“Recurrent headaches…sleepless nights…pale skin…lack of concentration….extra pounds…and yes the always there—HAIR FALL”
She listed these on her fingertips each time she spoke to her friend. But what did she do about it? Did she go for a thorough diagnosis to identify the reason for the same? Yes, she got herself tested for the common lifestyle medical conditions and realized how these conditions were the major cause for the incessant hair fall that she had!
It is proven that a healthy body and healthy hair walk hand in hand! Eating healthy, staying physically active, and living a healthy lifestyle significantly contribute to your hair health. On the other hand, there are some medical conditions which may take away the strength and quality of your hair. Hair fall is a common and one of most frequently reported symptoms of medical conditions. Read on to know more about these conditions.
Thyroid Disease
With close to 30% of the Indian population being affected with thyroid disease, it forms one of the common causes of hair fall in both men and women. Thyroid disease (both hypo- and hyperthyroidism) happens to interfere with the hair growth cycle. Hence, it is necessary to fight hair fall by restoring thyroid function and devoting extra time to hair care.
Anemia
Not surprisingly, one in every 10 women aged around 20-50 years suffers from anemia. Iron deficiency is one of the most common types of anemia. Undoubtedly unhealthy eating habits and negligence during the early years of adolescence and post pregnancy are some of the common reasons for anemia among women in the country. Hair fall is a common symptom of anemia along with other symptoms such as fatigue, headache, pale skin and coldness in feet and hands. An iron-rich diet along with nutritional supplements for healthy hair are helpful in such cases.
Also Read: Hibiscus Benefits for Hair
Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is an endocrine disorder that disturbs the hormone levels of several women. The increased levels of hormones such as androgens and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in PCOS have been found to be one of the prime reasons for hair loss in females. Mainstay treatment for hair fall in such patients includes both oral and topical medications that target to balance the level of hormones and also promote hair growth. Additionally, females suffering from PCOS need to make sure that they consume a healthy diet, stay physically active and practice a healthy routine.
Skin conditions
Skin conditions such as dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis (inflammatory skin condition marked by small discolored patches) or psoriasis (an autoimmune condition where the cells build quicker than they shed) are commonly associated with hair loss. It is of course important that the root cause of the skin disorder be treated; but choosing the right shampoo and topical formulations will significantly contribute to correcting your scalp and hair problems.
Depression
With mental health gaining attention all over the globe, it becomes very important to highlight that depression is also amongst the key reasons for people complaining of shedding hair or hair fall. Stress and depression not only affect your overall health but adversely affect the quality of your hair and make them break easily. Unfortunately, use of anti-depressants has been found to further add to hair loss in depressed patients.
In medical conditions such as these, it is often recommended to try supportive therapy along with the mainstay treatment. The supportive therapy would include oral and topical medications that target to reduce hair fall and aid in hair growth. In addition to that, you may also need to modify your daily routine and habits, get rid of unhealthy habits such as smoking and excessive drinking, and switch to meditation and yoga.
For a healthy nutrition, you may choose to add nutritional supplements to your daily diet. They can serve as the perfect source of both essential and non-essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals that act as cofactors for hair growth. Also, you may try some novel hair serums such as mixture of actives, containing peptides (such as procapil), melatonin, adenosine, coccocin, and vitamins such as vitamin B5, B6 and B8. These components help to increase the microcirculation in the scalp and also add strength and vitality to the hair strand. Hair serums also strengthen the hair follicle by increasing the supporting proteins (laminin and collagen) in the hair roots.
So if you are running low on some of your vital nutrients, do not stress to aggravate hair loss; instead, determine to win over the condition by following these golden rules! A healthy body along with shiny locks shall surely reflect on how practically you fight your medical condition!
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