Is recession hitting your hairline? “Global recession, global heating and global hair loss!!”

The need for good hair is universal, beyond all boundaries. Hair is your crowning glory and also a measure of your self-image, prestige and confidence. Hair is also your body’s barometer indicating good health or lack of it. Many times hair problem are the first signs that something is wrong with you internally!! On the eve of bad hair day the mantra to get a bounty full hair on your head is to know the basic fact about your hair.

What is Trichology?

Trichology is the science of hair and scalp in health and disease. It was developed in 1902 in London and since then has used the wonders of science to detect and effectively treat hair and scalp diseases.

Role of Trichology

Trichology is the specialist for hair and scalp problems. When confronted with a hair problem a Trichologist would first conduct tricho analysis of the hair and scalp to diagnose the problem before choosing from an array of scientific tools to deal with it. Today there are around 400 Trichologist all over the world.

Significance of Trichology

An early indication of many disorders. Very often hair problems are the first signs that show that something is going wrong internally

Hair loss can indicate

• Thyroid problems
• Anemia
• Dietary and mineral deficiency
• Hormonal imbalance
• Ovarian Cyst disease

Psychological importance of Hair

• Hair loss can be devastating and should never be trivialized.
• It can be lead to body dysmorphic disorder, which leads to destruction of self-image, prestige and confidence as hair and skin are two most visible parts of the body.

Emotional effect

• Trichotillomania: It is commonly known, is an impulse control disorder or form of self-injury characterized by the repeated urge to pull out scalp hair, eyelashes or other body hair, sometimes resulting in noticeable bald patches. It is caused severe emotional stress mostly in children, but also seen in adults.
• Tricophagia: It is the advanced stage of Trichitillomania. Characterized by pulling hair and eating it.

Hair facts

Function hair: Apart from imparting you with diva looks, hair has a far more essential function. It’s our protective shield and essentially serves to protect that part of the organ where it grows out. Our eye are protected from dust by eyelashes. Eyebrows disallow sweet and rain from entering into eyes and causing irritation. Nose hair protects from dust particles from air to entering the respiratory passages. Hair on our head apart from adding beauty also protects the skull and the brain. Hair on body helps in keeping the body warm.

• Growth cycle of hair: Hair follows its own growth pattern, which is spread over a certain period of time and consists of three basic stages.
• Anagen Phase – Growth phase: The anagen phase or growth phase lasts for about three years. Approximately 85 per cent of all hairs are in the growing pahse at any one time.
• Catagen phase - Transitional phase: At the end of the Anagen phase, which lasts about one month and makes the end of growth period. On an average 1 per cent of follicle are in this stage.
• Telogen Phase – Resting phase: The resting phase follows the catagen phase and normally lasts about three months. During this time the hair does not grow but stays attached to the follicle. Approximately 10-15 percent of all hairs are in this phase at an one time. At the end of the Telogen phase the hair follicle re-enters the Anagen phase.

Some Interesting hair facts

·        Palms and soles are the only two parts in the body, which do not have hair.

·        Number of hair follicles are formed in the third month from inception and are the same till of death, hence there can never be a before and after picture.

Correct diagnosis: Following three ways for correct diagnosis

• Trichologist is well trained to correctly diagnosis hair and scalp problems by physical examination of hair and scalp.
• Tricho analysis: A Trichogram helps in determining the A/T ratio of hair, the grade of hair loss and the structure of hair.
• Scalp analysis: 1. Capilloscopy identifies the state of the scalp and hair follicles. 2. Densitometry is used to identify the volume and density of hair.

Impact of modern lifestyle on hair and scalp

• Stress: A physical or emotional stress can cause hair to prematurely enter in falling stages leading to Telogen effluviums, a type of sever hair loss. Stree can also caused a type of auto immune disorders on the scalp called alopecia which starts as a 25 paisa coin baldness and then spreads all over the scalp.
• Fashion: Today our lives seem to be dictated by changing trends, straightening perming and colouring. All these chemical processes take a high toll on our hair. Tricchoxwrrhis nodosa, or hair breakage due to chronic weakness is a common problem caused by chemical treatment.
• Pollution: Pollution takes its toll on your hair as well as the rest of your body. It affects by breaking disulphide and hydrogen bonds of the hair it makes your dry, brittle, tangled and matted.
• Diet: Today’s fast food diet which consist of high fat, high-animal protein and high-salt diet damages the kidneys and creates acidic blood, thereby leading to hair loss. This lifestyle leads to vitamin deficiency, which is another cause of hair loss. And thanks to the globalization of fast food chains we are importing hair loss from overseas

Hair Tips

• The first step to beautiful hair is cleanliness. Wash your hair every alternate day or even daily with a mild shampoo formulated for daily use, if necessary
• Eliminate or cut backs on smoking, caffeine and carbonated sodas which weaken the body and block maximum hair growing potential.
• Excessive blow drying can damaged hair in the long run, making it brittle and causing splits ends
• Cumin, turmeric and black pepper are some hair friendly spices.
• While drying your hair with towel use blotting technique instead of rubbing it vigorously.
• Use a wide toothcomb to avoid pulling the hair.