Trichology: Care for your hair

Trichology: Care for your hair 

Trichologist, Dr Sonal Shah, discusses hair thinning in women

Do you notice that your hair is getting thinner and thinner Does the top of your head seem to be balding Do you find many strands of hair left behind in your comb 

Yes, men are not the only ones who go bald, though this was more common earlier. Today, trichologists are noticing an increasing number of women losing hair and that too, at a very young age... Hair is a womans crowning glory and having a crown thats falling apart can cause anxiety and stress in women. 
In India and elsewhere in the world, a lot of importance is attached to womens hair. The hair care industry has grown because of this most hair care products are meant for women. This is evident from the advertisements for hair care products. More women, than men, are featured to sell a product. Likewise , the largest consumer base for these products also comprises more women than men. In fact, all of this contributes to a vicious cycle. The significance of womens hair in their beauty is sold to the media and the media, through its advertising, further strengthens the image of a beauty with long, lustrous hair. 
There is no doubt that in India , a womans hair is definitely one of her most significant assets. Despite the fact that short hair is often more manageable , as well as very chic, most women hesitate to let go of those long tresses. 
Given the importance of hair, women justifiably panic when they start losing their hair. A woman who notices that she is balding will be in agony. 

How does female pattern thinning differ from male pattern thinning 

In men, the pattern of hair loss is characteristically Ushaped . It starts with thinning on the crown or a receding hairline, which advances to thinning on the top of the head. In women, androgenetic alopecia appears as diffuse hair loss or thinning in the fronto-vortex region (ie, on top of the frontal region) and the frontal region is spared in most cases. This hair loss happens at a slower rate than in men and it happens at a much later time in life. But age does not make it less traumatic for a woman, especially if she has had luxuriant hair before. 

When and why it starts 

The crux of the problem lies with our hormones. Women have both the male hormone androgen (which is responsible for hair growth all over the body) and the female hormone oestrogen. In men, androgen , ironically, causes the destruction of the hair follicles in those who are genetically predisposed to this kind of baldness. This is known as androgenetic alopecia. Fortunately for women, the hormone oestrogen counteracts and stops this negative action of androgen. 
However, during periods, when the oestrogen level falls, androgen starts attacking the hair follicles and as the hair follicles are destroyed, hair starts to thin. For example, before menopause, when the production of oestrogen is high, this hormone has a protective effect against the small amount of testosterone that women also produce. After menopause, when the production of the female hormone oestrogen slows down, female pattern thinning in women begins . This may also be triggered by stress, consumption of oral contraceptives, hysterectomy , childbirth or hormone-replacement therapy. 

How quickly does the hair thin 

The overall rate of hair loss varies from person to person. It is even possible to have some spontaneous but temporary hair regrowth. While some women might take 25 years to reach significant baldness, others might take just 5 years to go bald. Moreover , hormone production varies with the season. Winter is the worst period as testosterone production increases . (Testosterone, when converted to DHT, adversely affects the hair follicles). Added to this, women have a monthly hormone cycle. 

Treatment 

Unlike in men, where areas of skin may become completely devoid of hair, female pattern thinning, most often, involves diffuse thinning and production of thinner hair fibres. There is less destruction of the hair follicles in specific regions of the skin. 
Natural treatments are always the best, as hormone-replacement therapy, which is sometimes touted as an option for hair regrowth, generally has side effects. Dong Quai Complex, made from a plant called Dong Quai, (which has natural oestrogen), has had great results when thinning is due to low oestrogen levels. High androgen levels can be treated by Serenoa Complex (composed of saw palmetto fruit and a stem called horsetail ). Of course, it is best to get your hair condition and its case accurately diagnosed through a tricho-check . 
So, the next time you look in the mirror and find your hair growing horribly thin, dont hide behind a scarf in embarrassment . Trichology exists so that you dont have to suffer in silence and in shame. There are some foods which have great estrogenic properties and form a great support system to the treatment. They are: Soya Walnuts Flex Seeds Green tea 

Dr. Sonal Shah is one of the worlds leading trichologists and the pioneers of trichology in India and consults at Richfeel Trichology Centre. For further details, contact : 011-45608967 /68/69 (Rajouri Garden); 011-46573434 /37/38 (Lajpat Nagar ); 011-40571457 /9268659088 (C.R.Park ), 0124 - 4229434 / 6469666 (Gurgaon) or 0120 - 4242444 (Noida) or visit our website: www.richfeel.com