Hair loss {alopecia is the medical term} is a very common complaint in today’s population.

Shedding of 100 to 150 hairs in a day on one’s comb, brush, in the sink or on the pillow is considered normal. This is the result of the normal hair growth cycle.

Each and every strand of hair should undergo the growth cycle in 3 main phases. The growth phase, the resting phase and the shedding phase. Usually the growth phase is shortened leading to frequent shedding phase, resulting in severe hair fall. Majority of the adult population has been noted to have fallen under hair loss at one point of their life. Sometimes during their teens or in mid – thirties.

Typical signs of STRESS RELATED hair fall is well appreciated in women. A women claiming to have always had a ‘ head full of hair’and now reporting her hair to come out suddenly ‘by the hand full’.Usually she will be accurate in the onset of hair fall. This stress related hair fall is experienced more in women 3 to 4 months post delivery.

The main causes:

  • Anemia appears to be an important risk factor for development of hair fall in otherwise healthy female patient
  • Infection on the scalp , either bacterial or fungal like in severe dandruff
  • Major physiologic stress
  • Abrupt hormonal changes
  • Some medications like thyroid and anti- depressants in a long run.
  • Severe fever attacks
  • Blood loss leading to blood transfusion
  • Crash dieting and malnutrition

Treatment:

By reducing the hair fall the treatment goals are to achieve a change in the hair density and to provide an apt treatment without complications in a more safe way.Any reversible cause of hair shedding, such as poor diet, vitamins and minerals deficiency, hypothyroidism, or medication use, should be corrected first which slowly subsides the severity. Any unbalanced diet should be corrected before treating the cause.Patients should be reassured about the cause and modalities available to pacify the severity.Patients should be educated and encouraged to style their hair in the way that masks the defects.Some topical serums and tablets are available to treat this condition in an effective way.A regular follow up with a proper medical care will slowly heal the cause.