“You had such thick and long hair last time I saw you. What happened to your hair now?”
This is only one of the many heartbreaking comments that people suffering from hair loss often receive. While hair loss itself is tragic, comments like these only add to the misery and allow despair to settle in. It is difficult to deal with hair loss; it affects your physical appearance and also shakes self-confidence.
Hair loss is a universal problem; you are not alone in the battle. Half of the women population and almost 60% of men around the world are combating hair loss in some form. The frustration and fear of losing hair make many people believe that hair loss is irreversible, and they will not gain their healthy hair back.
Well, that is not true. Contrary to what most people believe, hair loss is reversible, and this post aims to burst the myth that you cannot grow back your hair.
Reasons for Hair Fall
You can slow, revoke, and even stop hair loss. But before we dive into the details of the hair loss solutions, it is important to understand why hair loss occurs in the first place?
- Hormones
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the main culprit behind hair loss and hair thinning in both men and women. DHT is an androgen, i.e., a male hormone that helps to develop male characteristics. While it regulates many bodily functions, DHT causes the hair follicles to miniaturize, contributing to male pattern baldness. As the hairs become weaker, the hair growth cycle slows down, and after some time, the growth stops completely.
- Androgenic Alopecia
Pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss. It is a hereditary condition that affects both men and women. In men, hair loss occurs in an M-shaped pattern and hairs begin to fall out from the temples and crown. Women, however, do not lose their hair completely, but face hair thinning.
- Medications
One of the reasons for hair loss is the adverse effect of certain medications. While medicines help you cope with diseases or health issues, they come with some side effects –hair loss is one of them. For instance, you may experience hair thinning or hair fall if you are using blood thinners, drugs for controlling blood pressure, or birth control pills.
- Certain Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions, such as iron deficiency, thyroid issues, eating disorders, diabetes, and anemia, may also affect hair production. In addition, people fighting with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy sessions often suffer extreme hair loss.
Let the Fight Begin!
Over the years, medical science has brought innovative solutions for many health issues that were once considered untreatable. Thanks to the advanced technologies, you can now manage hair loss (if not completely cure it).
You will find many topical treatments, hair loss therapies, surgical procedures, and over-the-counter products to fight against hair loss. Let’s have a look at the solutions that make hair loss a reversible condition.
- DHT-blocking Vitamins
First things first –address the main issue behind hair loss, i.e., DHT buildup. Without encountering the main hair loss hormone, you cannot get your healthier hair back. Hair growth depends on essential nutrients, including proteins, minerals, and vitamins.
If you are suffering from androgenic alopecia or hair thinning, make sure to consume a balanced diet. You can also supplement the vitamin intake with DHT blocking vitamins. These vitamins prevent DHT buildup and provide all the essential nutrients that your hairs need.
- Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT)
Several factors, such as hormones, genes, age, and stress, contribute to hair loss. However, you can reverse hair loss with groundbreaking technology, i.e., Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT). It is a non-invasive, painless alternative to a hair loss surgical procedure.
The hair growth cycle involves three phases, (1) anagen –the phase of hair growth, (2) catagen –the transitional/shedding phase, and (3) telogen –the phase where hair follicles remain at rest. In pattern baldness, hair follicles become brittle, and the hair growth slows down. LLLT helps to trigger the cellular activity in the scalp using infrared lights.
The cutting-edge technology absorbs the dead cells that live inside the tissue. It enhances the functioning of the cells and improves the blood flow in the scalp. LLLT triggers the hair follicles to stay in the growth phases for a long period. In addition, low level or cold laser therapy improves cellular respiration, which in turn, stimulates hair production.
- Laser Caps for Hair Growth
Gone are the days when people could receive laser treatment in a clinic or dermatologists’ office only. Now, you can buy laser caps that you can use at your home conveniently. FDA-cleared laser caps are a completely portable solution for hair loss. The high-end laser caps are helping men and women with hair thinning and hair loss.
These laser caps use medical grade laser diodes. The best thing about these LLLT caps is that they do not produce heat. So, the lasers do not harm, burn, or injure the scalp. There are no known side effects from their use.
In addition, these caps are hands-free, which means you need not stop your work while the session continues. Instead, you can wear the laser cap for the intended treatment time every day, even when you are walking, driving, or watching your favorite movie.
Conclusion
Hair loss is a gradual process; the solution also takes time. No remedy or treatment can reverse hair loss overnight. Whether you are taking DHT-blocking vitamins or using laser caps for hair growth, the results will take time to appear. While it depends on the condition of your hair loss, laser caps will help grow hair anywhere between six and ten months. In addition, make sure to limit your stress and maintain a balanced diet to reverse hair loss.
