Daily hair loss is a perfectly naturally occurring event. Remember that 10% of our hair is in a resting phase, which would usually fall every 2 or 3 months. When the hair fall is in excess of the usual limits, people get concerned. Excessive hair loss can be due to several reasons including: There are several reasons for hair loss including: Hair loss can occur due to several factors including: Reasons for hair loss are several including: What causes hair loss? The common manifestation is the appearance of one or more spots on the scalp. Generally caused due to immunity disorder where the body’s own white blood cells attack the hair follicles. When the entire scalp hair has fallen it is called Alopecia Totalis. Infrequently a condition called alopecia universalis occurs where hair is lost from the entire body.

Genetic reasons: This causes 25% men to be affected by male pattern baldness by age 30. It is primarily genetic but is also due to the male hormone testosterone. Testosterone converts to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which retards or stops hair growth and causes the emergence of weak or shorter hair. Men not having any testosterone would not suffer from male pattern baldness.

Skin diseases: this could also be responsible for hair loss and it can affect the scalp. The specific skin diseases causing hair loss include dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, scalp fungus such as ringworm and tinea captis.

Sudden illness or fever: this could also cause massive hair loss. This is however a temporary event.

Childbirth, menopause, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and aging are some of the other factors which could be behind hair loss. Apart from these reasons, there are several others too.

Successful hair loss treatments are available where you not only stop hair loss but re-grow your hair too. Some natural hair loss treatments are:

1. Vitamins A, B, C and E are hair promoters. Include them in the diet. You might ask how these vitamins are going to help. They provide sebum as well as improve blood circulation to the scalp by more oxygen absorption and collagen.

2. Care for the scalp: It would help a lot if you regularly massage your scalp using herbal oils like olive oil, jojoba oil, amla oil. If you want to treat conditions of alopecia areata, try some essential oils like that of thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedar wood.

3. Concern for scalp abuse: Blow drying and using chemical shampoos daily are to be avoided. You can severely damage hair and scalp by coloring as well as straightening. Even a daily hair wash with hot water can damage hair as well as the scalp with the drying up of natural oils and hair breaking easily.

4. Switch to herbal therapy: Powders of amla, shikakai, henna and ritha as shampoo and conditioner could provide you with a natural and herbal option to treat hair loss. This is also the richest source of natural vitamin C. This makes it a great shampoo which thoroughly cleanses the hair without depleting it of its natural oils. Then you could use henna which acts as a natural conditioner.

5. Change in Lifestyle: Stress, an important contributor to hair loss can be reduced by exercising and meditation. Say No to Smoking: Did you know that nicotine from smoking narrows the blood vessels which supply blood to the scalp? To avoid damage to the scalp avoid UV rays from sun exposure.