Homeopathic Management Of Alopecia

Introduction to Hair and  HairFall
Treating  Alopecia  Homeopathically
Coping   with   Alopecia   /    Hairfall
             


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Introduction to Hair and Hair Loss

Hair Loss , affecting a person’s emotional well-being ,a medically harmless condition. Hair Loss can occur  in any age , from Children  to  young men to  post-menopausal women may experience thinning of hair and various hair loss conditions. 

What is Hair

Hair , an outgrowth of filamentous cells.  The human body is covers by follicles that produce hair , leaving palms of the hands and soles of the feet.  From the deep skin layers , grows the hair from the hair follicles .The main component of hair fibre is keratin.

  

Stages  of  Hair  Growth

There are different types of hair at different stages in life, and in different parts of the body.

1st Stage  :  The very first hair are the lanugos, the hairs that begin growing in the third or fourth month of foetal life and are entirely shed either before or shortly after birth.

2nd Stage : In early months an infant shows the appearance fine, short, unpigmented hairs called down hair, or vellus. Vellus covers every part of the body except the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet, under surfaces of the fingers and toes, and a few other places.

 

3rd Stage : Then during puberty , the sex hormones influence the growth and distribution of hair on the body . During this time Vellus hair get supplemented by longer, pigmented hair, called Terminal hair that develops in the armpits, genital regions, and, in males on the face and sometimes on parts of the trunk and limbs.

On the scalp, hair is densest and longest. By increasing age and size of the body the hair follicles density reduces .Human hair grows at a rate of 10-13 mm/month.  

What is hair made of

Well, hair is primarily composed of a protein: keratin. This keratin is resistant to wear and tear. Keratin makes up the main part of the epidermis (skin), teeth enamel, nails, hair. Hair also comprises of  :  Approx 50 % Carbon ,  Approx 20 % Oxygen ,  Some nitrogen, hydrogen, sulphur .Also contains some fats, vitamins, and even a bit of water.

Functions Of  Hair  

• The most important function of  hair is of insulating against cold by conserving body heat.
• The differing colours and colour patterns in hair coats also serve purposes of camouflage and of sexual recognition .
• Specialised hairs called vibrissae, or whiskers, serve as sensory organs for certain nocturnal animals.
• It helps transmit sensory information and creates gender identity.
• Each hair follicle has tiny sensory nerve fibres at the base. Hair is also a touch receptor that is very sensitive.
• Hair is important to the appearance of men and women. It is also the only body structure that is completely renewable without scarring.  

What is hair loss

Hair loss is decrease in the density of hair or thinning of  hair on the scalp. Alopecia is the medical description of loss of hair from head or body, sometimes to the extent of  baldness. Alopecia tends to be involuntary and unwelcome.  It may result  from illness, functional disorder, or hereditary disposition.

Some common causes of excessive hair loss : 

• Surgery
• Hormonal problems
• Pregnancy
• Medication
• Infections
• Diseases
• Local exposure to toxins like Over use of chemical based shampoos, soaps, lotions.
• Scalp carelessness: Unhygienic measures in scalp care may lead to hair falling.
• Certain Hairstyles or Treatments  : Dietary cause of hair fall or poor nutrition causing hair fall.
• Disruption of the hair growth cycle.
• Psychological factors like Emotional Stress ,Sadness or Depression.

Alopecia – Medical Term for Hair Loss

Alopecia, is a set of disorders which involves the state of hair reduction  where it would normally grow, especially on the head , leading to baldness. The most common form of baldness is a progressive hair-thinning condition that occurs in adult humans

Facts about Alopecia

»        Alopecia can affect people of any age.

»        It can affect any part of the body.

»        This condition can progress very rapidly leading to complete loss of scalp hair in a very short .

»        It has phases of remissions and relapses .

Alopecia Areata

When hair loss occurs in only one section , then it is known as Alopecia Areata. Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of  hair from the scalp and elsewhere on the body. The person’s own immune system attacks the hair follicles , resulting in round, smooth bald patches on the scalp.

Some of the features related to alopecia areata:

»  Hair falls out in small patches leaving bald spots about the size of a small coin

»  There may be single or multiple such patches.

»  The bald spots may remain static or may spread to involve larger areas of the scalp.

Depending upon the progress of  Alopecia Areata , it  can further be classified into :::: 

»  Alopecia Areata  Monolocularis: A single bald spot on the scalp makes it up. It  may progress to multiple spots.

»  Alopecia Areata Multilocularis: The patient presents with multiple bald spots .

»  Alopecia Areata Totalis: It is one of the severe forms .There is total loss of hair on the head.

»  Alopecia Areata Universalis: HairLoss from all over the body .

»  Alopecia Areata Barbae: The bald spots are limited only to the beard region in this type.

Depending upon the presence of infection on the scalp , Alopecia Areata can further be classified into ::::

»  Non-scarred alopecia areata: Here there is no infection of the scalp and so easy recovery.

»  Scarred alopecia areata/Cicatrical Alopecia  : A lichen infection of the scalp which may cause irreversible damage to the follicles and the skin of the scalp looks like a scar .Scarring Alopecia is also known as Cicatrical Alopecia

Diagnosis of Alopecia Areata

Diagnosing alopecia areata is easier to detect because the look of the patches itself is so peculiar. A smooth Bald Patch clearly visible on close examination of the lesion. By simply pulling the hair  , if the hair is pulled out from the bald patch easily , means the lesion is active and more hair fall is expected  . This is  ‘Hair pull test’ .To determine  the inflammation of the hair follicles , dermatologists take a small skin biopsy for microscopic examination.

                                              

A little knowledge of the hair loss and it’s causes along with a brief overview of Homoeopathy and its treatment may prove useful to many.

Homeopathy And Alopecia

Hair loss or Alopecia effects a person’s confidence and may add negativity towards himself. Homoeopathic medicine for hair loss have proven to a rewarding and  stimulation for many people and is why more and more people are turning towards homoeopathic remedies for hair loss . Homeopathy understands the consequences of suppression and observes that when the course of healing is suppressed, even a superficial illness can reach a profound level, affecting vital organs like our mind and emotions. It, therefore, allows its practitioner to look into the hidden nature of illnesses as also the unique, distinctive patterns of the patients temperament, for which a safe, non habit forming, gentle remedy is given to bring about natural, holistic healing. Homoeopathy takes into account the altered immunity of the patient and brings it back to normal over a period of time. Thus the results are long-lasting and not just superficial in nature. Homeopathy plays a definitive role in stimulating the hair follicles and rejuvenating hair which has thinned or become scantly. It does not consider Hair Loss as an external disorder and considers it is an outward manifestation of internal disorientation .Most of the hair loss conditions can be very effectively treated within homeopathy.

The most effective and commonly used Remedies

Acid Phos :: Falling and greying of hair after grief, anguish and debility esp. from sides.

Falling of hair, hair becoming Gray. Hair fall after grief, anguish and debility esp. from sides. Grief changes hair of the young to grey. Dry, greasy and fluffy hair. Hair fall from the sides. Numbness and weakness. Great fatigue after walking.

 
Aloe Socotrina :: Hair comes out in lumps, leaving bare patches
Hair comes out in lumps,leaving bare patches.Eyelashes also fall out with frequent front headaches. Congestive headache < heat.

Ammonium Muriaticum::Falling of hair ,with great itching of scalp.

Large accumulation of bran like scales, with falling off hair which has a dead end , lustreless appearance.

          Arsenicum Album ::When hair goes off in circular patches, leaving rough, dirty looking

          Hair goes off in circular patches, rough, dirty looking scalp. Touching the hair is painful. When hair falls from front of the head. Brittle and stiff hair. Dandruff. Hair loss due to depression,anxiety and irritability.

Baryta Carb::Baldness esp. of the Crown, in young people.

Baldness esp. of the crown, in young people. Scalp very sensitive to touch ,worse from scratching. Hair fall from vertex and moustache. Small , immaturely developed personalities ,applies to hair growth as well .

Calcarea Carbonicum ::Hair falls out when combing;. Dryness of hair

Hair falls out when combing. Dryness of hair. Great sensitiveness of the scalp, with yellowish or white scales on the scalp. Sensation of coldness of outer head.

Cantharis Vesicatoria::Hair falls out when combing,

Hair Fall especially during confinement and lactation; scales on scalp. Enormous dandruff. Stiff Hair.

Carbo Veg::Falling out of hair after childbirth or severe illnesses or abuse of mercury.

Falling out of hair after childbirth. after severe illnesses or abuse of mercury. Great sensitiveness of scalp to pressure. Hair falls out more on back of head. Headache from overheating,< lying, pressure .Cold sweat on forehead.

Fluoric Acid::Alopecia, with congestion of blood to the head, suggests this remedy.

Alopecia, with congestion of blood to the head. Large patches entirely denuded of hair. The new hair is dry, and breaks off. Falling of hair from syphilis. Hair Falling in spots. Hair sticks together, dry, breaks off. Nails Distorted, grow too fast; weak. Itching in spots .

Graphites :: Alopecia. Falling of hair at temples.

Eruptions majorly at occipital. Alopecia. Falling of hair at temples. Hair on the sides of the head, vertex and nostrils falls out. Dry, tangled, matted or brittle hair. Perspiration of scalp, greying of hair. Dandruff, like milk crusts. Scalp/skin thick. Hard. Dry. Rough

Kalium Carbonicum:: Falling of Hair from Temples
For dry, thinning hair . rapidly falling off, with much dandruff, or when comes out after nervous fevers. Falling of hair from temples. Falling of eyebrows.Sleeplessness. Waking 2 to 4 a.m. Talking in sleep.
 
Lachesis::Hair falls especial in pregnancy. Sensitive scalp. Does not want hair touched.
Falling of hair, aggravated during pregnancy. Sensitive to touch, pressure, can’t tolerate tight collars. Aggravates by suppressed menses (climacteric, pregnancy, birth-control pill).  

Lyco :: Complaints of hair loss, premature baldness, premature greying after childbirth 

Hair loss, prematurely bald. Premature greying of hair. Burning, scaling, itching of the scalp. Emaciated. Wrinkled. Frowning of the eyebrows .Hungry at night ,appetite increases while eating. 

Nitric Acid  :: Loss of hair from the vertex and beard

Loss of hair from the vertex. Sensitiveness of the scalp. Hair loss is due to depression, anxiety and irritability. Falling of pubic hair. 

Phosphorus :: Hair loss in large clumps especially from Head Crown

Intense Dandruff . Itching of the scalp .Hair loss when the hair is falling in large clumps especially from crown of the head. Hair falls out in handfuls. Bald spots on the head which are dry and scaly .The roots of the hair seems to be dry, Dry tongue and lips. 

Sepia Officinalis :: losing of hair after chronic headaches 

Losing of hair after chronic headaches. Losing of hair During menopause. Much itching of the scalp and roots of hair .Falling of hair, < hormonal changes. Itching of root of hair. Dry  skin. Thickened and parchment-like. 

Staphysagria :: Hair falls mostly from occipital and around the ears.

Hair falls out, mostly from occipital and around the ears, with humid, foetid eruption of dandruff on the scalp. Hair pulls out without pain after the slightest effort. Itching. Changing place on scratching. 

Sulphur :: Dandruff, dry hair, scalp  sore to touch, violent itching, worse with the warmth of bed

Dandruff, hair dry, falling off, scalp sore to touch. Itching violently. Worse when getting warm in bed. Hair fall after parturition. Hair fall from occipital and eyelashes. Hair grey,offensives, dry, cold and hard. Washing hair aggravates. 

Thuja :: Falling off of hair due to dry white scaly dandruff.

Falling off of hair due to dry white scaly dandruff. Hair greasy or dry, like straw and it sticks up. Hair fall after headache, from vertex. Dry or greasy hair, lustreless and splits.