HAIR LOSS

• Hair loss is a common condition. It can be caused by variety of disorders that can be congenital or acquired. Hair disorders are divided into scarring (cicatricial) and non-scarring (non-cicatricial) hair loss
• If the area is devoid of hair orifices and associated with atrophy then it is a scarring alopecia .If hair orifices are preserved then it is considered as a non-scarring hair loss

ACQUIRED CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium is one of the common causes of hair loss. This condition is characterized by a diffuse hair shedding due to disturbance in the hair cycle. Telogen effluvium can be due to

• Iron deficiency
• Hypoalbuminemia
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Postpartum
• Fever
• Prolonged operation or Anesthesia
• Chronic diseases

Androgenetic Alopecia

• This is known as common balding. This condition is characterized by shedding and thinning of certain areas on scalp. This can affect males and females. It is due to progressive miniaturization of hair which means a progressive transformation of the terminal (coarse) hair into vellus (fine) hair follicle

Alopecia Areata

• The main types of Alopecia Areata include localized bald area in the scalp, brows, or beard areas, baldness of the total scalp area (Alopecia Totalis), and baldness of the total body (Alopecia Universalis). A defect in the immune system, causing inflammation of the hair roots and thus their loss, is probably the causative factor

Tinea Capitis

• The word “Tinea” means fungal infection; capitis indicates the scalp. It is a common cause of hair loss in children

Telogen effluvium

• Characterized by a diffuse hair shedding due to a disturbance in the hair cycle. The patient may complain of increased hair loss while shampooing or brushing. The daily hair loss can be up to 1000 hairs. Pull test is usually positive, if the hair is not shampooed for more than one day

Androgenetic alopecia

• In this condition, the hair fall down slowly and transform into small and fine hair leading to common baldness. In males, the frontal and vertex areas of the scalp are lost. In females, the frontal and middle areas are lost, sparing the forelock hair of the scalp

Alopecia areata

• Localized bald area in the scalp,brows, or beard areas, baldness of the total scalp area (Alopecia Totalis), and baldness of the total body (Alopecia Universalis). On examination there is no sign of scarring

Tinea capitis

• There are several different clinical patterns of Tineacapitis - a seborrheic dermatitis-like pattern, “black dot”, which refers to the breakage of hairs at the scalp, alopecia areata - like pattern, inflammatory or kerion, and favus. Cervical or occipital lymphadenopathy may be associated with any type of Tinea capitis

• Scalp examination - give a clue whether the alopecia is scarring or non-scarring
• Hairs pull test
• Trichogram
• Wood’s light
• KOH microscopic examination
• Skin biopsy

• Treat the underlying causes
• Androgentic alopecia (AGA) - in early stage of baldness, minoxidil 5% scalp solution is advised
• Surgical Treatment - Modern hair transplant using hair grafts
• Alopecia areata - Strong steroids (creams or skin injections), Photochemotherapy , Corticosteroids and Cyclosporine
• Tineacapitis - Antifungal agent –Griseofulvin, Terbinafin, Itraconazole

Ayurvedic Treatment

• Avoid sour and spicy foods
• Use calcium rich foods
• Correct the associated systemic diseases

Internal medicines

• Panchatikthaka Kashaya
• Mahatikthaka Gritha
• Draksharishta
• Lohasava
• Annabhedi sindhuram
• Vaiswanara Choorna
• Aswagandha choorna
• Narasimha Rasayana
• Chyavanaprasha

Procedures

• Virechana - Gandharvaeranda
• Nasya - Shadbindhu Taila, Anu taila
• Oil for head – Triphala kera, Malatyadi kera, Neelibringhadi kera, Bringamalakyadi, Bhujagalatadi , Kayyunyadi, Prapaundarikadi

Treatment for Alopecia

• Prachana with lancet at regular intervals
• Lepana - Kasisa+Manasila + Tutha+Marichalepa
• Lepana - Indraluptha mashi
• Siro abyanaga - Malatyadi Kera

Treatment for Dandruff

• Siroabyanga - Durvadi Kera
• Siroabyanga - Durdurapatradi Kera
• Siro abyanga - Dineshavallyadi Kera

Treatment for Hair growth / Black colour

• Sirolepa - Amalaki + Lotus tuber + Sariba + Yastimadhu + Honey
• Siro abyanga - Kunthalakanthi oil / Bringamalakadi/ Neeli bringadi oil