• Hair loss has many possible causes. The most common include:
• Hereditary hair loss from genetics (genes you inherit from your parents).
• Fungal infections on the scalp.
• Hairstyles that pull the hair tightly (such as braids, hair extensions or tight ponytails).
• Haircare that may cause damage due to processing (including perms and bleach).
• Hormonal changes (such as pregnancy, childbirth or menopause).
• Medical treatment (such as chemotherapy and certain medications).
• Nutritional deficiencies (especially not getting enough iron or protein).
• Stressful events (like having surgery or losing a loved one).
• Thyroid disease.

What are the complications of hair loss?

How is hair loss diagnosed?

In some cases, the cause of hair loss is obvious — for example, if you're losing hair while going through chemotherapy. Other times, your healthcare provider will need to do some detective work to figure out what’s causing your hair loss.

To determine the correct diagnosis, your provider may:

• Ask about your family history, including if any relatives experienced hair loss and at what age.
• Look at your medical history.
• Order blood tests to measure thyroid function and iron levels.
• Examine your scalp for signs of infection.
• Take a scalp biopsy to check for skin disease.

How is hair loss treated?

If your hair loss results from medication, hormonal imbalances, thyroid disease or diet, your provider will address the cause. Correcting the underlying problem is often all that’s needed to help stop hair loss.

Most hair loss treatments are meant to help with androgenic alopecia (male and female pattern hair loss). These treatments include:

• Medication: Over-the-counter medications you apply to your scalp (such as minoxidil, or Rogaine®) are usually the first course of treatment for thinning hair. A prescription oral medication (finasteride, or Propecia®) is approved only for men with male pattern baldness.
• Hair transplant: During a hair transplant, your provider carefully removes strands of hair from an area of your scalp where the hair is thickest. The provider then transplants those strands, embedding them into your scalp where your hair is thinnest.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): After drawing your blood, your provider separates out the plasma. They then inject this platelet-rich plasma into your scalp. PRP treatment can help slow hair loss and encourage new hair growth.

Prevent Hair Loss:10 Effective Ways

August is Hair Loss Awareness Month, serving as a reminder to take proactive steps to care for your hair and scalp to prevent or minimize hair loss. Whether you are experiencing thinning hair or just want to maintain your luscious locks, it’s never too early or too late to start implementing healthy habits for your hair. Keep reading for our top 10 tips to keep your hair healthy- plus, answers to some of our most asked questions!

1. Maintain A Nutritious Diet: Your hair’s health is a reflection of your overall well-being. Ensure you consume a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and proteins essential for hair growth. 

 

2. Gentle Hair Care Routine: Avoid over-washing or using harsh chemicals on your hair. Opt for gentle shampoos and conditioners suitable for your hair type. 

 

3. Avoid Heat Damage: Limit the use of hair dryers, straighteners, and curling irons as excessive heat can weaken your hair strands. 

 

4. Protect Your Hair: Shield your hair from sun exposure, chlorine, and pollutants by wearing hats or using protective hair serums. 

 

5. Regular Scalp Massages: Stimulate blood flow to your scalp by massaging it regularly. This simple practice can promote hair growth and strengthen hair follicles. 

 

6. Stay Hydrated: Drinking an adequate amount of water daily helps keep your hair hydrated and healthy. 

 

7. Manage Stress: High-stress levels can contribute to hair loss. Practice stress-relief techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises. 

 

8. Avoid Tight Hairstyles: Pulling your hair tightly into ponytails or braids can cause unnecessary stress on your hair follicles, leading to breakage. 

 

9. Regular Trims: Schedule regular hair trims to prevent split ends and maintain healthy hair growth. 

 

10. Consult a Dermatologist: If you notice sudden or severe hair loss, unusual hair thinning, or scalp irritation, it’s essential to seek professional help from a dermatologist specializing in hair disorders. They can diagnose the underlying cause of your hair loss and recommend appropriate treatments.

Natural Hair Growth Remedies

Natural hair-growth products work in several ways to promote and stimulate hair growth, including: 

• Stimulating hair follicles to encourage new hair growth
• Balancing hormones to trigger growth cycles in hair follicles
• Improving the conditions of the scalp 
• Decreasing inflammation and improving scalp health

Are you looking for a hair-growth treatment to stop hair loss and regrow hair naturally? Below, we’ll take a closer look at nine trending methods — from the most to the least effective. We’ll also touch on natural remedies that may help your hair grow faster.

1. Caffeine

Caffeine isn’t just good in your morning cup of coffee. Studies have shown that topical caffeine has benefits for skin and hair health. In fact, out of all the natural hair-growth remedies, caffeine may be the most promising. 

Evidence: Applied to the scalp, caffeine seems to have a stimulating effect on hair follicles. This increases hair growth and strengthens hair. Some studies have found that caffeine shampoo may also slow hair loss. And some evidence shows that the combination of caffeine and minoxidil (Rogaine) — a medication applied to the scalp for hair loss — worked better than minoxidil alone. But more research is needed to make solid conclusions about caffeine as a natural hair-growth remedy. 

Worth a try? You can safely apply caffeine-containing products to the scalp. But don’t attempt to dramatically increase your coffee consumption. This won’t have any effect on your hair, and having too much caffeine can be dangerous to your health.

2. Melatonin

You may be familiar with melatonin as a sleep-aid supplement. But it’s also an antioxidant that can improve skin health, and it may be a good natural hair-growth treatment.

Evidence: Some evidence suggests that melatonin applied to the scalp may slow hair loss and increase hair density in people with a type of hair loss called androgenetic alopecia. But these studies were small, so more research is needed to see how effective melatonin really is.

Worth a try? Possibly. When applied to the skin, melatonin is absorbed into the bloodstream. There are no severe health risks to using melatonin in this way, but it may affect your sleep-wake cycles.

3. Vitamins and supplements

One reason for hair loss and hair thinning is nutritional deficiencies. By this logic, adding certain vitamins and minerals to a deficient diet could have positive effects on alopecia. And some supplements have been marketed as natural hair-growth remedies for years. But do they work in people who are not vitamin or nutrient deficient?

Evidence: There’s not enough concrete evidence to show that hair-growth supplements work for most healthy people who eat a nutritious and balanced diet. When supplements like biotin and vitamin D do help to regrow hair, it’s in people with low baseline levels of these nutrients. More studies are also needed to see if other supplements, like amino acids cysteine and lysine, can stimulate hair growth. 

Worth a try? Going over the daily recommended intake of any vitamin can be dangerous. Depending on which nutrient you are over-supplementing, side effects range from mild to severe. Consult your healthcare professional to see if you may have nutrient deficiencies and how much you need to supplement them.

4. Scalp massage

Scalp massage is an appealing hair-growth treatment. It doesn’t involve pills or injections, and it feels good. In fact, it lowers stress hormones, like cortisol. Scalp massages may also promote hair growth by increasing blood flow to the scalp and stimulating hair follicles. 

Evidence: Only a few small studies have studied whether scalp massages can stimulate hair growth. In one, about 330 people with hair loss performed daily scalp massages for 11 to 20 minutes. After 6 months, almost 70% of them noticed less hair loss or increased hair growth. In a smaller study, nine men without hair loss received a 4 minute daily scalp massage. After 6 months, they noticed thicker — but not longer — hair. 

Worth a try? Absolutely. Even though there isn’t strong scientific evidence that scalp massages can improve hair growth, they are a low-risk activity that feels good. And it could help.

5. Essential oils (peppermint and rosemary oil)

Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that retain their organic properties. Two popular essential oils people use to promote hair growth are peppermint oil and rosemary oil. 

Evidence: Some animal studies showed that peppermint may promote hair growth, but no studies in humans have shown the same results. In another small study, rosemary oil was as effective as minoxidil treatment in growing hair after 6 months. But more research is needed. 

Worth a try? Probably. Essential oils are safe to use so long as you dilute them. They may irritate the skin and cause allergic reactions in some people.

6. Jojoba oil

Jojoba oil lowers inflammation and helps repair the skin’s surface. It’s used as a micro-emulsion in various beauty products because it helps active ingredients get absorbed into the skin. In other words, think of jojoba oil as a vehicle that transports beneficial supplements to the hair follicle.

Evidence: There’s no research that proves jojoba oil alone will help hair growth. But some studies suggest it may help decrease breakage. And, thanks to its chemical composition, it’s great for combining with other nutrients to improve scalp health. 

Worth a try? Yes. Applying jojoba oil to your scalp isn’t associated with many risks. Just be aware that like with any product, you may develop an allergic reaction or skin irritation.

7. Castor oil

Castor oil is a vegetable oil that contains ricin oleic acid, which may help lower inflammation. 

Evidence: So far, there’s no evidence to show that castor oil can promote hair growth. But it can help moisturize hair, lower inflammation, and it has antibacterial effects. These properties create a healthier scalp for hair follicles to grow.

Worth a try? In very rare cases, castor oil can cause acute hair felting, a condition that leaves hair matted and twisted. For most people, however, castor oil is safe to apply to the scalp. Castor oil is commonly mixed with coconut oil for maximum benefits.

8. Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a triglyceride (fat) with a specific composition that makes it absorb into the hair shaft easily. It’s also full of healthy fatty acids and vitamins.

Evidence: No studies have shown that coconut oil can stimulate hair growth. But it has lubricating properties and can reduce hair protein loss. This may lead to healthier, stronger, and fuller-looking hair. 

Worth a try? Absolutely. Coconut oil is safe to use on hair and has many reported benefits. Keep in mind that coconut oil can clog pores and leave hair feeling greasy.

9. Rice water

Rice water has been used as a natural hair-growth product for centuries in many East Asian cultures. Rice water refers to the leftover liquid obtained after rinsing rice. Reported benefits include improving hair elasticity and reducing surface friction. 

Evidence: So far, there’s not much evidence to show that rice water works to promote hair growth. Some lab studies suggest that rice bran extract may help with hair growth, but more research is needed in humans. 

Worth a try? Absolutely. Including rice water in your hair health regimen is risk-free. Rice water is inexpensive and easy to access.

When to see a doctor about hair-growth treatment

For most people, thinning hair or hair loss is related to genetics or aging. But sometimes it can be a sign of an underlying health problem. Or, you might have a type of hair loss that requires special treatment (like alopecia areata or scarring alopecia). 

Get checked out by your physician or other healthcare professional if you notice any of these symptoms along with your hair loss:

• Feeling tired or cold, which can be signs of hypothyroidism
• A rash made up of round, scaly, red, or brown patches on your face or other sun-exposed skin, like with lupus erythematosus
• Scalp itching, redness, or pain, which can be signs of scarring alopecia
• Round bald patches on your scalp and other hairy areas, which could mean alopecia areata

Maintaining healthy and vibrant hair requires dedication and consistency. By incorporating these tips into your daily routine and being mindful of your hair care practices, you can promote hair growth, prevent hair loss, and enjoy a crowning glory of healthy locks. Remember, your dermatologist is your partner in hair health, ready to assist you in your journey towards a fuller, healthier head of hair.

FAQs about Hair Loss:  

 

Q: Is hair loss hereditary? 

A: Yes, genetics play a significant role in hair loss. If your family has a history of baldness or thinning hair, you may be more prone to experiencing it as well. 

 

Q: Can over-brushing cause hair loss? 

A: Excessive brushing or harsh brushing can lead to hair breakage. It’s important to brush your hair gently and use a comb with wide teeth to detangle. 

 

Q: Will wearing hats frequently lead to hair loss? 

A: Wearing hats will not cause hair loss unless they are overly tight and restrict blood flow to the scalp. Opt for hats made of breathable materials and avoid wearing them for prolonged periods. 

 

Q: How can I tell if my hair loss is normal shedding or a cause for concern? 

A: Normal hair shedding ranges from 50-100 strands per day. If you notice an excessive amount of hair fall or significant thinning, it’s advisable to consult a dermatologist for a proper evaluation.

Data Source: my.clevelandclinic.org/camelbackderm.com/goodrx.com