Everyone glories in their crown of hair and its loss can be painful. Hair not only enhances a person’s appearance, but also their sense of self-esteem and confidence. However, hair loss, also known as alopecia, is a personal problem, but commonly encountered by millions of people. You don’t have to keep quiet about it either as a number of solutions also exist to tackle this malady. While some level of hair loss is normal at the later stages of life, some unfortunate ones do get to experience this in their early 20’s and 30’s too.

However, hair loss isn’t as simple as it sounds and numerous factors have been implicated in a dwindling head of hairs. If you feel you are losing a significant amount of hair, you will need to consult a specialist doctor – and the earlier the better as timing matters for successful reversal of this problem. Here are some common causes of hair loss:

Genetics – While hereditary hair loss is difficult to reverse, it can be slowed down with tropical treatments.

Stress and Trauma – The hair cycle gets stunted temporarily and stops growing, going straight into the shedding phase when the body is exposed to physical stress and trauma.

Deficiency – Deprivation of vitamins and proteins can lead to hair loss, but gets reversed upon improving the diet.

Pregnancy – temporary hair loss during and after pregnancy is common as it takes a toll on the body.

Over-stimulation – Excessive styling and overuse of chemicals on the scalp can destroy your hair from the roots – be careful not to over-style it.

Autoimmune diseases – Hair loss can be a symptom of autoimmune diseases – do consult your doctor.

Aging – Most people lose some hair by the time they are 60.

Since prevention is always better than cure, it’s important you practice healthy lifestyles. This would mean consuming a nutritionally balanced diet with sufficient B vitamins and proteins. You could also try out vitamin and mineral supplements that support hair growth. But above all, don’t overdo it with the hair-styling. We all love to look attractive, but there is something called too much of a good thing, so ladies need to be careful with hair-straightening, curling irons and chemicals to avoid hair damage. It would be a great idea to avoid tugging, or twisting your hair into tight knots too, to avoid physical stress on their roots.

The best way to take care of hair loss is of course, by visiting an experienced dermatologist.

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The information provided in Dr. Dixit's answer is for educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice. The information provided should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultations with a qualified health professional who may be familiar with your individual medical needs.