Shampoo may smell marvellous and can promise you to get healthier, strong, and thicker hair. However, many a time, the story is different. You may not know the ingredients used in the shampoos, which can harm your hair and cause balding over the course of time. Loss of hair is common in both men and women. However, men can experience baldness more than women can as they age. If your hairs are getting thin day by day, reach out to your doctor. It may be a hair loss condition. Moreover, shampoo can also be a culprit.
Your doctor may rule out the cause and prescribe suitable remedies to get rid of the problem.
Some of the chemicals used in shampoos that can harm the health of your hair and make them thin are as follows-
Thickeners and foamers
-
Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)
This chemical is generally used in industry as a detergent. However, in shampoos, it is used in a small proportion to give bouncy foam.
SLS can affect your hair in many ways, such as keeping hair away from essential oil. It also crushes off the necessary protein needed for hair health and its growth.
-
Sodium chloride
There can be salt in your shampoo. It is not dangerous; however, when it is mixed with products comprising sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) as a thickener, it can cause irritation, make your hair dry and lead to hair loss.
-
Preservatives
Preservatives are generally added to make the product last longer. Some of the preservatives added in shampoos are formaldehyde, quaternium-15, and parabens such as propyl paraben and methylparaben. They can lead to baldness and disturb hormonal balance.
While you are using the hair loss treatment prescribed by your doctor, ask him or her which shampoo or hair product to use.
Alcohol
Alcohol is present in almost every hair product. Some types of Alcohol, such as Cetyl alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, and Stearyl Alcohol, can dehydrate your hairs.
Irritants
Manufacturers do not add anything to the shampoo to cause irritation. However, some artificial components can lead to an allergic reaction and swelling in the scalp, which can make your hair weak, dry, and insensible.
Greasers
Greasers like petroleum, lanolin, and mineral oil can damage your hair. They can make them thin and causes hair loss.
Apart from these ingredients, over-shampooing your hair can also damage your hair. When you wash your hair with shampoo every day, it eliminates essential oil from the scalp and makes the hair dry. Consult with your doctor for suitable treatment if you are experiencing loss of hair. He or she may rule out the cause and help get rid of your condition.
What exactly is Hair loss?
It is a condition in which new hairs do not grow in the place of fallen ones. Men, women, children, and old people; anyone can experience loss of hair at a point in time. There can be various causes of baldness. Genetic factors, medical treatments, stress, hairstyles, hormonal changes, and aging are some of the common ones. However, no matter what the cause of your condition is, you can find remedy for alopecia while consulting with your doctor.
What causes your hair to fall out?
There can be various reasons for baldness. However, they may be different in men and women. Some of the common culprits of hair loss are-
- Physical or emotional stress
- Treatments of arthritis, high blood pressure, depression, and cancer
- Chemotherapy
In addition to them, aging is one of the most common reasons for male pattern baldness in men. Hormonal changes in women, like pregnancy, childbirth, or menopause, can cause alopecia.
You should reach out to your doctor if you see the thinning of your hair. He or she may try to rule out the possible cause and prescribe effective remedies for alopecia accordingly.
Alopecia areata, also called as male-pattern baldness can only be addressed with medications like finasteride. It hinders the work of the enzyme, which causes hair loss and prevents the condition. Nevertheless, you have to overcome your stress to put a stop to hair fall. Talk to your doctor if you have any health problem or experiencing baldness as a side effect of treatment. He or she may help manage your condition.
What can help me grow my hair back?
Finasteride can help you grow your hair back. It prevents the action of the enzyme called 5 alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Nevertheless, consult with your doctor for a suitable usage.
Finasteride (Generic Propecia)
Some of the effective treatment methods for hairlessness are as follows-
Scalp massage
Scalp massage is one of the effective ways to prevent hair loss. It improves the blood flow in the head and makes hair follicles stronger. You can use coconut oil for doing scalp massage. Moreover, you can also add essential oil to your carrier oil for the same purpose.
Avoid heat sources
Heat sources like straighteners, curlers, and dryers can damage your hair health. They make the hair follicles weak and cause them to fall.
Try onion juice
Applying onion juice on the scalp can help in growing new hairs. Both men and women can go for this home remedy to get rid of hair loss.
Add supportive nutrients to your diet
Nutrients like vitamin A, C, D, E, zinc, iron, and protein are helpful for hair growth and health. If there is a lack of these nutrients in your diet, you may experience loss of hair. Therefore, eat foodstuffs, which are rich in these nutrients, to make your hair stronger.
Consult your doctor for alopecia treatment
Discuss effective remedies with your doctor. However, finasteride and minoxidil are effective medications for baldness.
Finasteride is a tablet that is used once a day. It works by resisting the action of 5 alpha-reductase that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone and leads to hair fall.
Minoxidil is a spray that is used twice a day. It does not prevent existing hair loss but works effectively in growing new hairs.
You can consult your doctor for which one to use. However, in some cases, both of the medications are used for the best results.
