Live Life Team
Early signs of hair loss can be an incredibly stressful time for men and women alike, and noticing symptoms can provoke feelings of helplessness, anxiety, and increased stress levels. If you do notice some of these symptoms, however, all is not lost. In fact, despite what many may think, certain signs of early hair loss can be noticeably slowed down when compared to those individuals who take no action. Please see below for four tips which, whilst not always a complete cure for hair loss and balding, can help to delay its onset.
Meditation and exercise
One of the easiest and quickest to implement tips relates to your overall physical and mental health. Often, early hair loss, particularly amongst men, is related to elevated stress levels over a prolonged period of time. This is the case because the hormones released during times of increased stress and anxiety puts hair follicles in a resting state so they stop growing. Elevated cortisol levels which occur during periods of heightened stress can be particularly aggressive in speeding up hair loss amongst individuals genetically pre-disposed to baldness. In many cases, the effects of these stress hormones on hair loss can be countered simply by managing your stress and anxiety levels. Individuals can do this through physical exercise, which is proven to improve overall mental health, as well as through meditation which is closely linked to decreased anxiety levels.
Vitamin D
Recent scientific studies have indicated that there may be a strong link between low levels of vitamin D and both hair loss and accelerated male pattern baldness. Studies have shown that people with ‘alopecia areata’, meaning pattern baldness, were three times as likely to be deficient in vitamin D as compared to those with healthy hair. Vitamin D levels can be increased both through dietary choices as well as supplementation. Good foods to include in this regard would be fish such as swordfish, salmon, and tuna, as well as milk enriched with vitamin D. Vitamin D supplements are also readily available at supermarkets, pharmacies, and health food stores. Additionally, it is also recommended to increase the amount of time you spend outside to maximise the amount of vitamin D you can absorb.
Ketoconazole Shampoo
A somewhat surprising option to delay hair loss comes in the form of shampoo with added ‘Ketoconazole’, a chemical commonly used to treat dandruff. There is a significant amount of scientific research that supports the use of ketoconazole enriched shampoo to delay hair loss amongst both males and females. This can be purchased in most supermarkets, or alternatively extra-strength versions can be prescribed by a doctor. For the best effects, massage the shampoo into your wet scalp and leave to soak for two to three minutes before rinsing.
Fenugreek
Another surprising option to slow the rate of hair loss, particularly amongst women, comes in the form of fenugreek. This is one of the oldest topical treatments for hair loss, and users have reported increased hair health when used daily over the course of a number of months. Fenugreek can be applied by adding a table of the herb to water, which is then ground up and added to coconut oil to form a paste. This paste is then applied to the hair and scalp before being left for half an hour and then rinsed out with a mild shampoo.
