Hair loss is usually thought of as something only adults need to worry about, but teenagers too can lose hair. Hair loss during adolescence (the period from childhood to biological maturity) indicates an underlying medical problem or an improper dietary schedule. Before opting for artificial solutions, give some natural remedies a shot. Artificial solutions come at a high price, and can also trigger several side effects. Of course, if natural remedies don’t work for you there may be a bigger underlying problem for which consulting a specialist would be the best approach. Your first step towards controlling hair loss should always be natural!
Before we discuss the remedies, let’s briefly explore the common causes of teenage hair loss.
I’m a teen and I’ve noticed hair loss. Why does this happen?
Losing hair can be stressful especially when it happens at an age when appearance holds a lot of importance. For most teenagers, hair loss is a temporary problem that fades away over time. With temporary hair loss, hair usually grows back after the problem is solved. The three most common causes for hair loss are hormonal factors, health concerns and medical ailments. Read on to find out more about these causes.
Hormonal Factors
One of the most common causes of hair loss is male-pattern baldness and female-pattern baldness. Certain sex hormones trigger a particular pattern of permanent hair loss. This type of hair thinning can begin as early as puberty, and tends to effect men more than women. Hormonal imbalances during adolescence or pregnancy can also cause temporary hair loss in women.
Health Concerns
Certain health issues, such as the ones listed below, can directly result in teenage hair loss. Your doctor will be able to identify and diagnose these health problems.
- Thyroid problems. The thyroid gland helps to regulate hormone levels in your body. Hair loss can result from the gland being unable to function properly.
- Scalp infections. Infections such as ringworm can invade the hair and skin of your scalp, leading to hair loss. Once the infection is treated, the hair generally grows back.
- Other skin disorders. Diseases that cause scarring can also result in permanent hair loss in the areas where the scars remain.
- Improper diet: unhealthy dietary habits can also fuel hair loss. Diets crammed with processed foods, sugary and fatty snacks, and inadequate quantities of natural foods do not provide the body with adequate nutrition to maintain strong hair.
Medical ailments
The following diseases also tend to cause hair loss in teenagers:
- Cancer: Medicines used in the treatment of cancer can cause permanent hair loss.
- Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis specialist (joint inflammation) causes hair loss but it can be moderated by taking a high dose of folic acid. Do not, however, try to increase your folic acid dosage on your own. Consult your doctor and ask him/her to recommend a suitable dosage for you.
- Depression: Stress of any kind leads to hair loss. Even depression can take its toll on the way we look and feel.
- Heart problems: According to research, hair loss is usually one of the first signs of heart problems in men.
- High blood pressure: Research has found a direct link between hypertension and hair loss, due to blood pressure issues the body is unable to ensure optimum blood circulation. This causes the hair to become weak
What Are The Natural Ways to Prevent Hair Loss?
The best thing about natural treatments is that they have no side effects. The following tips will help you control hair loss without expensive medications.
Hot oil treatments
Take any natural oil – olive, coconut, and canola – and heat it up so that it is warm, but not too hot. Massage it gently into your scalp. Put on a shower cap and leave it on for an hour, then shampoo your hair.
Natural juices
You can enrich your scalp with garlic (lasan) juice, onion juice or ginger (adrak) juice. Massage it into your hair, leave it on overnight and wash it thoroughly in the morning.
Get a head massage
Massaging your scalp for a few minutes daily will help stimulate blood circulation. Good blood circulation in the scalp keeps hair follicles active. Circulation may be further improved by utilizing lavender or almond oil during the head massage.
Antioxidants
Apply warm green tea (two bags brewed in one cup of water) on your scalp; leave this mixture on for an hour and then rinse. Green tea contains antioxidants which prevent hair loss and boost hair growth.
Practice Meditation
The root cause for hair loss turns out to be stress and tension most of the time. Consistent stress releases the hormone cortisol which compromises the strength of the internal system. Meditation can help reduce your tension and anxiety, and restore hormonal balance.
Additional Tips
- Eat a nutritionally balanced diet i.e one that contains essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Try to include more green food than meat in your regular diet.
- Avoid tight hairstyles, such as braids, buns or ponytails. This is especially for those teenagers who have weak or thin hair. When thin or weak hair is stretched, they break and lead to weak follicles.
- Avoid compulsively twisting, rubbing or pulling your hair because this weakens your follicles and makes your hair prone to breakage.
Conclusion
Keep yourself healthy and keep track of your essential vitamins, proteins and minerals. These are needed for your body’s growth and maintenance, including hair growth. Get regular checkups to make sure you are in good health and free of any diseases.