Hair Problems

We all care for our hair, but we tend to overlook the most important part of the body, which is our scalp. Your hair needs tender love and care to maintain its health and beauty. They are sensitive and can get easily damaged due to various lifestyle and environmental factors. There are many types of hair and scalp problems, such as thinning of hair, hair fall, break off, slow growth, dandruff or peeling scalp, etc. You need to be cautious while trying some medications or else they might affect your hair as well as body badly. Our experts are there to help you out in this situation, read the related articles to deal with hair problems.

Dandruff

This is one of the most common hair problems and many people deal with it. Dandruff is a hair condition where white flakes are produced by the scalp that gets accumulated on the upper layer. There are numerous reasons behind dandruff and they depend on what type of dandruff you have- dry or wet. Dry dandruff is commonly seen in winters when the scalp absorbs all the natural oil during dry weather. Wet dandruff, on the other hand, is mostly experienced in summers due to over-secretion of sebum. This gets accumulated on the scalp and attracts dirt/dust. It thus becomes flaky. Dandruff is a harmless condition but it can cause hair loss in the long run.

Symptoms

• Dry scalp
• White flakes in hair, shoulders and clothes
• Greasy or excessively oily scalp
• Itchy scalp
• Redness on the scalp due to scratching

Causes

Here are some common causes of dandruff:

Not washing hair regularly: When you don’t wash your hair for a longer time, it may cause dandruff. This is because your hair becomes dirty due to dirt/dust accumulation and this causes dandruff. Washing hair regularly can prevent dandruff.

Sensitive skin: Some people have sensitive skin including the scalp that gives them dandruff due when they use chemical-based hair care products.

Dosha imbalance: As per Ayurveda, if any of your three doshas like Vata, pitta and Kapha are imbalanced, it may cause an oil imbalance in the scalp that leads to dandruff condition.

Seborrheic Dermatitis: This is a chronic skin condition that is carried by a yeast naturally present on the scalp. Greasiness and itchiness in the scalp can lead to wet dandruff.

Stress: This is also a factor causing many hair problems including dandruff.

Treatment

Following are some prevention and treatment measures for dandruff.

Regular hair wash

Washing your hair at regular intervals would keep the scalp clean. However, daily hair wash does the exact opposite. It dries up the scalp by eliminating natural oils from the scalp. By drying the scalp, it can cause dandruff. Washing your hair twice or thrice a week is recommended. Also, if you have dandruff, use a mild, preferably herbal shampoo for hair cleansing.

Oil Massage

By keeping the scalp moisturised, you are promoting nourishment. Apart from keeping the dry scalp wet, oil massaging also boost blood circulation in the scalp that helps the oil to get absorbed and boost hair growth. Use herbal oils such as almond oil, tea tree oil, neem oil, coconut oil, etc. to massage your scalp.

Hair Loss

Another most common hair problem that most people struggle with sometime in their life is hair loss. Due to one or the other reason, we experience light or heavy hair fall which can become severe over time. This can be temporary or permanent hair loss that is caused due to various reasons. Read ahead to know symptoms, causes and treatment for hair loss.

Symptoms of hair loss

Here are some signs that you are experiencing hair loss:

• Receding hairline
• Hair thinning
• Bald patches
• Baldness on some part of the head

Causes

There are various causes behind hair loss and we have listed down them all here:

Aging: Age-related hair loss is normal where a person may experience thinning and falling hair as they age. Conditions like androgenic alopecia occur due to aging.

Hormonal imbalance: Women generally suffer from hair loss problems when their body is undergoing hormonal fluctuations. Puberty, pregnancy, menstruation, menopause, childbirth, etc. are some stages where women are highly likely to experience hair loss.

Stress: When you are under stress, a telogen effluvium condition may appear that can cause temporary hair loss.

Scalp infection: If you have an itchy or irritated scalp along with dryness and redness, it indicates scalp infection. This can damage hair follicles which results in hair loss.

Use of chemical-based hair products: Sulfates, parabens, etc. are some ingredients that are harmful to your hair. These are found in most shampoos and conditioners, thus, you should avoid using them.

Pollution and heat: If your hair get exposed to pollution and heat for long time periods, it can cause hair damage. Dirt and heat soak up all the moisture and oil from the scalp leaving them dry and cause hair to fall.

Poor diet: Nutrient deficiencies of vital vitamins and minerals can also cause hair loss as these weaken the roots and obstruct hair growth.

Health conditions: PCOD, thyroid, cancer, etc. are some conditions that can trigger hair loss both temporary and permanent.

Unhealthy habits: Smoking, drinking alcohol, poor sleep, etc. are some habits that trigger hair loss.

Treatment

Here are some suggestions that can help in reversing hair loss:

Wash your hair regularly with a mild or herbal shampoo and condition them.

Eat healthy diet including all vitamins and minerals.

Avoid using chemical-based hair products.

Oil massage your scalp at least once a week to boost blood circulation and promote hair growth.

Tie your hair when going out in a hot and polluted environment.

Limit use of heat styling tools.

Reduce stress by practising mindful techniques.

Premature Graying

Do you see some grey hair strands? This could be a sign of hair graying. While this is normal with age, graying at an early age is the sign of premature greying. The major symptom of premature graying is changing of hair colour from normal colour to grey and then white. Scroll down to read the causes and prevention of premature greying.

Causes

If you want to know what causes premature graying of hair, here are some:

• Stress
• Genes
• Decreased melatonin(pigment) production
• Pitta dosha imbalance
• Smoking
• Drinking

Treatment for premature greying

Change your diet plan and include iron, copper, green leafy vegetables, nuts, etc. in your diet.

Consume B-12 vitamin that boosts melatonin production which strengthens hair follicles.

Do meditation, yoga and other exercises to balance dosha and release stress.

Certain Ayurvedic herbs such as Triphala, Henna, Bhringraj, etc. are effective in preventing and treating premature greying.

Hair Thinning

Hair thinning is the initial stage of hair loss and baldness. This is characterised by excessive hair fall and individual losses in patterns and patches on the head. Hair thinning is when you experience excessive hair loss and is very common in both men and women.

Causes

Here are some causes of hair thinning:

Hereditary or genetic factors

Hair thinning can also be caused due to existing medical conditions like thyroid, cancer

Dosha imbalance: Ayurveda suggests that pitta dosha can cause hair thinning and receding hairline

Poor diet is also a primary factor that causes hair thinning and hair loss as your follicles do not get the essential nutrients they need for growth

Tight hairstyles including tying your hair in rubber bands cause hair weakening and gradual hair thinning

Treatment

Consuming a healthy diet rich in essential nutrients promotes hair health and growth. Biotin, folic acid, iron, omega-3 fatty acids and zinc are some necessary nutrients for your hair.

Massage your hair with herbal oils once a week to strengthen the follicles from roots. Stronger roots build hair strength.

Wash your hair with herbal shampoos and condition them particularly if you have dry and weak hair.

Use hair masks to provide extra nourishment.

Avoid tying your hair in tight hairstyles.

Manage stress and boost hair health with yoga poses.

References

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/causes/18-causes

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/hair-problems