Hair Fall - Most Common Types Of It!

Hair Fall or loss of hair also termed as Alopecia, medically, is quite a common condition. Almost every person suffers from hair loss, some or other time in their life. It can be a source of immense psychological distress and emotional turbulence. Some of the most common types of hair loss are as follows:

1. Male pattern baldness: A pattern of hair loss which is very common in males and may be hereditary. Excess of the male hormone can lead to this pattern of baldness. Male pattern hair loss starts as early as in twenties or thirties. Where in the hairline recedes and the volume may decrease. Usually, in male pattern baldness, hair loss starts first at the crown of head and at temples. It forms a horse-shoe shaped baldness. It is also called as Androgenic Alopecia.
2. Female pattern baldness: Hair loss in females is more at the top of the head.
3. Alopecia areata: A condition commonly seen in young people where large coin-shaped patches of baldness develop. Hair may regenerate in these areas. It is also seen in conditions like autoimmune diseases, diabetes, thyroid disorders.
4. Alopecia totalis: Complete loss of hair on the scalp
5. Alopecia universalis: Complete hair loss on full body.
6. Scaring Alopecia: Due to damage to the hair follicle, there is hair loss which does not grow back.
7. Anagen effluvium: Mostly due to cancer treatment, there is hair loss on scalp, body & face.
8. Telogen effluvium: Widespread hair thinning may be due to many causes like hormonal imbalance, dieting, cancer, liver disease, stress, certain medications.

Hair fall is loss of hair due to a number of reasons. Hair fall can be limited to scalp or it can affect the entire body. Since most people associate hair fall with old age, poor self- image , it gets frustrating for both men and women. It can be a source of emotional, psychological and personal distress. Scalp full of dark thick hair is associated with beauty, youth, vigour. It gives you confidence and boosts your self esteem. Hair grows from hair follicle which is a part of skin. Hair follicle has other associated structure like small muscle called ‘arrector pili’, sebaceous glands (which secrete sebum) and apocrine sweat glands.

Phases of hair growth are:

• Anagen: It is the growing phase, where hair grows at an approximate speed of 1 cm a month.
• Catagen: It is the regressing phase. There is an arrest of active growth of hair follicle.
• Telogen: It is the resting phase. At this stage hair falls. Normally, up to hundred hairs may fall per day. 90% hair follicles are in anagen phase. It may take 3-4 months for a hair cycle to complete in case of scalp hair.

Loss of more than 100 - 150 hair a day can be clinically called hair loss and termed as 'telogen effluvium'. Disruption of this cycle causes loss of more hair than the number of hair growths. This causes thinning of hair. In males, most common Hair Fall is male pattern hair loss. The good news is that Homeopathy has an excellent success rate in the treatment of hair fall.

What happens during hair fall?

Following are symptoms of Hairfall:

• Thinning usually starts at top of the head and progress slowly
• Patches of hair fall can be circular but are usually coin shaped in different areas of scalp, beard, eyebrows
• Hair comes out easily on brushing, combing, washing
• Too many hairs on the pillow, bed sheet, comb

Symptoms associated with hair fall vary from case to case. That is why Homeopathy perfectly fits here because it treats the patient and not merely the disease. It follows constitutional approach.

What are the causes of hair fall?

• Genetics: Hairfall may run in families due to its genetic link.
• Fungal Infections: Infections such as tinea capitis can lead to it.
• Certain treatments: Cancer treatment like chemotherapy or radiotherapy can also lead to it, chemical treatment on hair (hair color, straightening & curling) Dandruff (Chemical treatment for the dandruff)
• Deficiencies: Iron deficiency can be another cause.
• Trauma sensations: Trauma caused by excess hair pull as in ponytails, violent hair brushing, heat styling, etc.
• Hormonal Imbalance: As seen in cases of hypothyroidism, PCOS, menopause, after pregnancy they can also lead to hair fall.
• Poor nutrition: Excessive dieting, less consumption of proteins and foods rich in vitamin E can be a cause.
• Stress: Stressful life events like loss of loved one.