Proven Ways to Reverse Hair Loss, Say Experts
If you've noticed your hair thinning or your hairline receding, you're not alone. Hair loss is something millions of Americans deal with. NYU Langone Health reports, "More than 80 percent of men and nearly half of women experience significant hair loss during their lifetime. For many, the thinning starts well before middle age." So, what's considered hair loss? According to Harvard Medical School, "We normally lose approximately 50 to 100 scalp hairs each day. If more than this is falling out, you may find unusually large amounts of hair in brushes, on clothing, and in the drains of sinks and tubs. You may also notice that your hair is generally thinner, that your part is wider, that your hairline has changed or that one or more bald patches have appeared." If you are experiencing hair loss, there are several proven ways to help reverse it, says experts Eat This, Not That! Health talked with. Read their surefire methods below–and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.
Why Hair Loss Happens
Dr. Yasmin Akhunji, a board-certified endocrinologist with Paloma Health says, "Hair loss is probably one of the most common complaints I see as an endocrinologist. It can stem from thyroid dysfunction to menopause and anywhere in between. If you're experiencing early onset hair loss, I recommend working with your doctor to determine what's going on and how to personalize treatment. The timeline of your hair loss is important. It's helpful to bring your history into your doctor's appointment. Factors like, what's been going on with your hair loss? Has it been stable or progressing? Where is the hair loss–all over or in one particular spot? What are you doing to your hair? Are you color treating your hair, braiding, wearing ponytails a lot? That's important. Also, what are your other symptoms? Are you on other medications? What is your diet like? Did you go through significant life events recently—like menopause or recent illness? For instance, in the last year and a half, we've been dealing with the pandemic. We're seeing that two to three months after having COVID, people are experiencing a lot of hair loss. But if that's not your timeline, then that's something we can quickly rule out. This kind of information is important to give your provider to determine what could be contributing to your symptoms.I think history is the biggest part of determining how to treat your hair loss. To know if it's been going on for five years or ten years, or if this has just been five months—all of that's really important to hone in on what testing and treatment could help you."
Gota Kola
According to Dr. Nicole Cain, an integrative physician and clinical psychotherapist, "Gotu Kola, also called Centella, is one of the best herbal remedies for hair loss. It works to help you grow luscious locks in two key ways: First, Gotu Kola extract can turn on genes that are associated with hair growth. When these genes are activated, this means your hair will grow. This can help to speed up hair growth, and turn on more hair-growing follicles. The second is that Gotu Kola improves the strength and health of your blood vessels, which feed and nourish your scalp and follicles. This helps promote healthy, strong and beautiful hair. Gotu Kola helps prevent hair loss, and may be a useful treatment for alopecia. Gotu Kola also has some other amazing qualities which, while unrelated to hair specifically, do make this an overall wonderful plant to add to your repertoire: It relieves brain fog, improves concentration, improves memory, decreases anxiety, lifts your mood, prevents brain degeneration, and is overall considered anti-aging."
Horsetail
Dr. Cain explains, "Horsetail, otherwise referred to as Equisetum debile, is an incredible plant that should almost always be considered when you are looking to improve hair growth. One of the most common causes of hair loss is inflammation and toxicity irritating cells at the bottom of your hair follicle, called papilla cells. One of the reasons Horsetail works so well is that it effectively reduces inflammation. Specifically, it reduces an inflammatory cell called IL-6, which is not only protective of your hair follicle, but your health as well. Horsetail is also especially useful in male patterned baldness (in men AND women) because in male pattern baldness we often see a high amount of a potent male sex hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes shrinking of hair follicles. Horsetail blocks the enzyme, 5 alpha-reductase from converting testosterone into the DHT version, which protects your hair follicles and prevents hair loss and supports hair regrowth."
Onion Juice
Hairstylist Khamis Maiouf has worked with hair for over 20 years and studies hair growth reveals, "This method is one of the best ways to reverse hair loss and make your hair grow strong and healthy. All you need to do is cut an onion in half and squeeze out its juice. Then massage your scalp with this onion juice for a few minutes after applying it to your scalp. Leave it for 15 minutes or so before washing it off."
Coconut Oil
Maiouf says, "Coconut oil is another good way to treat hair fall and make them grow strong and healthy. It not only makes your scalp healthy but also stimulates new growth of your hair follicles."
Eat Biotin Rich Foods
Lisa Richards, a nutritionist and author of the Candida Diet states, "Eggs and dairy are loaded with essential nutrients known to prevent and even reverse hair loss. Biotin, B12, protein, zinc, and omega-6 are all vital to the hair growth process. Biotin, in particular, is connected with reversing as well as slowing hair loss. Other foods rich in biotin include seeds and nuts, fish, and sweet potatoes. These may be more ideal options for those wanting to follow an anti-inflammatory or allergen free diet which eggs and dairy would not fit into."
Thyroid Hormones
Dr. Pouya Shafipour, a board-certified physician with Paloma Health explains, "Thyroid hormones are essential for the development and creation of hair follicles. And when the body is functioning correctly, hair follicles can regenerate themselves, going through the phases of growth, regression, shedding, then growth again. However, when the thyroid is either over-producing or under-producing hormones, your hair follicles may not be stimulated as much as they need to be resulting in hair loss—including body hair or eyebrows. One telltale sign of thyroid-related hair loss is losing eyebrow hair, starting on the outer third of your eyebrows, toward your ears.When your thyroid function changes, it affects essentially every system in the body. In the case of an underactive thyroid, you might experience symptoms that feel like the body is slowing down like dry skin, brittle nails, or weight gain. In the case of an overactive thyroid, you might experience symptoms that feel like the body is speeding up like excess sweating, restlessness, or a fast heartbeat. If you're worried about eyebrow hair loss or other symptoms, consider testing if your thyroid is untreated thyroid disease can put patients at risk for more serious problems like cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, or infertility." And to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.
