HAIR LOSS AND YOU.

Hi everyone…Being a pharmacologist and a formulation designer I have been able to solve many health issues of people through advices, tips and through rationale products. Amongst these people I have found many commonly complaining of hair loss. So I thought of just putting up few important things to keep in mind while looking out for solutions to reduce, if not completely stop, hairfall.

First of all its important to know that hair receives the last part of nutrition through blood circulation. So proper nutrition is of utmost importance. Due to increasing changes in lifestyle, eating habits (more consumption of junk and unhealthy food, untimely eating patterns) and job stress or pressures we generally overlook proper nutrition. Also, due to increased stress the blood circulation to the scalp and hair is also hampered. These are the important factors which lead to hairfall.

Secondly many people are not aware that there are a number of internal body factors that lead to hairfall. Excess hairfall is an indication or an alarm that something is not right within. So check yourself thoroughly and rectify the internal problems…you will automatically notice a positive change in hairfall.

What do you need to check?? Excess hairfall may be due to several reasons like hormonal imbalance, severe vitamin or mineral deficiency, low hemoglobin, thyroid problems, certain medications, allergies to hair products, severe and prolonged stressful situations, etc.

So overall its advised to have blood tests done for following important parameters before starting any anti-hairfall therapy:

1. Thyroid Levels (T3 and T4)
2. Hemoglobin
3. Vitamin B12 and D3

Women suffering from irregular menstrual cycles and PCOD also tend to face hairfall due to hormonal imbalances. Similarly, women who are nearing menopause or have undergone menopause also may suffer from hairfall due to low levels of the hormone estrogen. High levels of hormone DHT also leads to severe hairfall in men and women.

So to sum it up, if you have any of these issues try to first correct these…like take Thyroxine tablets for low thyroid levels, take hematinics for low hemoglobin levels, take B12 injections for low Vit B12 levels, take Vit D3 capsules for low D3, take herbal hormonal therapies for hormonal issues (allopathic hormonal replacement therapies cannot be taken for long term as it poses health threats), reduce your stress levels and have a proper nutrition.

There are also certain external factors that may lead to hairfall like- Use of hard water for washing hair, exposure to heat and pollution, combing wet hair, excessive use of hair dryers and hair dyes, chemical treatment or hair coloring, etc. Do try to avoid these and see a marked change in hairfall and hair quality.

So before starting any therapy for hairfall one has to ideally correct the internal factors and avoid the external triggering factors.

Coming to the therapy part going natural for hair is the best way. Ayurveda and other traditional texts and scientific publications have an extensive list of herbs that are beneficial for hair problems like (to name a few) Methi, Bhringraj, Amla, Jatamansi, Tulsi, Hibiscus and many more. All plants have their own mechanisms or ways of affecting the hair health.
Green tea, Grape seed, Sesame seeds, Pumpkin seeds and Flaxseeds show positive effects on hair growth because they are known to inhibit or block DHT. High levels of androgens, including DHT, can shrink your hair follicles as well as cause hair thinning and makes them more brittle leading to hairfall. DHT also slows down new hair growth. So reducing or blocking DHT is often considered to be the most effective way to treat hair loss.

So what is DHT? DHT or Dihydrotestosterone is an androgen sex hormone produced from testosterone (male sex hormone). Testosterone combines with 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme involved in steroid metabolism. This results in the production of DHT, a compound that can wreak havoc throughout your body, especially your scalp, if you have a predisposed sensitivity. Male-pattern baldness, or Androgenetic Alopecia is a common condition accounting for 95% of hair loss seen in men. It is commonly believed that the main culprit behind male-pattern balding is DHT. So supplementation with DHT blockers internally (or externally) is an effective way of reducing hairfall and promoting new hair growth.

Blood detoxification or purification and enriched blood circulation are important factors for controlling hair loss. There are many blood purifying herbs like Amla, Tulsi, Giloy, Neem, Manjistha, Turmeric, etc which can play important role in reducing hair loss.

Proteins, vitamins (mainly A, B7 or Biotin, C, D, E,) and minerals (mainly Iron and Zinc) are also essential in promoting hair growth, providing strength and moisture to hair and protecting and reversing hair damage. So consuming diet rich in these or taking help of supplements which provide these nutrients can be of immense help.

Taking into consideration all of these factors we at Nethika Naturals have designed a perfect blend of herbs, NETHIKA NATURALS HAIR GROWTH SUPPLEMENT which takes care of all hair issues, mainly hairfall and new hair growth.

NOTE: You need to understand that effects of any treatment for hairfall and hair growth takes time…almost 3-6 months to show the desired results. You need to be patient as the therapy tries to correct all the internal body issues which finally affect the hair health.

Dr. Pallavi Bafna

Pharmacologist.