A complete, healthy head of hair is vital to many people’s appearance and self-confidence. It can be distressing if it begins to thin, fall out, or turn white and gray. White hair comes along with the aging process. However, detecting it in your mid-thirties or early twenties is depressing. Fortunately, there are several ways to prevent hair loss and the appearance of white hair.
Why does hair fall out?
Hair loss can be a result of hormonal changes, heredity, medical conditions, or part of aging. Anyone can lose hair, but it is most common in men.
Baldness refers to the excessive falling of hair out from your scalp. The most common reason for baldness is hereditary by age. Some people prefer to leave their hair loss untreated and unhidden. Others may cover it with different hairstyles or hats. Still, others choose treatments available to prevent further hair loss or restore growth.
Symptoms of Hair loss
Hair loss may appear in different ways, depending on what causes it. It may come on suddenly or gradually and affect your scalp.
Signs of hair loss include:
- Thinning of hair on the top portion of the head. The most common type of hair loss affects people as they mature. Men’s hair frequently starts at the forehead’s hairline. Women typically have an expanding part of their hair. A typical hair loss pattern in women is frontal fibrosing alopecia which is hair loss at the front and sides of the scalp.
- Patchy or circular bald spots. Some people may lose hair in patchy or circular areas on the scalp, eyebrows, or beard. Your skin may become painful or itchy before the hair falls out.
- Loosening of hair. An emotional or physical shock may cause hair to loosen, and lots of hair may come out when brushing or washing your hair or even after tugging. This kind of hair loss typically causes overall thinning of the hair, but it is temporary.
- Complete body hair loss. Other conditions and medical treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer, can result in hair loss all over your body, but the hair usually grows back.
- Scaling patches that spread all over the scalp. It is a sign of ringworm. It can be accompanied by redness, broken hair, and swelling.
Factors that increase the risk of Hair loss
- Age
- Weight loss
- Family history of baldness
- Poor nutrition
- Medical conditions such as diabetes and lupus
- Stress
Helpful tips to prevent hair loss
- Quit smoking. Some studies show a link between smoking and baldness in men.
- Protect your hair from sunlight and ultraviolet light.
- Always be gentle with your hair. Avoid tugging when brushing and combing when your hair is wet. Use a detangler and a wide-toothed comb, which can help prevent pulling out hair. Limit harsh treatments such as hot rollers, curling irons, and hot oil treatments. Limit the tension on hair from styles that use rubber bands, barrettes, and braids.
- Ask your doctor about medications and supplements you take that might cause hair loss.
- Consult a specialist that offers Hair Rejuvenation Therapy
- If you’re being treated with chemotherapy, consult your doctor about a cooling cap. This cap can help reduce your risk of losing hair during chemotherapy.
What causes white hair?
The human body has many hair follicles or tiny sacs that line the skin. These follicles generate hair and color or pigment cells that contain melanin. Hair follicles may lose pigment cells as people age, resulting in white hair color.
It is usual for people to change hair color as they mature with age. But white hair may appear at almost any time in life. Even young kids or people in their 20s may notice strands of white hair. Many causes besides age result in a person’s hair turning white.
- Genetics. Race and ethnicity play roles, as well. Premature graying in Asians can start as early as 25 years old, while a person can be as young as 20 years old among white people and 30 years in African-Americans populations.
- Vitamin deficiencies. Deficiencies of vitamins B-6, B-12, Vitamin D, or Vitamin E can contribute to premature graying.
- Stress. It causes imbalances when antioxidants are not enough to counteract the effects of damage of free radicals. Too much stress can help develop diseases, like the skin-pigment condition vitiligo. Vitiligo can also turn the hair white due to the loss of cell function or melanin cell death.
- Medical conditions. White hair is also typical in alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin condition that results in hair loss on the scalp, face, and other body parts. When the hair grows, it tends to be white due to melanin deficiency.
- Hair dyes and hair products. Chemicals such as hair dyes and shampoos can contribute to hair graying. Many of these products contain harmful ingredients that decrease melanin. There are toxic chemicals found in hair dyes, such as Hydrogen Peroxide. Excessive use of products that bleach hair will eventually cause it to turn white.
How to prevent the appearance of white hair?
If aging or genes is the cause, nothing can prevent or reverse the process. However, treating white hair could allow color pigmentation to return if the loss is due to a medical condition. When diet and vitamin deficiencies are the cause of white hair, correcting these may help reverse the problem or stop it from worsening.
- Eat antioxidant-rich food
- Increase vitamin intake
- Protect hair from UV rays
- Stop smoking
- Have a Male Hair Rejuvenation therapy
- Try natural remedies such as curry leaves, Indian gooseberry, ridge gourd, and black tea.
Conclusion
The appearance of white hair and hair loss can be stopped and reversed with proper diagnosis and treatments. A well-balanced diet, enough vitamin intake, and good hair care can help. In some cases, however, the process is irreversible. Fortunately, there are treatments offered now that may help reduce the appearance of white hair and prevent hair loss.
Technology innovation has shown significant advancements in skin and body development. While natural remedies are available, it is also wise to consult a Doctor to check your condition. Visit Integrated Med Spa, and they can provide options to treat hair loss and white hair. They have well-trained specialists to offer immediate solutions to your problem.
And although traditional natural remedies may slow down and reverse white hair and hair loss. Still, everyone’s hair eventually turns white and may begin to fall out. The individual has to decide whether they are comfortable with it or prefer to try and hold back what is a natural aging process.
