subject: Know all about hair growth and Hair cycle [print this page] Know all about hair growth and Hair cycle
Hair Growth and the Hair Cycle
The normal human scalp contains between 100,000 to 150,000 follicles that produce thick terminal hair.
CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS
Most people who are losing their hair are losing it simply because they have inherited a genetic design that predisposes them for baldness. Hair loss can also be caused by underlying medical problems, drugs, infections and a variety of other factors. Medical problems that can cause diffuse hair loss include: Stress, prolonged disease, anaemia, thyroid disease,connective tissue diseases (such as Lupus), severe nutritional deficiencies; mainly iron, calcium and vitamins deficiencies, crash dieting, surgical procedures, and severe emotional problems.
So if you think you are losing your hair, what should you do? Don't panic!
Consult qualified doctor (plastic surgeon/dermatologist)
Particularly when androgenetic hair loss is in its early stages, medications are the treatment of choice. Not only can prescription drugs, like finasteride , slow or prevent further hair loss, they can actually grow hair back if started when the process is just beginning. Other medical treatments include improved intake of multivitamins, mineral, iron, calcium and minoxidil. Results of medical treatment come after 2 to 6 months of regular sincere treatment.
RATIONALE OF MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR HAIR LOSS
Hair loss or growth is affected by many factors. Till date few of them are known as effects of androgen, genetic factor, stress, crash diet, long standing malnutrition, ferretin deficiency. In male front hair follicles are genetically predispose to fall with the effect of testosterone. We can not correct genetic factor but we can treat dietary deficiency and effect of hormone. A proper diet of vitamins, minerals, protein, amino acids play a major role in healthy hair growth. Any deficiency in these natural diet supplements can lead to gradual thinning of hair.
Nutrition value of the diet which we are taking needs to be evaluated. Freezing food products reduces nutritive value of food. Fresh fruits and vegetables have high value of anti oxidants. They should be consumed fresh. Pesticides, water and air pollution affect nutritive efficiency. Our body is very selective in supply of nutrients to our body parts. Priority is given to vital organs. Hairs are given least preference as far as supply of nutrients is concerned because we can be alive without hair .therefore in order to nourish our hair our diet should be supplemented by enough amounts of essential nutrients so they are available for hair follicles.
Some minerals and vitamins can influence the activity levels of another vitamin and minerals. For example, intake of lysine, vitamin B12, vitamin C, help in absorption of other factors like iron. So the nutrients may not affect hair growth themselves but may influence another nutrient which does. It is worth bearing in mind that due to complexity of the body there can be many potential interactions for even the simplest of nutrients.
