Humans have over 1,00,000 hair strands and we lose about 70 to 100 of them in a day! 

Our hair follicles have a whole different cycle of growth and breakage, which is considered normal. But, when this natural process is disrupted, active hair loss occurs. 

It is important to understand the basics of hair to know how to prevent and treat hair loss. 

Hair is made up of a protein called keratin and each hair has a hair shaft and a hair root. The shaft is the visible part of the hair that sticks out of the skin. The hair root is found under the skin and extends down to the deeper layers of the skin. It is surrounded by the hair follicle (a sheath of skin and connective tissue), which is also connected to a sebaceous gland.

Each hair follicle is attached to a tiny muscle (arrector pili) that can make the hair stand up. Many nerves end at the hair follicle too. These nerves sense hair movement and are sensitive to even the slightest draft.

At the base of the hair, the hair root widens to a round hair bulb. The hair papilla, which supplies the hair root with blood, is found inside the bottom of the hair bulb. New hair cells are constantly being made in the hair bulb, close to the papilla.

How Does Your Hair Grow?

‍‍New cells are constantly forming in the hair bulb. These cells stick together and harden. The full strand of hair develops from this group of hardened hair cells. Because new hardened cells keep on attaching to the hair from below, it is gradually pushed out of the skin. In this way, a single hair on your head grows at a rate of about 1 cm per month.‍

What Causes Hair Loss? 

There are many reasons why one can experience hair loss. The factors could be related to one's diet, genetics and also epigenetics. 

• Micronutrient deficiencies can lead to hairloss. 
• Lack of Protein can cause hair loss as protein is the main component of hair. 
• Lack of sleep can also cause hairloss
• Excess vitamin A consumption can also cause hairloss. 
• Chronic stress has been shown to cause hair loss and premature graying. 
• Acute stress, shock or traumatic events can also cause a type of hair loss known as Telogen effluvium. 
• Endocrine imbalances (hormonal imbalances) can also cause hair loss. 
• One's family genetics can also play a role in determining the type of hair loss. 
• Some medications and illnesses can lead to hairloss. 
• Age also plays a role in a person losing their hair. As we grow old, our hair growth slows down and our hair follicles stop growing hair. 

It's a well known fact that no one wants to experience losing hair, especially in their younger years. 

How To Prevent Hair Loss? 

• Have a diet rich in both macro-nutrients and micronutrients, such as Vitamins like Vitamin A and E and Minerals like Zinc, selenium, etc. 
• Include good quality protein sources with high biological value, such as eggs, chicken, red meat, beans, fish, milk, etc. 
• Apply some stress management techniques to handle stress. 
• Maintain good hair and scalp health by oiling it, massaging it, and maintaining cleanliness. 
• Having a good night's sleep routine helps to maintain good hair health. 
• Exercising daily can also help to maintain a good hormonal balance in the body. 
• Oiling and massaging the hair on a regular basis can prevent hair loss. 

There are many ways of handling the hairloss and treating the problem of unwanted hairloss. But, what exactly does one need to do actually also depends on the reason why one is losing hair. 

What is The Treatment for Hair Loss? 

• One should have a diet rich in good quality proteins. 
• Vitamins like vitamins A, B-complex, and D should be consumed throughout the diet. 
• Minerals like Zinc, Selenium, and Iron, are very essential for prominent and healthy hair growth as well as hair health. 
• Magnesium rich foods or supplements have been shown to have a great result on hair growth and hair quality as they play an essential role in protein synthesis.
• The inclusion of silicon or supplementation can help in hair growth as well as increase the luster or brightness of the hair. Foods like brown rice, bananas, lentils (dals), and green leafy vegetables are rich sources of silica. 
• Tyrosine improves hair growth. Foods like chicken, bananas, walnuts, turkey, fish, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds are some of the sources of tyrosine. 
• Consumption of essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6 is very important as their deficiency can cause dryness and brittle hair. Meat, poultry, fish, krill oil, walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, fish oil, wheat germ are some sources of essential fatty acids. 
• Having a good amount of fruits and vegetables can ensure the intake of certain micronutrients. 
• Do not follow fad diets, as they can lead to nutrient deficiencies. 
• Have a regular exercise regime. 
• Managing stress can help in the growth of hair as it can handle the hormones
• Sleeping on time at night and respecting the circadian rhythm is also an excellent way to regain healthy hair.  
• Applying oil and massaging the scalp as well as the hair strands can help stimulate the hair follicles to grow the hair. 
• Onion oil and Onion juice have proven to stimulate hair growth. 
• Washing your hair with soft water will also help control the hair loss. 
• Minimizing the use of chemical-based hair products and heating appliances can also lead to less hair loss. 

Maintaining a good lifestyle and fixing up the hormonal levels is equally important for treating the issue of hair loss. Applying oil and massaging the scalp before washing and while washing also helps in the hair growth. The process of regaining the hair growth is a slow and steady one, so our best advice would be to be patient while going through this process. 

References : 

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513312/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546248/ 
3. https://doi.org/10.5772/67269 
4. https://www.hairscientists.org/hair-and-scalp-conditions/nutrition-and-hair-health 
5. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-stress-causes-hair-loss 
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28925637/
7. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07853890.2016.1180426
8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30547302/
9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28243487/
10. https://europepmc.org/article/med/12126069
11. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328044761_A_Scientific_Hypothesis_on_the_Role_of_Nutritional_Supplements_for_Effective_Management_of_Hair_Loss_and_Promoting_Hair_Regrowth
12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19356271/
13. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273758703_Onion_Juice_An_Effective_Home_Remedy_for_Combating_Alopecia
14. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27438201/

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