Hair is a defining attribute of a human that signifies beauty, good health, confidence, and youthful life. However, everyone suffers from hair problems at some point in their life. Moreover, hair problems can be an indicator of otherwise deteriorating health, which requires immediate attention.
Hair problems can be a result of genetics, pollution, stress, depression, or even your diet. No matter what the reason, you should look for hair problem solutions from early on as it can affect you cosmetically, medically, and psychologically in the long run.
In this guide, we will cover common hair problems, symptoms, and causes, and the corresponding homeopathic hair problem solutions. This will help you identify the symptoms and seek medical help before your hair problems make a permanent place in your life.
What is hair?
Hair is a protein filament that protrudes out from the follicles present in the dermis. Hair plays a vital role in social functioning, along with keeping you warm, and also protects your eyes, nose, and ears from small particles in the air.
â— A hair follicle plays the role of anchoring each hair into the skin.
â— The hair bulb lays the foundation of the hair follicle.
â— The hair bulb is the place where the cells divide and grow to develop the hair shaft.
â— Blood vessels, then, nourish the cells in the hair bulb.
â— Blood vessels, post nourishing, deliver hormones, which multiply hair growth and structure at various points of life.
The growth of hair occurs in a cycle, consisting of three stages - anagen, catagen, and telogen - the human hair growth cycle. A single strand of human hair passes through its own growth cycle, which on completion restarts this virtuous cycle, and a new strand of hair starts its development process. The three stages of the human growth cycle are.
Anagen: It is called a growth phase, which implies that most hair is at a growing stage at this point. Each hair has to spend many years in the Anagen stage.
Catagen: It is the transitional phase. Here a hair transits from the Anagen stage and reaches the Catagen stage, where hair growth slows down and the hair follicle starts to shrink.
Telogen: It is the resting phase. As the name suggests, during this stage hair growth stops and the old hair starts to detach from the hair follicle. Post the detachment, a new hair begins the growth phase.
Is hair loss contagious?
There are misconceptions around hair loss that it is contagious. But, this is not true. However, some people who catch some other contagious diseases can be prone to hair loss.
What is the best treatment for hair loss?
There is a combination of factors that equate to the best treatment for hair loss. Some of which include:
â— Homeopathy: There are effective homeopathy medicines that can help prevent hair loss with minimal side effects. Some of which include:
â—‹ Thuja Occidentalis: prevents hair loss due to dry and dandruff prone hair
â—‹ Natrum Muriaticum: Treats hair loss that occurs after childbirth
â—‹ Lycopodium: is an effective medicine for treating hair loss after pregnancy or menopause in women
â—‹ Phosphorous: prevents hair loss that mostly occurs in bunches
â— Everyday Care and Hair Hygiene: Taking regular care of your hair is important as it helps prevent signs of hair loss and baldness. Here are some hair care practices to consider:
â—‹ Massaging your scalp with coconut oil
â—‹ Practice yoga to keep away stress
â—‹ Avoid sharing comb and brushing your hair when wet
â—‹ Use a mild shampoo that suits your hair and scalp type
â—‹ Do not stay out in the sun for prolonged periods
â—‹ Wash your hair frequently
â— Healthy Diet: According to research, a Mediterranean diet containing fresh herbs and fresh vegetables decreases the risk of Androgenetic Alopecia. This showcases the positive impact of a proper diet on healthy hair. Here are some of the effective diet recommendations for you:
â—‹ Intake of a protein-rich diet,i.e., eggs, fish, nuts, and low-fat dairy products
â—‹ Consume food rich in vitamin A for a healthy scalp
â—‹ Include spinach, guava, and lentils in your diet
â—‹ Flaxseeds and sunflower seeds can be helpful
â—‹ Salmon and chicken
The growth of hair occurs in a cycle, consisting of three stages - anagen, catagen, and telogen - the human hair growth cycle. A single strand of human hair passes through its own growth cycle, which on completion restarts this virtuous cycle, and a new strand of hair starts its development process. The three stages of the human growth cycle are:
â— Anagen: It is called a growth phase, which implies that most hair is at a growing stage at this point. Each hair has to spend many years in the Anagen stage.
â— Catagen: It is the transitional phase. Here a hair transits from the Anagen stage and reaches the Catagen stage, where hair growth slows down and the hair follicle starts to shrink.
â— Telogen: It is the resting phase. As the name suggests, during this stage hair growth stops and the old hair starts to detach from the hair follicle. Post the detachment, a new hair begins the growth phase.
Dandruff - Dandruff is a common hair problem that is a result of consistent inflammation of the scalp, which results in a flaky scalp. The medical name of dandruff is seborrheic dermatitis, which may also affect the face and ears.
Dandruff can be embarrassing for an individual, which can result in a loss of confidence. If the condition exists in babies, it is called a “cradle cap”.
Symptoms of Dandruff:
â— Flaky scalp area
â— Small, dry, dandruff particles on the beard, shoulder, or even eyebrows
â— Itchy scalp area
â— Scaly and crusty scalp as a result of dandruff
Causes of Dandruff:
â— Oily or greasy scalp
â— Unhealthy eating habits leading to deficiencies
â— Unhealthy hygiene, i.e., not shampooing your hair
â— Dry skin
â— Unsuitability to certain hair products
â— A symptom of skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema
Homeopathic Hair Problem Solution for Dandruff:
â— Natrium Muriaticum: treats itchy scalp and crusty eruptions in the scalp
â— Graphites: Dandruff accompanied by itching insensitive and unhealthy skin
â— Thuja Occidentalis: treats dandruff, scaly scalp, dry hair
â— Sepia: sensitive scalp, dandruff, and scratching accompanied by hair fall
Dry Hair - When the scalp fails to produce enough oil to moisturize your hair, dry hair is the result. Dry hair causes your hair to lose its shine and appear dull. The condition can affect both men and women at any age.
Symptoms of Dry Hair
â— Dull, brittle, and frizzy hair
â— The rough texture of hair
â— Prevalence of split ends
â— Itchy scalp accompanied by dandruff
Causes of Dry Hair
â— Shampooing or washing your hair multiple times a day
â— Exposure to humid, dry, and hot temperature
â— Over-exposure to the sun
â— Dying or chemical treatment of the hair
â— Blow-drying of hair on a frequent basis
Homeopathic Hair Problem Solutions for Dry Hair
â— Borax: treats dry hair that causes hair to form tangled bunches
â— Phosphorous: treats dry hair that is a result of dry roots and scaly scalp
â— Thuja: for split ends and crimped, brittle hair
â— Natrum Mur: treats dry hair accompanied by hair fall
Grey Hair - In normal cases, grey hair is an indication of aging. Hair follicles of humans have pigment cells that generate melanin, the hair coloring agent. As an individual starts to age, the count of pigment cells reduces as they start to die, leading to grey hair.
Symptoms of Gray Hair:
â— The appearance of grey hair strands now and then
Causes of Gray Hair:
â— Genetics and aging
â— Regular smoking habit - a smoker is 2 ½ times more likely to develop gray hair before turning 30
â— Deficiency of Vitamin B12
â— Vitiligo - a skin condition that leads to loss of pigment-producing cells in the scalp
â— Thyroid disease
Homeopathic Hair Problem Solution for Gray Hair:
â— Vinca Minor: Stops falling of hair which get replaced with grey hair
â— Lycopodium: Prevents further development of grey hair
â— Natrum Mur: Effective for people suffering from anemia and are weak
â— Phosphorous: Effectively prevents further development of grey hair
Lice -
Symptoms of Lice:
â— Continuous itching around the affected area
â— Tickling feeling as a result of lice movement
â— Lice found on the chair, clothes, and other body parts
â— Lice eggs called nits on the scalp
â— Bite marks and red bumps present as a result of itching and lice biting
Causes of Lice:
â— When you or your little one comes in contact with someone with lice (head to head or body contact) Sharing items such as towels, combs, clothing, and blankets and pillows
â— If you have pubic lice that could be a result of sexual contact
â— Maintaining a dirty hygiene
Homeopathic Hair Problem Solution for Lice:
â— Sulfur: treats unhealthy skin affected by head lice. Symptoms include - dryness and brittle hair
â— Lycopodium: treats head lice in school-going children who complain of anxiety and restlessness
â— Eucalyptus globulus: It is known to be the most effective homeopathy medicine for head lice
â— Lachesis: treats head lice on sensitive skin accompanied by itching
Greasy hair - When the scalp produces an excessive natural oil called sebum, it results in greasy or oily hair. The natural oil sebum is produced by sebaceous glands. When these glands work excessively, it results in the extra production of oil in hair.
Symptoms of Greasy Hair:
â— Oily and sticky looking hair
â— An odor familiar to your body comes from the hair
â— Oily dandruff can appear in the form of accumulated lumps
â— Burning and itching in the scalp
Causes of Greasy Hair:
â— Overactive sebaceous glands that produce sebum
â— Unhealthy eating
â— Can be acquired as a result of genetics
â— A side effect of medications
â— Hormonal fluctuations and stress
Homeopathic Hair Problem Solution for Greasy hair:
â— Natrium Muriaticum: treats greasy and oily hair, dry and crusty lumps
â— Bryonia Alba: Treats very greasy hair where the scalp is sensitive and burning sensations exist
â— Thuja Occidentalis: Oily hair accompanied by dandruff
Common hair problems -
ALOPECIA AREATA - The condition where sudden hair loss starts to form circular bald patches (sometimes overlapping) is called Alopecia Areata. There are more than one million cases per year in India alone. Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease, i.e., bald patches appear when the immune system attacks the hair follicles and the major cause behind this is known to be stress. There is no cure for Alopecia Areata, yet there are treatments that can lend a hand at regrowing hair and preventing further hair loss.
Symptoms of Alopecia Areata:
â— Scalp hair loss in circular patches (in centimeters or even less)
â— Hair loss on eyelashes, eyebrows, and beard
â— Visible bunch of hair follicles around the house
Causes of Alopecia Areata:
â— Genetics factor related to Type 1 Diabetes
â— Stress and depression
â— Genetics factors related to Rheumatoid arthritis
Homeopathic Hair Problem Solution for Alopecia Areata:
â— Arsenic Album: For bald patches accompanied by burning and itching on the scalp
â— Baryta Carb: For bald patches appearing on the top of the scalp area in young people
â— Phosphorous: Helps treat hair loss in patches, accompanied by dandruff and itching
â— Fluoric acid: Helps in regrowing hair to an extent on the visible bald patches
â— Lycopodium: For treating the condition in young people where bald patches appear on the temple of the scalp (where four skull bones meet)
â— Vinca minor: For bald patches which are replaced by grey hair afterward, accompanied by itching
ALOPECIA TOTALIS (BALDNESS) - When hair starts to thin and fall off at a faster rate, you might be heading towards baldness - the condition with a total loss of hair on the scalp. Most of the time, baldness is correlated with genetics and aging. Begins with hair thinning at the crown and temples - baldness gets severe when only the back and sides of the head are left with hair. It is mostly hereditary, which was seen commonly in men and is now common to witness amongst women too.
Symptoms of Alopecia Totalis:
â— Small bald patches
â— Gradual thinning of hair on the head top
â— Loosening of hair
â— Scaly patches appearing on the scalp
â— Brittle and pitted nails (tiny dents in fingernails or toenails)
Causes of Alopecia Totalis:
â— Family history
â— Could be due to an autoimmune disease
â— As a side effect of some other disease
Homeopathic Hair Problem Solution for Alopecia Totalis:
â— Phosphorous: treats patchy and frontal baldness
â— Silica: prevents baldness in young people
â— Lycopodium: prevents premature baldness
â— Graphite: prevents patchy baldness
CHEMICALLY DAMAGED HAIR - Coloring hair involves the usage of chemicals that open the hair shaft and lead to hair damage. The chemicals cause the outer layer of the hair (cuticle) to develop cracks.
Symptoms of Chemically Damaged Hair:
â— Roughness in the hair texture
â— Split ends and dull-looking hair
â— More tangles and fluffiness
â— Hair loss accompanied by thinning
Causes of Chemically Damaged Hair:
â— Chemicals make your hair lose natural moisture
â— Dying your hair often
â— Damage to the cuticle (the outer layer of hair)
Homeopathic Hair Problem Solution for Chemically Damaged Hair:
â— Psorinum: treats dry hair that lose their luster
â— Lycopodium: treats dry hair accompanied by hair fall
â— Thuja: Where the hair get brittle due to extreme dryness
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a medical branch that believes in getting to the root cause of the problem and eliminating it, and follows the motto - Like cures Like! Homeopathy has a proven track record of recoveries for almost every health condition, including hair problems. It can not only manage the symptoms of the disease but can also prevent it from recurring.
Homeopathic medicines are made from different herbs and other natural plants that have healing capabilities. Homeopathy also gives precedence to psychiatry as it believes that certain diseases can be cured by ensuring the wellness of mental health.
This is why homeopaths start their consultations by understanding the patient’s family history of diseases and how life is serving them.
Reasons for choosing homeopathic medicines include:
â— Minimal side effects
â— Focuses on the elimination of the root cause of the problem
â— It is a wholesome treatment that heals you physically, emotionally, and mentally
â— The positive effect is long-lasting
â— Brings back happiness, clarity, energy, and enthusiasm in life
Here is what you can expect from a homeopath when you first visit him for your hair care problems:
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Parameter
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Question
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1. Family History
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â— Has anyone in your family dealt with the same hair condition as yours?
â— If yes, did they recover or was it a lifelong situation?
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Physical, mental, emotional well being
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â— How is life at work?
â— How is life in general?
â— Is anything bothering you?
â— Do you feel pain physically and emotionally?
â— How do you describe your problem?
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3. Symptoms
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â— What are the symptoms associated with your problem?
â— Are the symptoms severe or tolerable?
â— Can you control your emotions or they overflow often?
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Based on these parameters, a homeopath will then prescribe suitable homeopathic medications that are likely to be effective.
Everyday Care and Hair Hygiene
Taking regular care of your hair is important as it helps prevent signs of hair loss and baldness. Here are some hair care practices to consider:
â— Massaging your scalp with coconut oil
â— Practice yoga to keep away stress
â— Avoid sharing comb and brushing your hair when wet
â— Use a mild shampoo that suits your hair and scalp type
â— Do not stay out in the sun for prolonged periods
â— Wash your hair frequently
Healthy Diet
According to research, a Mediterranean diet containing fresh herbs and fresh vegetables decreases the risk of Androgenetic Alopecia. This showcases the positive impact of a proper diet on healthy hair. Here are some of the effective diet recommendations for you:
â— Intake of a protein-rich diet,i.e., eggs, fish, nuts, and low-fat dairy products
â— Consume food rich in vitamin A for a healthy scalp
â— Include spinach, guava, and lentils in your diet
â— Flaxseeds and sunflower seeds can be helpful
â— Salmon and chicken