Losing great amounts of hair is always worrisome. We immediately get nervous and start thinking we will go bald. The truth is hair loss is not always caused by a condition like alopecia, but instead, it can be the result of a particular situation or of hair shedding.
Whatever the reason, after we lose hair, we want to regain it. This is not a condition that needs a specific treatment, but it is possible to regain thick, healthy hair and, if you follow our tips, you’ll be able to do it too.
Why do we lose hair?
Alopecia is more common among men than among women, but both genders are susceptible to it even during childhood, because we all go through a hair growth cycle in which hair falls out and then regenerates.
However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, hair loss is related to a certain disease or condition that provokes its fall. If we lose hair and it regrows, there’s nothing to be worried about, but if it doesn’t grow back, we need to seek a solution.
Hair loss causes
- An unhealthy diet: if we’re lacking vitamins, protein and nutrients, our hair will grow thinner and start falling out.
- Genetics: particularly for men, baldness can be inherited.
- Diseases: some diseases like diabetes and lupus can cause hair loss.
- Aging: as we age, we go through some hormonal changes, we suffer certain diseases and we take some medications that could cause hair loss.
- Stress: stress and anxiety produce hair loss.
- Hormonal changes: this is one of the reasons menopausal women start developing hair loss.
- Infections: mycosis and bacterial infections can damage our scalp and cause alopecia.
Hair loss symptoms
If you feel your hair volume is decreasing, you should pay attention to the presence of the following signs and symptoms.
- Your brush ends up covered in more hairs than usual after you use it.
- Your hair is thinner and more brittle.
- You notice your hair has less volume.
- You can see your scalp in certain areas.
- You have a receding hairline on your temples.
- Your pillow and shower are covered in hair.
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, you could be losing hair excessively. You should take the necessary measures to stop it. If you don’t know how to do that, we’ll give you some advice to help you.
How to avoid hair loss and regrow what we’ve lost
Several treatments can help you regrow your hair. They can be natural, medicinal, dermatological, with plugs and more, but you could also follow scalp hygiene practices and have a healthy diet to regenerate it.
Hair regrowth treatments
- Medicinal: there are certain medications like 5α-reductases, a drug prescribed to men, that reduce dihydrotestosterone blood levels and avoid follicle debilitation and hair loss.
- Food supplements: some food supplements like vitamin B12, biotin, omega-3, omega-6, zinc, folic acid, brewer’s yeast and others prevent hair loss and stimulate its regeneration.
- Local treatments: hair lotions are another option, since they are filled with nutrients that stimulate hair growth. There are also vasodilator treatments like minoxidil that stimulate the hair root and the hair growth as well.
- Regenerative treatments: dermatologists have started to use platelet-rich plasma obtained from the patient’s own blood and injected into the balder areas of the scalp to regenerate and strengthen debilitated hair follicles.
- Regeneration techniques: with the same purpose of stimulating hair growth, one can undergo certain techniques such as low-frequency laser therapy, ozone therapy and mesotherapy.
Care tips you should follow to regain lost hair
- Stimulate your scalp: gently brush your hair twice a day with a soft brush at least 50 times from root to tip.
- Trim the ends: when you trim your hair ends, you oxygenate it and stimulate its growth. You could also use essential oils to regenerate your hair ends.
- Avoid stress: if you have a stressful life, try relaxation techniques.
- Keep a healthy diet: avoid sugar and fat.
- Don’t use products that could damage your hair: avoid blow dryers and hair straighteners, because they debilitate and burn your hair.
- Avoid chemicals: while on treatment, do not use chemicals like hair dye and straightening products.
- Choose your treatment according to your hair type: only use products that are specifically created for your type of hair.
- Sun exposure: avoid direct sun exposure for long periods, because it damages and debilitates your hair.
Minerals and vitamins, you have to include in your diet to regain lost hair and stimulate its growth
- Iron: it takes part in the DNA production of the hair follicles. Therefore, the lack of iron debilitates hair and causes it to fall out.
- Linolenic acid: it stimulates hair maintenance and growth.
- Zinc: an essential mineral that synthesizes protein and helps hair grow stronger and healthier.
- Vitamin B7 (also known as biotin): the lack of this vitamin debilitates hair and makes it fall out.
- Vitamin B3: niacin keeps hair in good conditions and prevents alopecia.
Follow a healthy diet that includes lean meat, fish, eggs, legumes, nuts, green, leafy vegetables, fruits, avocados and seeds. Avoid eating large amounts of sugar and fat.
If you follow these recommendations, you’ll be able to regain your lost hair, stimulate its growth and strengthen it to avoid future losses.