Hair loss is such a phenomenon that every person experiences at some stage in their life. My best friend started experiencing hair loss when he noticed his receding hairline, and more hair started appearing in the sink. As we are both in our twenties, this worried me about my hair.

However, when he visited a medical consultant, he learned several factors that come into play when you notice hair loss or hair thinning. It is not as simple as “hair loss = going bald”. It helped to reduce the fear of hair loss.
Resultantly, my friend started hair loss treatment, and he saw an immediate improvement in the quality of his hair.

Why do we experience Hair Loss?

Hair loss is a natural procedure that we need to encounter at one point or some other. As we age, our hair naturally loses strength and volume. However, younger people undergo hair fall when their significant hair get thin or bald patches. These are the most common methods to perceive hair loss.

People lose 50-100 hair every day on average. However, new hair grows from hair follicles. The hair follicle is an organ found in mammalian skin. They regulate hair growth.

You may experience hair loss when these follicles cease producing hair and hair shafts become finer.
Hair loss takes place in both women and men. However, there are distinct causes for it, which are mentioned below.

Hair Loss in men

Androgenetic alopecia or more commonly known as male pattern baldness is a genetic trait inherited from parents. It results in receding hairline or hair thinning at the back of the head.

Different medical conditions can also result in hair loss. If your diet is low in protein and iron, it causes your hair to become thin. Hair loss can also result during the treatment of several diseases such as cancer or as a side-effect of medicine taken for depression, high blood pressure and other heart-related problems. Stress can also cause hair loss in men.

Hair Loss in women

We also know female pattern baldness as androgenetic alopecia. It is pretty similar to male pattern baldness. It results from an inherited gene from either parent.

Women lose hair in a distinct pattern. In female pattern baldness, the hair growth phase slows down. New hair is finer and thinner than before. Resultant hair is also weak and can break easily.
Other causes are alopecia areata, which is a patchy hair loss on top of the head. Cicatricial alopecia causes irreversible hair loss and traumatic alopecia.

You can also face hair loss because of hairstyling practices like excessive combing, use of blow dryers or usage of certain chemicals to dye hair. These practices can damage your hair to a dangerous extent.

Are there any symptoms of hair loss?

Yes, you can perceive if you are suffering from hair loss. The most prominent symptom of hair loss is losing more than usual hair. But it is hard to identify. Following symptoms give a better idea of hair loss,

  • Receding Hairline: If you notice your hairline looking higher on your head than usual, then it is a sign of hair loss or hair thinning.
  • Bald Patches: Several patches on the head where there is an acute absence of hair, and you can see the skin directly. It is a crucial symptom of hair loss.
  • Clogged Drains: You may notice a lot of hair in the sink or shower drain. It indicates hair loss.
  • Loose Hair: You may see your comb is collecting more hair than usual. 
  • Widening Part: If you part your hair and notice that there is a significant gap between each part, then it is a sign of hair loss.

How can I overcome hair loss?

Here is the good news for all hair fall patients.
Hair loss can get treated. But it depends upon the cause of hair loss. As we have mentioned above, there are several causes of hair loss. So, medical experts introduce different treatments to improve hair growth and reduce hair loss.
The best anti-hair loss treatment is subjective to each individual. Some treatments work on some people but may cause side effects on some. 

Medication

Medication is a universal method of treating hair loss. USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications to treat male/female pattern baldness. Minoxidil (Rogaine) and Finasteride.

Minoxidil is available as a liquid or foam, which you can apply to the scalp. This drug will encourage hair growth and decrease hair loss. However, it is not a miracle drug. It cannot restore your hair just like before hair loss started.

They also take months to show results. It also does not work on every individual. Some people say that it leaves a deposit and irritates the scalp. It has a few side effects, such as alcohol-related skin irritation.
Finasteride is a pill that the doctor can prescribe to tackle hair loss. Iron supplements are also another way to encourage hair growth in women.

Hair Transplant

Hair transplant is a pretty popular method to cure baldness and hair loss. There are two basic types of hair transplants. Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and Follicular unit extraction (FUE).

In FUT, some part of your skin gets removed from the back of your scalp where hair is abundant. Follicles are removed from that skin and then inserted into the region where you are experiencing hair loss.

In FUE, hair follicles get directly removed from the scalp and transplanted into the bald regions.
However, keep in mind that a hair transplant is surgery. Thus, it would be expensive and painful.

PRP therapy for hair loss

Platelet-rich Plasma therapy or simply PRP treatment is a medical procedure carried out to overcome hair loss. It is a process of 45 to 60 minutes in which they draw your blood (usually from your arm).

They place the withdrawn blood in a centrifuge. A centrifuge device divides your blood into three significant portions They include:

  • Red blood cells
  • Platelets
  • Plasma

Afterwards, they use the enriched plasma to inject into your body part. Some of them also mix special vitamins or serums within the plasma and inject them within your scalp.

It is an effective way to treat hair fall. The results may occur within five to six weeks. You need to attend at least three PRP sessions (each after four to six weeks) for prompt results. However, it is not a suitable therapy for cancer patients, diabetics, skin disease patients, etc.

Prp Hair Loss

Natural hair loss treatment

Using the best natural hair loss treatment is an excellent way to treat hair loss without suffering the side effects that other treatment methods present.

There is some evidence that peppermint oils can encourage hair growth. Rosemary oil is known to increase blood circulation to the scalp. Doctors also recommend coconut and olive oil to reduce hair loss.
Biotin is a vitamin that is found naturally in foods. Taking supplements of biotin can reduce hair loss in women.

Other methods to naturally treat hair loss are to get scalp massages, which are dandruff and hair loss treatment methods. Quitting smoking and having a balanced diet will also improve your hair growth.

Conclusion

We cannot stop hair loss, as it is a natural process that will happen as we age. But certain medical conditions or genetics can induce it in young people.

It is best to visit a medical consultant when you think you are experiencing hair loss. They can help you identify the problem behind hair loss. By analyzing the problem, you can select the best anti-hair loss treatment.