HOW TO PREVENT HAIR LOSS

Posted on Nov 17th, 2022

You can lose hair for a variety of reasons, ranging from your genes to your diet to health issues and more. That’s why it’s important to see a dermatologist. They can pinpoint the cause and let you know if you need medical treatments.

They may also recommend certain lifestyle changes to help you prevent more hair loss. These expert tips help some men get thicker, healthier hair.

1. Take Charge of Stress

“I recommend for patients experiencing any type of hair loss to minimize stress by exercising, getting adequate sleep, and practicing self-care with activities such as meditation or yoga,” board-certified dermatologist Brooke Jeffy, MD, tells WebMD Connect to Care.

Managing stress helps some people with a type of hair loss called alopecia areata, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. A 2018 study published in the journal Skin Appendage Disorders found that stress can increase inflammation in follicles, leading to hair shedding. Reducing stress allows hair to fight off the inflammation and resume its natural growth cycle.

2. Make Scalp Massage a Habit

“I recommend a 5-minute scalp massage daily as a simple method to not only increase blood flow to the hair follicles, but also to give patients a few minutes to themselves to de-stress,” Jeffy says.

3. Revamp Your Diet

Great hair begins with top-notch nutrition. “Essentially, maintaining healthy skin and healthy hair is related to having a healthy, balanced diet and good hydration with water intake,” says double board-certified plastic surgeon Ricardo Castrellón, MD, who does hair transplants among other procedures. Castrellón recommends a diet rich in:

• Healthy proteins
• Fruits and vegetables
• Nuts

Avoid sugar and processed foods, Castrellón says.

4. Supplement When Needed

If you’re low on certain nutrients, that can cause hair loss, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. These nutrients include:

• Biotin
• Protein
• Iron
• Zinc
• Omega-3 fatty acids

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, your doctor can give you a blood test to find out if you’re getting enough hair-healthy nutrition from food. If you’re not, they may recommend supplements. Always check with your doctor before you try a new supplement. If you are not deficient in nutrients, taking more won’t likely help and may cause a problem.

Get Help Now

Don’t wait. The sooner you address the symptoms of hair loss, the more likely you are to prevent irreversible damage. Speak to a medical professional today to begin your journey to a fuller head of hair.

Original Article