How to Prevent Hair Loss: Causes, Treatments, & Hair Care Tips

Introduction

Our hair is our most distinguishing feature, – straight, curly, wavy, short, long, or whatever type it may be. Love it or hate it but you must care for it! Hair style does not matter, if you love and nurture your hair to keep it healthy, and shiny and prevent hair loss.

Hair loss is common to men and women alike. It is a natural phenomenon where some hair breaks and new ones grow in its place. There is nothing to be alarmed of. The warning bells should ring when you observe that new hair is not growing, bald patches, patchiness, or acute hair fall. This calls for a visit to your medical practitioner/dermatologist to identify the reason for hair loss.

Factors that cause hair loss

The factors that cause hair loss are as under:

Genetics
Increasing age
Stress
Side effects of medication
Pregnancy – in women
Pre-existing medical conditions like thyroid etc.
Chemotherapy
Vitamin deficiency

How to diagnose reasons for hair loss

Before you embark on the journey towards preventing hair loss, it is imperative to identify the reasons for your hair loss. Your medical practitioner may call for blood tests (to uncover any medical condition), conduct pull tests (gently pulling a few strands to determine the level of shedding), scalp biopsy (microscopic examination of a few strands or skin samples of the scalp) or light microscopy (using a special instrument to examine disorders of the hair shaft).

Once the reason is ascertained, the necessary treatment can be commenced.

Medicinal procedures for the prevention of hair loss

Let us now examine the medical procedures that may be used to prevent hair loss.

Medication: Certain non-prescribed OTC medicines like Minoxidil (available in shampoo, foam, or liquid forms) are used for regrowing new hair and/or preventing the intensity of hair loss. Certain medicines like Finasteride (Propecia) are prescribed, for men having baldness issues, to be taken in pill form, which decelerates the hair loss and may promote new hair growth. There are some other medicines like spironolactone (Carospir, Aldactone), and oral dutasteride (Avodadrt).^[1] However, it is advisable to check for side effects before consuming these medicines.
Hair transplant: Hair transplant or restoration surgery is used to treat hair loss. Generally, it is the top of the head that has permanent hair loss. A hair transplant is when the hair from the hairy part of the head is removed and planted in the bald patches of the scalp.
Laser therapy: A new breakthrough is laser therapy which is the use of a low-level laser device to treat hereditary hair loss. Though approved by the FDA, however, more research is required on this.
Injections: The injecting of Corticosteroid injections in the bald patches every 4-8 weeks may promote hair growth.
PRP therapy: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy in which some amount of blood is drawn and injected into the bald patches. This procedure is to be once every three months and thereafter every 3 months and 6 months.
Medicate pre-existing medical conditions: Hair loss caused due to pre-existing medical conditions like thyroid etc. can mostly be countered with proper medication for that illness combined with lifestyle changes.

Preventive measures for hair loss

Let us see some of the preventive measures that we can take to prevent hair loss, as much as possible.

Hair wash: The use of too much shampoo may damage your hair and scalp making your hair frizzy, or cause dryness of your scalp. Improper washing and drying of the hair make it weak brittle, and prone to breakage.
Hack: Use a mild shampoo and moisturizer that contains natural ingredients to cleanse your hair. Use normal water or mildly warm water to wash your hair. Avoid hot water or extremely cold water as it may damage your hair. Always pat your wet hair to dry it and do not rub it vigorously as it may lead to hair damage and hair fall.

Grooming tools: Brushing or combing your hair vigorously or when it is wet, may lead to hair loss.
Hack: Use a brush with soft bristles (made of natural products) or a comb with wide teeth, moving gently from the top to the hair ends in one direction. Daily brushing of your hair makes it free from clumps and easily manageable.

Hairstyles: Certain hairstyles keep your hair pulled away from your scalp, over a period of time, leading to loosening the bond between your hair and scalp thereby damaging your hair.
Hack: It is better to avoid styling your hair into cornrows, tight braids, ponytails, or pigtails, and keep changing your hairstyle to prevent this. Opt for hair styles that put less pressure on your hair. Avoid tightly pinning up your hair.

Use of heated hair styling tools: Using heated hair styling tools dehydrates our hair follicles and damages them easily.
Hack: It is better to avoid heated hair styling tools like blow dryers, hair straighteners, curling tongs, and ironing tongs. If necessary, then ensure the heat level is kept at a minimum.

No chemicals: Hair treatments often contain chemicals that are harsh and split the protein molecules (keratin) in your hair, thereby damaging your hair.
Hack: Reduce the frequency of using hair dyes, bleaching, highlights, peroxide treatments, and perms, as much as possible. Gentle massage with coconut hair oil / essential oils like pumpkin seed oil, and rosemary oil, may strengthen your hair, retain the natural moisture, and protect it from UV rays. Do not heat the oil before use.

Hair protection: The pollution and dust, when we travel, harm our hair making it greasy and dirty.
Hack: Use a scarf or cap when travelling to protect your hair from the harsh sun rays/UV rays/pollution and dust.

Night routine: We tend to put off a night care routine for our hair citing no time or energy.
Hack: Brush your hair properly, before bedtime, with long and gentle strokes. Use a soft/silk pillow to protect your hair from friction, tugging and tangling.

Balanced diet: Fast foods which are spicy, oily, and deep-fried, do more harm than good to our hair, skin, and body.
Hack: A well-balanced diet is essential for our body and mind. Eating healthy food that nourishes our hair, skin and body is essential

Healthy habits: Given the present lifestyle full of stress and pressure, it takes a toll on our overall health and wellness. Pulling your hair or twisting it between your fingers, consciously or subconsciously, damages it.
Hack: Inculcating healthy habits like proper hygiene, adequate liquid intake, eating meals on time, exercising, practising meditation, reducing stress/anger, sleeping early, staying happy, resting, and relaxing, altogether help in keeping our hair and body healthy. Stop fiddling, and twisting your hair!

Vitamins: Vitamin deficiencies may also lead to hair loss.
Hack: Ensure that your diet has a proper balance of vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients.

The Takeaway

We can make tiny changes in our lifestyle that will go a long way to keep us healthy with a full mane of hair on our heads. A healthy body and a healthy mind are the need of the hour today, given the hectic life we lead. So, practice healthily and see the difference.