ALOPECIA( HAIR LOSS/BALDNESS ) – HAIR CARE MANAGEMENT WITH HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH.

Abstract 

Hair loss can affect scalp or entire body. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or medications. Anyone like men, women and children can experience hair loss. Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from scalp. Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common cause of baldness. Some people prefer to let their baldness run its course untreated and unhidden. Homoeopathy is considered as one of the very best alternative system for treating hair loss.

Introduction

Most people normally shed 50 to 100 hairs a day. This usually doesn't cause noticeable thinning of scalp hair because new hair is growing in at the same time. Hair loss occurs when this cycle of hair growth and shedding is disrupted or when the hair follicle is destroyed and replaced with scar tissue.Hair loss can appear in many different ways, depending on what's causing it. It can come on suddenly or gradually. Some types of hair loss are temporary, and others are permanent.

Causes of Alopecia

The exact cause of hair loss may not be fully understood, but it's usually related to one or more of the following factors: Family history (heredity), Hormonal changes, Medical conditions, Medications

Family history - The most common cause of hair loss is a hereditary condition called male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness. It usually occurs gradually and in predictable patterns — a receding hairline and bald spots in men and thinning hair in women. Heredity also affects the age at which begin to lose hair, the rate of hair loss and the extent of baldness. Pattern baldness is most common in men and can begin as early as puberty. This type of hair loss may involve both hair thinning and miniaturization (hair becomes soft, fine and short).

Hormonal changes and medical conditions - A variety of conditions can cause hair loss, including: Hormonal changes and imbalances can cause temporary hair loss. This could be due to pregnancy, childbirth or the onset of menopause. Hormone levels are also affected by the thyroid gland, so thyroid problems may cause hair loss.

Patchy hair loss - This type of nonscarring hair loss is called alopecia areata. It occurs when the body's immune system attacks hair follicles — causing sudden hair loss that leaves smooth, roundish bald patches on the skin.

Scalp infections - Infections, such as ringworm, can invade the hair and skin of your scalp, leading to scaly patches and hair loss. Once infections are treated, hair generally grows back.

Other skin disorders - Diseases that cause scarring alopecia may result in permanent loss at the scarred areas. These conditions include lichen planus, some types of lupus and sarcoidosis.

Hair-pulling disorder - This condition, also called trichotillomania, causes people to have an irresistible urge to pull out their hair, whether it's from the scalp, the eyebrows or other areas of the body.

Medications - Hair loss can be caused by drugs used for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, high blood pressure and birth control. Intake of too much vitamin A may cause hair loss as well.

Hair loss can also result from Radiation therapy to the head. The hair may not grow back the same as it was before.

Many people experience a general thinning of hair several months after a physical or emotional shock. This type of hair loss is temporary. Examples of trigger events include sudden or excessive weight loss, a high fever, surgery, or a death in the family.

Certain hairstyles and treatments. Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair tight, such as pigtails or cornrows, can cause traction alopecia. Hot oil hair treatments and permanents can cause inflammation of hair follicles that leads to hair loss. If scarring occurs, hair loss could be permanent.

Clinical Presentation

Hair loss can appear in many different ways, depending on what's causing it. It can come on suddenly or gradually. Some types of hair loss are temporary, and others are permanent.

Signs and symptoms of hair loss may include:

Gradual thinning on top of head. This is the most common type of hair loss, affecting both men and women as they age. In men, hair often begins to recede from the forehead in a line that resembles the letter M. Women typically retain the hairline on the forehead but have a broadening of the part in their hair.

Circular or patchy bald spots. Some people experience smooth, coin-sized bald spots. This type of hair loss usually affects just the scalp, but it sometimes also occurs in beards or eyebrows. In some cases, your skin may become itchy or painful before the hair falls out.

Sudden loosening of hair. A physical or emotional shock can cause hair to loosen. Handfuls of hair may come out when combing or washing your hair or even after gentle tugging. This type of hair loss usually causes overall hair thinning and not bald patches.

Full-body hair loss. Some conditions and medical treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer, can result in the loss of hair all over your body. The hair usually grows back.

Patches of scaling that spread over the scalp. This is a sign of ringworm. It may be accompanied by broken hair, redness, swelling and, at times, oozing.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis made with help of physical exam, medical history, and family history and with some tests.

Blood test - This may help uncover medical conditions related to hair loss, such as thyroid disease.

Pull test - gently pulls several dozen hairs to see how many come out. This helps determine the stage of the shedding process.

Scalp biopsy - scrapes samples from the skin or from a few hairs plucked from the scalp to examine the hair roots. This can help determine whether an infection is causing hair loss.

Light microscopy - Microscopy helps uncover possible disorders of the hair shaft and to examine hairs trimmed at their bases.

MANAGEMENT

These tips may help avoid preventable types of hair loss:

· Eat a nutritionally balanced diet.

· Avoid tight hairstyles, such as braids, buns or ponytails.

· Avoid compulsively twisting, rubbing or pulling your hair.

· Treat your hair gently when washing and brushing. A wide-toothed comb may help prevent pulling out hair.

· Avoid harsh treatments such as hot rollers, curling irons, hot oil treatments and permanents.

· A good daily multivitamin containing zinc, vitamin B, folate, iron, and calcium is a reasonable choice, although there is no good evidence that vitamins have any meaningful benefit in alopecia. Newer studies suggest that vitamin D may be somewhat helpful and worth considering. Specific vitamin and mineral deficiencies like iron or vitamin B12 may be diagnosed by blood tests and treated.

· Multiple vitamins, including biotin, have been promoted for hair growth, but solid scientific studies for many of these claims are lacking. 

Home natural remedies

· Onion Juice for hair growth - This remedy is regarded as one of most effective and oldest ones. The reason behind is that it contains sulphur that boosts collagen production in the tissues and helps in the re-growth of hair. Don’t let its strong smell keep you away from using it, because it goes off just after one rinse. To try this remedy, cut a few slices of onion and squeeze out its juice (either by mashing it or grating it) and apply it on your scalp for about 10-15 minutes. Let it work its magic and then rinse it off with a mild shampoo.

· Coconut Milk - it is rich in iron, potassium and essential fats, take coconut milk from a fresh coconut, to it add half a squeeze of lemon, 4 drops of essential lavender oil. Mix it thoroughly and apply it on your scalp, leave it on for 4-5 hours and then rinse it off.”

· Apple Cider Vinegar – This vinegar gently cleanses the scalp and maintains the pH balance of the hair thereby accelerating hair growth.  Start for making a diluted solution by mixing 75ml of it in one litre of water for a larger batch or 15 ml of it to a cup of warm filtered water for a smaller batch.

· Egg Mask – This home remedy is used all over the world for quick and natural hair growth. As we know, eggs contain high levels of proteins which help in the formation of new hair. It is also rich in sulphur, zinc, iron, selenium, phosphorous and iodine.
For the egg mask, separate one egg white in a bowl and add one teaspoon of olive oil ( you can also use grape seed oil or lavender oil )and honey. Make a paste of it and apply it all over your hair and scalp for about 20 minutes. Rinse it off with cool water and some shampoo.  

· Fenugreek– This herb is also an age-old remedy for hair growth problems. It contains proteins and nicotinic acid; protein-enriched diets have been known to encourage stimulation of hair growth. Add a tablespoon of this herb and water in a grinder till a smooth paste it formed. Add a little coconut oil (or milk) to it and apply on your hair and scalp for half an hour. Wash it off with a mild shampoo.

· Green tea, as you know is super rich in antioxidants and that helps in boosting hair growth and preventing hair loss. Apply warm green tea (from the used tea bags) over your scalp and leave it for an hour. Wash it off with cool water.

· Indian Gooseberry (amla) – This magical fruit is a powerhouse of nutrients. It’s rich in Vitamin C and that accelerates hair growth. All you need to do is, mix 2 teaspoons of amla powder or juice with equal amounts of lime juice and let it dry. Rinse it off with some warm water. It will also prevent hair pigmentation.

HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT

   Homoeopathic mode of treatment has good scope and can aid regrowth of hair. Homoeopathic medicines stimulate the hair roots to promote regrowth. The medicines used in Homoeopathy to aid hair regrowth are all of natural origin and therefore, safe for use among persons of all age groups. Hair-loss is again just an indicator that there is something not well in our body. The hairs may fall due to a local infection or due to a systemic disorder or deficiency. The treatment also varies accordingly. The following homoeopathic medicines are often found indicated in cases of hair fall:

Medicine	Indication
Arsenic album	alopecia due to use of metallic arsenic, scalp itches intolerable. Circular patches of bare spots, hair fall in debilitated persons. Patients is mentally restless and very anxious about his/her health or hairfall. Sensitive to cold in general and cold drinks. Fastidious temperament.
Fluoricum Acidum	It is considered excellent for hair loss, especially alopecia areata, where the patient loses hair from spots on the scalp. It is also adept at dealing with the resulting hair fall after a period of sickness, hair breakage, hair fall caused by syphilis, and hair gets tangled a lot. It is recommended by a lot of homeopathic doctors.
Phosphorus	It is a medicine that is capable of curing a wide array of diseases. While it is popular for treating alopecia, it is also used to heal issues of the gastrointestinal tract, blood, nervous tissue, and bones.
Calcarea Carbonica	Calcarea Carb, has been found to be one of the best homeopathic medicines for hair regrowth. It is often prescribed to patients for whom hair loss is accompanied by intense itching and sweating of the scalp.
Vinca Minor	Vinca Minor is efficient in treating alopecia when it is accompanied by dandruff. It is also used to treat abnormal hair growth i.e. when the hair grows out like white wool.
Silicea	It is hard to believe that this deep acting remedy is inert before it undergoes potentization. It is used to treat a wide range of diseases. Homeopaths commonly prescribe Silicea for baldness accompanied with pain. It also treats skin conditions like eczema, which may sometimes cause dandruff.
Baryta Carbonica	This homeopathic cure is administered to young people suffering from premature baldness. It is generally used to treat timid people who are experiencing baldness along with throat complaints and issues such as tonsillitis.
Lycopodium Clavatum	This is one of the best homeopathic medicines for preventing a number of hair-related problems. Lycopodium is a wonderful remedy for hair loss, premature graying of the hair, and even baldness. It is prepared from club moss (fungus), which is potentized for its usage. This homeopathic medicine also tackles premature balding.
Psorinum	Psorinum is the best treatment for hair loss that is caused due to dandruff. Dandruff is a common result of skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. Psorinum tackles the root of the cause, reducing hair fall and dandruff at the same time.
Mezereum	This is another medicine that efficiently deals with conditions of the skin such as rashes, lesions, and psoriasis. It tackles hair fall in people who have crusty scalps and infected scalps with pus. It is also ideal for encouraging hair growth.
Kali Sulphuricum	When the dandruff is yellow in color, Kali Sulphuricum is a good treatment to resort to. It promises great results and is often prescribed by homeopaths to patients who complain of dandruff and hair loss together.
Mercurius solubilis	falling of hair due to syphilis. Alopecia with eruptions on scalp; discharge from eruptions is fetid and accompanied by burning pains in scalp. Patient has profuse perspiration, excessive thirst and salivation.
Natrum Muriaticum	The interesting thing about Natrum Muriaticum is that it is made from common salt through potentization. It is used to treat a myriad of issues and is perfect for treating post childbirth hair fall. It is also prescribed for hair fall in women suffering from anemia.
Pulsatilla Pratensis	This is administered to women suffering from post-delivery hair loss. The people to whom this medicine is prescribed often report a lack of thirst and a desire for breathing in fresh air. It is also administered to women who have trouble in digesting fatty food.
Selenium	falling of hair from whole head leaving the scalp smooth and hairless (alopecia universalis). Falling of hair from eyebrows and face giving a strange appearance.
Vinca minor	bald spots with itching of the skin, oozing moisture, matting hair together. Irresistible desire to scratch. Hair-loss, sharp and well defined, circumscribed patches which leave the scalp smooth and white or gray hair may grow on the bald spots like white wool.
Wiesbaden	the hair grows rapidly and become darker by the use of this remedy. Arnica and Cantharis are also known to promote hair growth.

Conclusion

The aim of homoeopathy is not only to treat hair loss but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several well-proved remedies are available for homoeopathic treatment of hair loss that can be selected on the basis of cause, location, modalities and extension of the hair loss. Hair-loss is again just an indicator that there is something not well in your body. The hairs may fall due to a local infection or due to a systemic disorder or deficiency. The treatment also varies accordingly. The main advantage of opting for Homoeopathic medicines for hair regrowth is the absence of any related toxic side effects.For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homoeopathic doctor in person. Homoeopathy has to treat the cause and the person a a whole, after due individualization of every patient.