Image Credit

Hair loss affects close to one-third of the world’s population. Many factors trigger hair loss, from hormonal changes to certain medical conditions. Take, for example, baldness, which is very common in men, although some women experience it. It can be a gradual hair loss process but sudden for others, leaving them with patches of baldness on their head. 

Note that hair loss is a natural process. Therefore, you shouldn’t worry about a few follicles falling off. Fortunately, there are a couple of ways to stop unwanted hair loss.

Consider Using Prescription Medications

There are certain clinically approved medications like finasteride and minoxidil that help with hair loss. Finasteride works by inhibiting dihydrotestosterone (DHT) hormone from causing follicle shrinkage, leading to hair fall out. 

Also, it promotes improved hair growth and regrowth. You should start seeing some noticeable hair growth results within three to six weeks of using this medicine.

Apart from finasteride, minoxidil increases blood flow and the fast uptake of nutrients to the hair follicles, thus encouraging hair regrowth.

Increase Your Nutrients Intake

It could be that your sudden hair loss associates with nutritional deficiencies. If that is the case, your hair loss treatments could be as simple as eating foods rich in iron, copper, zinc, and protein might work wonders for you. 

Also, vitamin D deficiency could be another reason for your hair loss. In fact, you should consider using multivitamin supplements. However, you need to talk to a physician if you have any other health issues before using supplements.

Many supplements link to hair growth, such as biotin, rich in vitamin H or B7, and Ginseng that contains phytochemicals that promote hair growth. Having a doctor’s prescription on the type of supplement to take helps avoid any allergic reaction.

Better Hair Care

If you’re experiencing hair loss, anti-DHT shampoos are your best option because they help combat it. Hair shampoos with 1-2% ketoconazole ingredient block conversion of testosterone to DHT thus, preventing hair loss. 

Also, it would help if you avoided hairstyles that cause a strain on your hair. Importantly, let your hair air dry to eliminate any irritation to the scalp. Please, don’t use heat stylers that lead to damage or breakage of the hair shaft regularly.

Remember, chemical treatments such as hair color or perms cause damages to your hair and scalp. If you must color your hair, choose products that don’t contain peroxide, ammonia, or para-phenylenediamine (PPD).

Image Credit

Make Use of Laser Comb

Similar to finasteride treatment, laser combs are currently the only FDA-approved way of stopping hair loss. A study that included a couple of men who had patterns of hair fallout showed increased hair growth after several weeks of applying a laser comb across the scalp at least three times a week.

The study didn’t explain how the laser treatment works, but it recommended that using the lasers at lower power has a healing outcome on hair follicles. 

You can combine the laser comb with a scalp massage. Massaging your scalp daily for four minutes stimulates blood flow to the head hence increasing hair growth.

Avoid Hot Showers

Hot water tends to strip your hair of essential oils meant to protect it from damage due to dryness and inflammation. Hot water might not link directly to hair loss, but scalp inflammation caused by too much heat leads to miniaturization of the hair follicles and hair thinning.

Alternatively, warm or cold water helps close up your cuticles and pores in the scalp, therefore, sealing in the hair moisture to increase hair growth.

Stay Hydrated, Avoid Alcohol and Smoking

Naturally, the biggest percentage of your body contains water. That goes without saying that the hair shaft, too, requires water for increased hair growth. Taking a minimum of four glasses of water every day keeps the hair follicles hydrated enough for healthy hair growth.

Sadly, your hair loss might be due to excessive alcohol consumption. Reducing or eliminating alcohol intake gives your hair a chance to grow. Like alcohol intake, smoking reduces blood flow to the scalp, leading to decreased hair growth and an increased risk of baldness.

Go for a Transplant

In case you’ve tried all of the above hair loss prevention and treatments, and nothing seems to work yet, a hair transplant might be your best bet. The specialist acquires hair follicles from a donor then grafts them onto your scalp. The hair follicles donated should come from head regions like the back and sides since those areas are DHT-resistant.

There are other new ways of carrying out hair transplants, like using hair stem cells that accelerate hair growth. What makes this method more appealing is the fact that it allows for repeated transplantations if necessary.

De-stress

Once your hair grows back, you should understand how to keep it looking healthy. Stress is a significant contributor to decreased hair growth. De-stressing yourself plays a part in ensuring increased hair growth. 

You can fight stress through meditative exercises like yoga and meditation, which help with hormonal balance and stress elimination. They’re also a form of self-care, suitable for your general wellbeing.

You can also engage in active activities like physical exercises every day. These exercises can include walking, swimming, or bike riding for 30 minutes a day.

Conclusion

Hair loss is inevitable at a certain point in your life, especially from pattern baldness. Above are several options to choose from if you’re looking to avoid hair loss or regrow your hair. The effectiveness of each method varies from one person to another. Some see positive results with just a few adjustments like switching to a better diet and so on.

Others might need to go an extra mile, like the use of hair treatment medications. However, no matter the option you choose, always ensure that you practice better hair care to avoid future hair loss. 

Additionally, check with a trichologist if you’re planning on trying any hair growth method or supplementation. It’s advisable to visit a dermatologist or trichologist if you have a severe hair fall as well. You might be having a more serious health issue other than hair loss. Don’t ignore any unusual hair loss because you need proper guidance on achieving healthy hair goals.