- Supriya Ramesh
Why does hair loss occur? What are its causes? What do dermatologists say about ways to prevent it....
In this era, hair loss is no longer associated with age. Because now, for both men and women, hair loss problems begin in their 20s and 30s.
Many people try salons, treatments, and various other methods to fix hair loss. Some ignore it at the beginning and later worry when it reaches the final stage.
Similarly, most people follow the same approach to address hair loss. Based on social media or others’ recommendations, they try things like a new shampoo, oiling and washing their hair once a week, or taking protein tablets. But, not everyone loses hair for the same reason. They undergo treatment without knowing the cause.
Doctors say it is better to first understand why you are experiencing hair loss before using any product, and then consult an expert about what kind of methods you should follow.
What do dermatologists say?
"Using certain products directly without knowing the cause of hair loss can make it worse. It is generally said to wash your hair gently, apply oil once a week, and eat a protein-rich diet. But you need to know why hair loss is happening to you. If you don’t know that, no product will be effective," said Dr. Sushmita Dure, a dermatologist at Men Matters.
Hair loss in India is no longer a problem that occurs only in the 40s. Most men under the age of 25 come to us complaining of hair loss. By the time they start monitoring it, their condition has already worsened, he says.
Dermatologist and beauty expert Dr. Mikki Singh says about this,
"Everyone needs a different kind of care routine. Hair follicles do not fall out immediately; they shed only after about two to four months. So, if you are experiencing hair loss now, you need to pay attention to what happened three months ago.
Dengue, typhoid, coronavirus infection, severe diet restrictions before marriage, childbirth, surgery, exam stress, or work-related stress are major causes of hair loss.
Once you come out of that problem, the hair loss usually resolves on its own within 6 months.
Androgenetic hair loss, telogen effluvium, nutritional deficiency, dandruff, or seborrheic dermatitis can cause hair loss. But each of these requires completely different care methods," he said.
Proper diagnosis is essential!
The right cause of hair loss needs to be identified. Accordingly, Dr. Dure says he recommends certain tests such as serum ferritin, vitamin D, vitamin B12, thyroid function, and blood count.
If there are nutritional issues, biotin and other nutritional supplements can help. However, Dr. Singh says vitamin tablets alone will not fix hair loss or baldness.
Biotin tablets are often recommended for hair loss. But he also warns that taking high doses of biotin can lead to incorrect results.
In Tamil: M. Muthumari