Baldness... a real problem !

“My front hair-line recedes back! I am quiet worried that I would become bald very early like my dad! My father started balding at the age of forty-five whereas I am only twenty!”

“My scalp is visible if I apply oil! Before marriage I had very thick hair! I was not able to hold with hands. Now only 50% hairs… Something I have to do? “

“My hairs are falling in bunches. I have small bald spot in one area, then many spot…Oh scalp. Will it lead to total baldness? What is the reason? Is it infectious?”

Very common conversation we come among the teenagers, housewives. When shedding significantly exceeds hair loss, baldness occurs.

Alopecia or Baldness

Baldness occurs when our age advances. It is a natural process. It is inherited specifically and the genetic coding is done during the formation in the womb to receive appropriate stimulus. Hair follicles are very sensitive to the stimulus, the male hormones “androgens” also termed as “Testosterone” which is present in both sexes. Even though many factors like diet, blood circulation, stress level, infections, medication, climate, exposure to hair chemicals and hairdressing techniques involve hair growth, hormones play vital role in regulation of hair growth basically. Naturally the hormone falls down owing to the age and baldness results.

     In androgenetic alopecia, this hormone is acted upon by enzymes 5a reductase convert it into Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).The scalp is very sensitive to this hormone, the presence of DHT causes the hair follicles to shrink. This will eventually result to the loss of hair and the inability to grow new strands. .When an abnormal stimulus is received from these hormones, the hair follicle begins to shrink. It's first noticed as thinning hair, since the hair follicle begins producing only a very thin, short hair. Eventually the hair follicle dies and permanent baldness occurs. Both men and women are prone to get baldness.


Male pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness happens to most men eventually at or after middle age. Male pattern baldness is dependent on the interaction of three factors: age, genetic pre- disposition and male hormones. This hair loss may begin as early as the teenage years and gradually worsens with time. Receding hairlines at the sides of the forehead is noted as a first indication in many cases Some men also start losing of hair on top of the head and eventually only the sides and back of the head have hair, forming a horseshoe shape. One can detect easily by catching the hair at the back and sides to the front and crown hair density and length.

Male pattern Baldness types

Female pattern baldness

Many of them think that only men are prone to baldness. Female pattern baldness is very common nowadays. Even though it is not presented as entire baldness, hair loss can either be diffuse, with no effect on the “receding hairline” pattern balding. When scalp is nourished with oil, the scalp skin is visible.

     Hormones play a big part in female hair loss. As some of us already know, both men and women have testosterone, a hormone which men normally have more . In women, the action of DHT is regulated by the hormone estrogen. Female hair loss therefore normally occurs when a woman is in a state of hormonal imbalance. This can happen when a woman is in the menopausal stage or when she has just given birth. The condition can also strike when a woman is receiving hormonal treatment for an illness.

     In such victims hormonal impairment is expected, the serum testosterone level shoots up and causes Female pattern baldness, mimicking the Male pattern baldness. It usually seen with Poly Cystic Ovarian Disease in which the hormone is modified into Dihydrotestosterone to make diffuse hair loss on the scalp and reciprocally the increased testosterone stimulated the hair growth in chin, lips, chest, abdomen, hand and legs. Thyroid dysfunctions also impair the regulation and results hair follicle damage, Some times PCOD and Hypothyroidism presented as a package.

     Female and male hair loss differs a lot in appearance. Men usually develop bald spots. We are very much familiar with men eventually losing all hair strands on a particular area such as the top of the scalp. Female hair loss however is different. Women usually only have diffuse balding. This means that there is an observed general thinning of the hair strands resulting in some parts of the scalp becoming more noticeable.

Females experience diffuse loss on the top unlike men

Alopecia areata or Spot Baldness

Alopecia Areata, the spotty baldness is very common among children and teenagers. Mostly it calls for our attention by a hair-stylist or a beautician. One or more patches may start at the same time, later involving entire scalp. It may also affect the beard, eyebrows and eyelashes. Some victims may complain total loss of hair all over the body.

    In many cases fungal infections can be ruled by a simple hair test by microscope. A study of blood serum for VDRL will rule out syphilis, in which spotty baldness over the temples and occipital areas. Girls with long hair and tight plaits and women who wear a tight chignon seem to be the victims of spot baldness mostly. If the cause is unknown an autoimmune reaction suspected, the cells produces some antigens, which react with own hair follicle to shed. This may occur as a small spot and then here and there, finally matted together and total baldness occurs. Medically the total baldness of the scalp is termed as “Alopecia totalis” and the term “Alopecia Universalis” is used for the total loss all over the body.

Alopecia areata types of presentation






How to remedy?

Rejuvenation of hair follicles depends on the intensity of the causative factors. An infection, auto immune reactions can be controlled very easily where as a hormonal imbalances would be challenging. There is no treatment in cases of natural balding were the scarring has resulted. We can feel the scarring mass by palpation. The hair pores are not visible and are shiny. The skin becomes more adherent to the scalp losing its elasticity.

     Many of the affected victims frustrated with treatment trying some local applications to improve blood circulation, fungicide, and steroid injections on the affected part. There are many treatments available in the medical systems, final choice usually homoeopathy which wonders in treatment. Many types are quite amenable to homoeopathic treatment.

Homoeopathy does wonders in hair treatment. It does not believe in the external oil therapy alone. We believe that revitalization of the hair follicle can alone rejuvenate the hair growth. There are lot of clinical evidences available for Alopecia areata and Alopecia Totalis with successful results.

     In male pattern baldness the results are satisfactory in prevention aspect and the existing feeble hair growth. If hair root is lost and the result is scaring then the restoration is difficult. This is possible with homoeopathy because it treats the victim as a whole and thus eliminating the causative factors. If we leap more to the causation of premature baldness the most possible reason could be the hormonal imbalance. The antibodies produced affect the blood circulation and thereby hair recedes from its original state. Here the local applications never work. It needs revitalization of the hair root to keep it healthier. It is observed that the female pattern baldness responds faster than male types.

Clinical results are good in Poly Cystic Ovarian Diseases and Thyroid Disorders with homoeopathic treatment. There are plenty of Evidences based documents available to support the clinical study. Homoeopathy differs from other system of medicine as we treat the patient as a single entity. Homoeopathy renders great service in restoring the hair and also tackling the allied diseases<