In a world where a thick luxuriant head of hair is considered a sign of youth, beauty, and vitality, losing hair is a condition that every person, male or female looks at with horror. This aversion to bald pates, widening partings, and receding hairlines have fuelled a billion-dollar industry for hair loss treatments. Top companies are spending millions on finding new solutions for growing hair including creams, lotions, shampoos, and even, surgical options.
Check out the research reports released by IBIS World, and you’ll see that between the years 2013 to 2018, the hair gain industry has earned revenues worth $4 billion. Of these, 42.6% of the revenue came from oral medications while 30.9% came from sales of topical applications like creams, lotions, or any other. While these hair gain options may be effective, you do have to worry about the side effects that are very real. For instance, one of the top hair loss treatments is Finasteride that is so toxic that expectant women are warned not to even touch the tablets, or they could risk losing the pregnancy.
Aren’t There Any Safer Options Out There?
As an affected person who is starting to worry about losing hair quickly, you’ve likely started looking around for the most effective solutions. But, if the available options are going to burn a hole in your pocket and saddle you with a host of side effects, you may want to look at other, safer ideas. As a matter of fact, there ARE natural hair loss treatments that can stimulate the growth of new hair, but without causing any ill effects. Take a look at some of your best options.
1. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy:
Platelet Rich Plasma therapy is one of the safest of solutions for your hair loss woes. It is minimally invasive and works by stimulating your body’s natural healing processes. The serum used in PRP therapy is developed from a sample of your blood. After processing and extracting the healing components, doctors inject it into different areas of your scalp at depths of around 1mm to 1.5mm. The PRP serum contains a concentration of your body’s repairing elements that reach under the scalp and reverse the main causes of hair loss. Like, for instance, rejuvenating dying follicles, growing new blood vessels to nourish the scalp with oxygen and nutrients, and stimulating the growth of new follicles.
Users report that they start to see positive results at 4 weeks after the first session. Not only do they notice new hair growth, but the strands have a thicker, denser texture with a richer coloring. All these are signs of a well-nourished scalp. As for side effects, there is only a rare chance of adverse reactions. That’s because the doctors are using your own body’s tissues as a hair loss treatment.
2. Natural Oils for Massages
Should you read about scalp massages with oils extracted from plants, chances are that you’ll take in the information with a generous dose of skepticism, and pass off the options as old wives’ tales. But, the fact is that these oils actually work. And, studies conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information have proved their efficacy. While these oils don’t have any side effects, sometimes their potency can cause irritation when applied on the skin. With the advice of your trichologist, you could combine the oils with carrier oils like coconut or olive that are beneficial even if they seep into your bloodstream.
- Lavender essential oil
- Peppermint essential oil
- Jojoba oil that contains
- Pumpkin seed oil particularly for treating male androgenetic alopecia
- Geranium oil
- Chamomile oil
- Pure coconut oil
3. Dietary Supplements:
Deficiencies of specific vitamins and minerals in your body can also result in hair loss. Check out this article on HealthLine that describes how you can take the necessary supplements and make changes in your diet to reverse hair loss and stimulate the growth of new hair follicles. When prescribing hair loss treatments, your trichologist will likely run a blood test to identify the deficiencies and advise you accordingly. Some of the key elements that can promote hair growth are vitamins A, C, and D, biotin which is a kind of vitamin B, iron and zinc. Interestingly, sulfur is another element that your body needs to make adequate keratin for your hair and nails. Load up with foods that contain these elements and you have the best solution possible for hair loss.
In addition to vitamins and minerals, you may want to add adequate portions of protein and fats to nourish your body and stimulate the growth of hair. Add healthy, low-fat foods like avocados, nuts, and plant-based cooking oils as sources of fat. As for the protein content, look for lean meats, cottage cheese, soy products, beans, and various others.
4. Eliminating the Specific Causes of Hair Loss:
One of the best hair loss treatments is to first explore the causes of your specific problem. Various health conditions can manifest themselves in symptoms like rapid hair loss. Like this article on the Health magazine explains, your hair is actually a good indication of your overall health. If you can identify the medical causes and treat them, you would not need to opt for toxic shampoos and ointments. Check with your medical practitioner and explore any health issues you might have.
- Severe stress and anxiety
- Fatigue and excessive physical activity
- Eating disorders like bulimia
- Hormone imbalances
- Side effects of certain medications
- Cancer treatments
- Incidences of long-term illness
- Pregnancy
- Sudden and rapid weight loss
- Acute anemia
- Thyroid conditions
- Polycystic ovary syndrome in women
- Intake of anabolic steroids, blood thinners, or antidepressants
If you have been noticing a receding hairline or a widening parting, it’s time to look for hair loss treatments. But, it is best to explore the reasons behind the problem and choose natural options that can stimulate your body to replace the lost tresses. Avoid the commercial shampoos and medications that may have side effects, and let your body do what it does best. Heal itself!
