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How To Reduce Hair Fall?

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Posted on Thu, 3 Jul 2014
Question: How to reduce hair fall
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Hair fall treatment

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic

I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your concern.

-I would like to know the duration of hair fall? Is it recent, sudden onset hair fall or is it long standing, gradual? Does it affect your scalp hair density?

-Obviously it is severe enough for you to compel and ask for a solution for hair fall, but I would like to know the severity of hair fall?How many hair do you lose per day? >100 or <100??Give me an approx number.

-I would like to know whether you have dandruff/ seborrheic dermatitis? If YES, I would advise that you should use a ketoconazole based antidandruff shampoo thrice weekly for 2-4 weeks and followed by once or twice weekly. If NOT suffering from dandruff, you can use any of the daily use OTC shampoos like Dove, sunsilk, pantene, tressme etc along with a good conditioner after shampoo.

Otherwise, I would keep a possibility of either Telogen effluvium OR Androgenetic Alopecia, as the cause of your hair fall and decreased hair density. Since you say the thinning is more over the crown, therefore I would like to consider my first possibility of Female Pattern Androgenetic Alopecia(FAGA)

Scalp hair grows for 2-3 years (Anagen phase) after which it enter the catagen phase (transition phase) which is followed by resting phase (Telogen phase).

Hair can prematurely enter from growth phase(Anagen) to resting phase(telogen) therefore resulting in shorter length and increased shedding. After a major stressing event like medical/surgical illness OR post delivery OR weight loss (in your case), scalp hair is prematurely pushed into resting phase (Telogen) from the growth phase (Anaphase). This phase usually starts in the third or fourth month after a major stressor and ends by six months if the stressor is removed.

There are certain well known causes of Telogen effluvium: A few of them have been already ruled out in you case like Thyroid and Serum ferritin levels

--Deficient Iron Stores
--Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
--Post partum(after delivery)
--Post Surgical or following a Medical illness (typhoid, malaria, dengue etc)
--Weight loss/ Dieting etc

However, Female Pattern Androgenetic Alopecia, which seems to be the most likely cause in your case, can be difficult to distinguish from Telogen Effluvium in females, especially early in the course. Later on, Androgenetic alopecia presents as widened part-width and decreased hair density from the vertex and crown of the scalp. The hair loss is gradual over the years and although the scalp remains covered, the hair volume is reduced.

In my practice I usually ask my patients of Chronic Telogen Effluvium to take an oral Iron Supplement along with a Biotin supplement for 4-6 months together.

Follihair tablets are basically hair supplements and contain multiple ingredients like Biotin, Iron, Calcium pantothenate etc. They are helpful in controlling hair fall and help to restore good hair health.

However they need to be taken for at least 4-6 months at a stretch. The action is slow, therefore don't expect immediate results. It is advisable to take them for a good 1-2 months to judge whether they are going to be effective Or not.

Androgenetic alopecia in females is commonly managed with 2% minoxidil solution is a non-specific hair growth promoter can be applied at the scalp skin in this type of hair loss, twice daily with a dropper (1ml twice daily). Minoxidil is a hair growth promoter and helps in rapid transition of hair follicle from resting phase to growth phase (Anagen).

Hair fall is slow to respond and treatment may have to be continued for months to see noticeable improvements, say 4-6 months.

Apart from this oral antiandrogens like spironolactone, finasteride also can be prescribed in case of Androgenetic Alopecia, but with a warning: PREGNANCY TO BE AVOIDED WHILE YOU ARE ON FINASTERIDE OR SPIRONOLACTONE, because they can cause feminization of a male fetus.

Hope this information helped

regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (11 minutes later)
I used to have hair fall in rainy season when i was stayin in north. Since last 2 yrs i am in XXXXXXX and since then my hair fall is regular approx 60-70 strands in one combing. I comb 2-3 times a day. Also i have perpetual dandruff that doesnt go with any dandruff based shampoo of dove, vatika, pentnene or fab XXXXXXX I oil once a month. Wash 3 times a week. My hair gets oily every. 2nd day.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (59 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Hair fall treatment

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Use a ketoconazole based shampoo (Nizral 2% solution), thrice weekly. Lather it well and leave it on scalp for 5 minutes before rinsing.

Apply a topical steroid lotion e.g Elocon lotion, once daily at night for 2 weeks. Apply at the scalp skin and leave it overnight.

An oral biotin supplement e.g Proanagen tablet once daily, 1 hr after breakfast for 4-6 months

An Iron supplement e.g Dexorage tablet, once daily, 1 hr after lunch for 4-6 months

Instead of hair oil, use a conditioner e.g Triflow conditioner.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (24 hours later)
Ok thanks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (6 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Welcome

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for posting your concern at Healthcaremagic

Regards
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Kakkar

Dermatologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 9612 Questions

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How To Reduce Hair Fall?

Brief Answer: Hair fall treatment Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your concern. -I would like to know the duration of hair fall? Is it recent, sudden onset hair fall or is it long standing, gradual? Does it affect your scalp hair density? -Obviously it is severe enough for you to compel and ask for a solution for hair fall, but I would like to know the severity of hair fall?How many hair do you lose per day? >100 or <100??Give me an approx number. -I would like to know whether you have dandruff/ seborrheic dermatitis? If YES, I would advise that you should use a ketoconazole based antidandruff shampoo thrice weekly for 2-4 weeks and followed by once or twice weekly. If NOT suffering from dandruff, you can use any of the daily use OTC shampoos like Dove, sunsilk, pantene, tressme etc along with a good conditioner after shampoo. Otherwise, I would keep a possibility of either Telogen effluvium OR Androgenetic Alopecia, as the cause of your hair fall and decreased hair density. Since you say the thinning is more over the crown, therefore I would like to consider my first possibility of Female Pattern Androgenetic Alopecia(FAGA) Scalp hair grows for 2-3 years (Anagen phase) after which it enter the catagen phase (transition phase) which is followed by resting phase (Telogen phase). Hair can prematurely enter from growth phase(Anagen) to resting phase(telogen) therefore resulting in shorter length and increased shedding. After a major stressing event like medical/surgical illness OR post delivery OR weight loss (in your case), scalp hair is prematurely pushed into resting phase (Telogen) from the growth phase (Anaphase). This phase usually starts in the third or fourth month after a major stressor and ends by six months if the stressor is removed. There are certain well known causes of Telogen effluvium: A few of them have been already ruled out in you case like Thyroid and Serum ferritin levels --Deficient Iron Stores --Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism --Post partum(after delivery) --Post Surgical or following a Medical illness (typhoid, malaria, dengue etc) --Weight loss/ Dieting etc However, Female Pattern Androgenetic Alopecia, which seems to be the most likely cause in your case, can be difficult to distinguish from Telogen Effluvium in females, especially early in the course. Later on, Androgenetic alopecia presents as widened part-width and decreased hair density from the vertex and crown of the scalp. The hair loss is gradual over the years and although the scalp remains covered, the hair volume is reduced. In my practice I usually ask my patients of Chronic Telogen Effluvium to take an oral Iron Supplement along with a Biotin supplement for 4-6 months together. Follihair tablets are basically hair supplements and contain multiple ingredients like Biotin, Iron, Calcium pantothenate etc. They are helpful in controlling hair fall and help to restore good hair health. However they need to be taken for at least 4-6 months at a stretch. The action is slow, therefore don't expect immediate results. It is advisable to take them for a good 1-2 months to judge whether they are going to be effective Or not. Androgenetic alopecia in females is commonly managed with 2% minoxidil solution is a non-specific hair growth promoter can be applied at the scalp skin in this type of hair loss, twice daily with a dropper (1ml twice daily). Minoxidil is a hair growth promoter and helps in rapid transition of hair follicle from resting phase to growth phase (Anagen). Hair fall is slow to respond and treatment may have to be continued for months to see noticeable improvements, say 4-6 months. Apart from this oral antiandrogens like spironolactone, finasteride also can be prescribed in case of Androgenetic Alopecia, but with a warning: PREGNANCY TO BE AVOIDED WHILE YOU ARE ON FINASTERIDE OR SPIRONOLACTONE, because they can cause feminization of a male fetus. Hope this information helped regards