Reasons Behind Hair Fall And Its Ayurvedic Treatment

Hair loss, as the name itself implies, refers to the loss of hair from scalp / head; another term used to describe this is alopecia. It is a broad term that also includes thinning of hair. While genetics plays a vital role in this condition that afflicts both men and women, there are several other factors that are involved in bringing on this problem in people. In order to understand the reasons for hair fall better, it is essential that you learn about the various growth stages of hair.

The hair growth cycle consists of three phases:

1.     The first phase is the anagen phase, which is an active phase in which the hair grows. This phase lasts for around 2-7 yrs.

2.     The second phase is the catagen phase. The catagen phase immediately follows the anagen phase and lasts for around 10- 14 days during which the hair stops getting blood supply and becomes dead.

3.     The third and the last phase is telogen phase, which is a resting phase. In this phase, the dead hair falls out and the hair follicles remain in rest or inactive stage for about 2-3 months.

After completion of last stage, the entire cycle is repeated. Each single hair undergoes these three phases of growth independent of the other hair on the scalp. Normally, at a given point of time about 90% of hair is in the anagen phase and only 10% is in the telogen phase. When this ratio is altered, it leads to increased rate of hair loss. Hair loss can occur at any age, and can be prevalent in both males and females. Hair loss in itself is not a disease, but a sign that often indicates various other diseases. Hair loss occurs as a result of various diseases or factors and in different patterns.

The various causes / factors leading to hair loss include:
Skin diseases affecting the scalp like fungal infection of scalp known as tinea capitis, seborrhoea (dandruff), eczema of scalp, or lichen planus.

1.     Genetic factors

2.     Hormonal changes including those that occur after childbirth and during menopause

3.     Nutritional deficiencies due to a diet that lacks iron (leading to anemia), and also lack of protein intake

4.     Recovery from acute fever like typhoid and erysipelas leads to diffuse hair loss

5.     Drug use like the ones that are used in treating high blood pressure, joint pains, cancer, or depression. Anagen effluvium refers to the condition of hair loss due to chemotherapy in a cancer patient

6.     Physical trauma / injury to head

7.     Emotional trauma like constant stress or grief due to loss of a family member / close friend

8.     General diseases like diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis, Hypothyroidism, or AIDS

9.     Auto-immune related hair loss in which the hair cells are mistaken for a foreign body and are destroyed by the immune cells of the body

10.                        Hairstyles like tight braids or ponytails where the hair is tightly pulled backwards leading to traction alopecia; indiscriminate use of hair colors and hair straighteners

11.                        Trichotillomania, which is a mental disorder in which the affected person voluntarily pulls out his / her scalp hair

The cause and site of hair loss are to be noted down along with the constitutional symptoms of the patient which are given prime importance in any kind of case of hair loss. The constitutional symptoms include the eating habits, level of thirst, thermals, mental symptom etc. and these are to be given top position in forming the totality of symptoms while case taking.