Q & A - EXCESSIVE SHEDDING

 

 

My hair has been shedding heavily for the last two months. It just seems to be falling out at an alarming rate. What can I do to stop the shedding?

So you're losing hair. It is cause for alarm but first determine that you're shedding and not experiencing breakage. Hold up a strand of hair to the light. Do you see a little white bulb on one end? If no, it's breakage, if yes, you just shed a strand of hair.

Let's first discuss how much shedding is normal.
Shedding 30 to 50 strands of hair a day is normal. Some people even shed up to 100 but anything more than that is considered excessive.

What can cause your hair to shed excessively?
There are several reasons why you're seeing so much shedding.

1. Diet
Too much Vitamin A or a lack of Protein can cause your hair to shed. Also a lack of Vitamin B can also cause shedding.  Make sure you're getting the daily recommmended amount of vitamin A and B in your diet. There are many supplements on the market available for you. Also, increase your protein intake. Fish high in omega 3 fatty acids such as salmon are good options.

2. Health issues
Illness is a major culprit in excessing shedding. Hypothyroidism, anemia and autoimmune diseases such as Lupus can all cause you to lose hair. With an autoimmune disease, the immune system sees the hair as foreign and targets it by mistake.

3. Medication
Lots of medications can cause hair loss as a side effect. If you're taking medication that can also be the cause of your shedding so read the list of side effects or talk to your doctor about it.

4. Product use
A build up on your scalp from some products can result in shedding. Make sure you're cleansing your scalp regularly to ensure that there is little buildup.

5. Hereditary hair loss
Hair loss that is genetic is known as androgenetic alopecia. It can be inherited from either side of the family. It is most likely to happen if it is present  in both your father and mother.

6. Stress
Stress is a very common cause of hair loss. It can trigger a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium. Hair has a programmed life cycle: a growth phase, rest phase and shedding phase. When you have a really stressful event, it can shock the hair cycle, pushing more hair into the shedding phase.

7. Weight loss
Lost a lot of weight within the last 6 months? Large amounts of weight loss can cause increased shedding. It could be that the weight loss itself has shocked the body or that the reduced nutrients in your diet is the cause. You probably won't see shedding for about 6 months after losing weight.

If you're experiencing severe hair loss you should always visit a doctor first.


A HOME REMEDY
Garlic has been known to help with shedding. You can also try an at home remedy. Heat about 1oz of oil in a bowl. Add about 1 tsp of grated garlic and let sit for a few hrs. Massage the oil onto scalp and let sit for about 1 hr. Please only do this on wash day. The smell isn't the most pleasant and it will take a strong shampoo to get the smell out of your hair.

We hope this article has helped you!