Do you know what our hair is made of?
Hair is made of a tough protein called keratin. A hair follicle anchors each hair into the skin. The hair bulb forms the base of the hair follicle. Blood vessels nourish the cells in the hair bulb, and deliver nutrients that help with hair growth
Do you know we lose about 100 hairs each day on average and that’s considered normal? The average adult head has about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs. Hair loss is considered a problem if we lose a lot more than that.
So what causes hair loss? There are many factors including Medications, Auto immune diseases, Scalp issues, Hormonal problems, Infections, etc. Genetics also play a role
For men, they tend to lose hair at the top of the head whereas women tend to have thinning hair throughout the top and back. Men’s hair loss is mainly caused by genes and this is called Male Patterned Baldness
What can we do to stop hair loss?
Buying the right hair shampoo (not too harsh), there are medications that can help which can be applied to the scalp or medications to take orally (need to see a doctor). Do not use harsh chemicals on the hair.
Hair loss is also know as alopecia. For example Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss when your immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. The damage is usually not permanent. This cannot be cured but can be treated.
Did you know that by the time we reach our 30s, the damage incurred during our 20s become visible? Hair becomes less lustrous due to less sebum production, at the age of 40s, the diameter of the hair starts to shrink and hair becomes more fragile and thinner. Melanin levels which gives hair colour starts to decline and grey hair appears.
Some people have grey hair as young as when they are teens and this is mainly caused by genetics.
So if your mother or father have grey hair at a young age, chances are you may too.
Factors that can cause HAIR DAMAGE:
Blow-drying, straightening, highlighting, and perming regularly can wreak havoc on hair, leaving it brittle, broken, and unmanageable. Split ends and dry hair are just two casualties of overstyling.
And what can we do to treat split ends? Brush gently with a soft, flexible hairbrush; don't overbrush.
Avoid towel-drying. If you do dry your hair with a towel, pat it gently.
Use a conditioner,and leave on a deep conditioner about once a week.
Hair needs moisture and a certain amount of oil to keep it looking healthy. There are many oil treatment that you can get from the pharmacy. To apply after shampooing and before using the hairdryer is one way. There are also treatment you can use in the shower.
To avoid drying out the hair: do not wash hair too often. Unless you have a scalp condition such as dandruff .Limit blowdrying and use of hot irons, hot rollers or curling irons. Increase the time between hair treatments such as dyes or perms.
Besides all that, one of the ways we can protect our hair is through what we eat meaning our diet. What you eat affects the growth, health & quality of your hair. If you are not getting certain nutrients from food, the effects can be felt in your hair. Hair follicles need a constant supply of O2 & nutrients from blood vessels to ensure healthy hair growth & replacement
Some of the important nutrients that our hair needs is Omega 3 fatty acids which play a key role in not just hair but skin and nails too. Foods rich in Omega 3s are salmon, tuna, & other fatty fish.Flaxseed oil also contain Omega 3 and is good for vegetarians. Eating almonds and walnuts help too.
Other important nutrients are Vit B6, B12 and folic acid. Bananas , potatoes and spinach are rich in Vit B6
B12 is mainly found meat, poultry and fish
Eating one serving of protein everyday can maintain strong and healthy hair.
Trace minerals such as iron, magnesium, zinc and biotin also affect hair. All these can be found in a good multivitamin
In conclusion, the right foods can do wonders for your hair, but then we need to get to the root cause of hair loss. Sometimes it is due to genetic factors or diseases.
