Blog

The Complete Guide to Hair Loss: Understanding Alopecia, Its Types, Causes, and Homeopathic Treatments for Restoring Hair Health and Confidence

In present scenario hair loss is a major problem both in male and female. Hair loss is common Problem with multiple factors contributing to it. Hair falling or hair thinning leads to low self Esteem and self image. Often youngsters also feel low in confidence, they start avoiding social Interaction and use camouflaging methods to hide hair loss. All this prove that hair loss affects Persons both mentally and emotionally.

How to Identify Hair Loss

You might notice hair loss during washing, after combing, or on your pillow when you wake up. The “Hair Pull Test” is a simple way to check: grab 20-40 hair strands about an inch above your scalp between your thumb and forefinger, pull firmly, then slide your fingers along the hair to the tip. Losing up to 6 strands is normal; more than that means you should see a doctor.

What Is Hair Loss?

Losing more than 100-150 hairs per day is considered hair loss. It can be mild, moderate, or severe. It’s always important to find the underlying cause for proper treatment.

Types of Hair Loss

There are many types, including:

1. Alopecia Areata: Sudden hair loss in circular patches caused by immune system attacking hair follicles
2. Alopecia Totalis: Loss of all hair on the scalp
3. Alopecia Universalis: Complete hair loss on the entire body
4. Diffuse Alopecia Areata: Hair thins and falls out in scattered areas rather than patches
5. Ophiasis Alopecia: Affects sides and back of scalp, mainly in young people
6. Androgenic Alopecia: Common genetic condition affecting all genders
7. Male Pattern: Starts with receding hairline or crown loss
8. Female Pattern: Begins with thinning along the part line, which may widen
9. Cicatricial Alopecia: Caused by skin damage from burns or severe infections
10. Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia: Starts on crown and spreads across top of head, mainly affecting Black women over 30
11. Traction Alopecia: Caused by repeatedly pulling or tightening hair
12. Lichen Planopilaris: Rare inflammatory condition mainly affecting young women
13. Alopecia Barbae: Causes beard hair to fall out in small circular patches
14. Postpartum Alopecia: Hair loss after childbirth due to dropping estrogen levels

Causes of Hair Loss

• Nutritional deficiencies (anemia, protein lack, vitamin deficiencies)
• Secondary syphilis (3-7% of cases)
• Metabolic disorders, thyroid problems, HIV, cancer, certain medications
• Radiation therapy and excessive hairstyling
• Chronic illness (typhoid, sudden weight loss, COVID-19, postpartum)
• Poor hair hygiene, dandruff, scalp psoriasis, harmful products
• Heredity, stress, and anxiety
• Hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause
• PCOS and PCOD
• Smoking (reduces blood flow to hair follicles)

Risk Factors

• Family history and certain diseases
• Age and poor nutrition
• Significant weight loss and stress

Prevention

• Don’t comb wet hair
• Avoid harsh treatments (hot rollers, curling irons, hot oil)
• Don’t use tight hairstyles with rubber bands
• Avoid medications that cause hair loss
• Protect hair from sunlight and UV radiation
• Stop smoking and using tobacco
• Ask about cooling caps during chemotherapy

Homeopathic Medicines for Hair Loss

1. Aurum Metalicum: For hair loss from syphilis. Helps with violent head pain worse at night. Mental state: great depression, hopeless, thoughts of suicide, fear of death, irritable, oversensitive to noise.
2. Carbo Vegetabilis: For those who never fully recovered from previous illness like typhoid. Hair falls out in handfuls from back of head. Hair hurts when touched, easily falls out from general weakness. Scalp itches when warm in bed. Head feels heavy and tight.
3. Fluoricum Acidum: For patchy baldness (alopecia areata). Hair is brittle, dry, and dull. Painful when touched, tangles easily. Hair loss after fevers or from syphilis. Mental state: indifference to loved ones, inability to take responsibility, mentally excited.
4. Graphites: For patchy baldness. Hair becomes brittle, dry, and tangles easily. Hair falls out in spots from back of head in infants, from sides and top in adults. Early graying. Scalp has itchy, smelly eruptions. Mental state: timid, indecisive, doesn’t want to work, fidgety, weeps at music.
5. Kalium Carbonicum: For dry, brittle hair falling from sides and temples. Mental state: depressed, moody, irritable, fearful, anxious stomach, stubborn, sensitive to pain, noise, touch.
6. Lachesis Mutus: Specifically for hair loss during pregnancy. Hair painful when touched. Mental state: very talkative, sad in mornings, restless, jealous, suspicious, works best at night.
7. Lycopodium Clavatum: For patchy baldness, premature baldness and graying. Excessive hair loss, especially after childbirth or disease or from syphilis. Hair mostly falls from top of head in adults, back and sides in infants. Hair tangles, sticks together, feels pulled.
8. Natrum Muriaticum: For greasy, oily scalp. Affects hair follicles. Hair loss in children, after childbirth, during nursing. Hair falls from top, forehead and temple areas. Hair tangles easily due to dryness, painful when touched. Mental state: depression from grief or anger, worse from consolation, wants to be alone to cry.
9. Nitricum Acidum: Hair stands on end. Hair loss after childbirth or with headaches. Hair loss from syphilis. Hair hurts when touched and falls from top of head. Head feels like it has a band around it. Mental state: irritable, hateful, vindictive, hopeless, sensitive to noise and pain, fear of death. Works best in dark-complexioned middle-aged people.
10. Phosphorus: Itchy scalp, dandruff, hair falls in large bunches. Dry hair roots. Patchy baldness. Hair loss from syphilis. Hair falls from forehead, sides, top, and behind ears. Mental state: fearful, oversensitive, poor memory, fears death when alone.
11. Sepia Officinalis: Hair falls out with sensitive roots. Forehead pimples near hairline. Hair loss with headaches. Patchy baldness on top of head. Hair loss during menopause and after childbirth. Hair grays, sticks together, tangles easily. Mental state: indifferent to loved ones, dislikes family and work, easily irritated, fears being alone, very sad.
12. Silicea Terra: Hair stands on end. Early baldness. Hair loss in women after childbirth. Hair loss with headaches that start at back of head and settle over eyes. Mental state: nervous, excitable, sensitive, stubborn children, fixated on pins.
13. Sulphur: For dry, hard hair and scalp. Hair loss worsens after washing. Itching causes burning when scratched. Hair loss after childbirth, in patches, or from sweaty head. Hair hurts when touched, sticks together. Mental state: forgetful, always busy, selfish, avoids work, irritable, depressed, thin and weak.
14. Thuja Occidentalis: Brittle, dry, dull, frizzy hair. Hair loss from dandruff. Headaches with hair loss. Greasy hair that grays early. Split, dull hair. Mental state: fixed ideas, feels like someone is beside them or body and soul are separated, sensitive to music.
15. Baryta Carbonica: Early baldness. Hair stands on end during chills. Hair loss mainly from top of head, or back of head in infants. Mental state: weak, lacks confidence, confused, shy, childish, avoids strangers.
16. Phosphoricum Acidum: Early graying and hair loss from grief. Dry, sore hair that hurts when touched. Hair falls from sides of head. Hair looks withered, greasy, and fluffy.

External Treatments (Mother Tinctures)

1. Ceanothus americanus Q
2. Jaborandi Q: Apply externally to scalp mixed with hair oil. Restores hair and darkens gray hair.
3. Arnica montana Q
4. Thuja occidentalis Q
5. Cantharis Q
6. Cochlearia armoracia: Used locally to cure dandruff