageing and dryness. Sunlight on human hair causes photo-degradation (hair alteration due to sunlight and air). In addition, free radicals form in the hair fibres due to UV rays that can change the hair’s physical properties and chemical composition.
• Low protein or crash diets:Protein or amino acids are the building blocks of hair, cells, collagen (a protein present in the body) and more. When our protein stores are low, the body immediately shifts hair growth into the catagen phase (second phase of the hair growth cycle).

What is the Hair Growth Cycle?

Each strand of our hair is part of a cycle wherein they are created, grow and eventually fall off. There are 3 distinct stages to the hair growth cycle:

The first stage is the creation or hair regrowth phase known as anagen. In this phase, the cells in the roots of an individual’s hair divide rapidly which results in new hair growth.

The second stage is the transitional phase known as catagen. It is a short phase and lasts for about 2 weeks. In this phase, the hair detaches itself from its blood supply and stops growing.

The final stage is the resting phase known as telogen. In this stage, the hair finally, falls out. The hair follicle then continues to remain inactive for about three months after which the whole cycle is repeated.

Also read: https://www.drbatras.cm/symptoms-of-hairloss