Hair loss is one of the most common problems that men and women of all ages face, and it has a negative impact on their quality of life. Hair loss becomes more noticeable when we are under stress, when our medications change, or, inevitably, as we age and when there is climate change. As the seasons change, many people begin to notice changes in the feel, look, and quality of their hair, and they may become concerned about the number of strands stuck in their brushes. Many people have shared their experiences with hair loss and dandruff when travelling to new places. May be due to changes in weather, water, and environmental conditions, along with a lack of hair care due to travel.
What Science Says?
As per biology when the development process is complete, every strand of hair falls out. This period varies according to our genetics, and a single strand takes approximately two to eight years to complete its active growth phase.
Note that, hair loss and hair shedding both are different. If you have hair loss, it will not grow back until the underlying cause is addressed. Whereas hair shedding or fall is a cycle. According to dermatologists, losing 100 to 150 strands of hair per day is normal, so noticing a clump in the shower is not cause for concern. The average person has 100,000 to 150,000 hair follicles on their scalp and approximately 5 million on the rest of their body. However, if you are noticing more strands falling out and this shedding has been going on for two months or more, presenting as bald patches on the scalp or hair thinning, it may be time to see a doctor. Many people have shared their experiences dandruff followed by hair fall when travelling to new places. May be due to changes in weather, water, and environmental conditions, along with a lack of hair care due to travel.
What factors increase hair loss?
Hair growth is a complex process that occurs in three stages:
Anagen, when the hair is actively growing, Catagen, when it stops growing, and Telogen, when the hair starts to fall out.
Remember the density and thickness of your hair are determined by genetics and hormones. So, good genetics are required for healthy, luscious hair. In women the in several reasons hormonal disorders are common, particularly goitre and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), can, however, increase hair loss. Another type of hair loss caused by hormonal changes is reactive hair loss, which occurs after delivery.
Medication or chemical treatments such as perms and bleaching, as well as high heat from styling tools, can all contribute to hair loss. If your diet is deficient in protein, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and essential fatty acids, all of which are required for hair growth, your hair may appear dull or appear to be growing at all. Hair loss can be caused by a variety of factors, including restrictive diets, health issues, infections, and stress is one the major cause. Dandruff issue is a nightmare for many. Both men and women face the trouble of dandruff throughout the year, whereas some get dandruff during winter.
Link between nutrition and hair
The relationship between nutrition and hair loss continues throughout the year, not only during seasonal changes. Hair gets its nutrients from the foods we consume and it grows itself. Topical products and weather conditions helps support its health. Hair is the fastest growing tissue in our body after bone marrow, and hence, needs protein, vitamins and minerals to acclimatize to this rapid growth. In the absence of these crucial nutrients, hair loss occurs, and existing hair loss may become more severe.
The most important nutrients our hair needs are iron, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin Bs (B2, B5, B6, B9, B12 and specifically biotin or B7), vitamins C and E, and essential fatty acids such as omega 3s and 6s. If you are lacking in any, you can try multivitamin supplements for three months which may decrease hair loss.
Seasonal hair loss
Though seasonal hair loss is still a debated topic, the general consensus is that weather changes can cause an increase in hair fallout, which is more common in women. The cause is thought to be hormonal changes or stress. At the same time, many doctors attribute it to environmental factors such as months of sea salt, pool chlorine, and summer sun rays hastening strand wear and tear.
Studies have shown that during summer, hair growth increases by 10% because the blood flow is rapid during summer to make body cooler. Warmer weather also increases the supply of nutrients required to produce keratin, the protein that makes up hair, resulting in faster-growing, longer locks.
The reason why women get more hair loss is because of more hormonal changes every month that impacts their psychological state, hence dermatologists assume that this effect also increases hair loss.
How to treat hair shedding
Hair loss is most likely be physiological. However, it can also be a symptom of an underlying disease. Reactive hair loss, skin or hair diseases, autoimmune disorders such as alopecia, infections, hormonal fluctuations and dominance of androgens, congenital diseases and tumors can all be reasons. For example, if genetics are the reason, you may be noticing male-pattern balding where you start losing hair from the top of your head or the front parts of your head.
After determining the cause, treatment should be planned accordingly. Minoxidil and Finasteride are Food and Drug Administration- (FDA) approved medical treatments for alopecia, an cute hair fall condition. However, they are adverse effects of such components. If you have nutritional deficiencies, treatment will comprise of supplements like Biotin, can benefit in a couple of months. Tuskca Biotin is one of the demanded biotin supplement in India which has best nutrients your hair need like zinc, selenium and amino acids.
Different products can help reducing the shedding process in physiological hair loss. But if there is an accompanying disease or deficiency, it won't likely do much help. Biotin and vitamin supplements can strengthen the hair and reduce shedding, but as with all health issues, the underlying problems must be addressed first.