Q: Why is my hair falling out and what can I do about it?

There can be various reasons – hormonal changes, stress, inflammatory processes in the body, pregnancy and childbirth, restrictive diets, iron deficiency, and certain medications. To find the cause, you should visit a trichologist. Before the appointment, you can do a clinical blood test, check ferritin (for anemia and iron deficiency), and TSH (for thyroid function).

Noticeable hair loss can also be a natural part of the hair growth cycle, which has three phases:

• Anagen – the active growth phase, lasting from 2 to 7 years;
• Catagen – the transitional phase, where the hair moves closer to the skin surface and detaches from its nourishing structure, lasting about 2 weeks;
• Telogen – the resting phase, which lasts about 3 months and ends with the hair falling out.

If you don’t have bald spots, the hair loss is noticeable only to you, or a trichologist has ruled out pathology, you can help your hair in the following ways:

• Avoid tight hairstyles, extensions, and tight braids – anything that causes your hair to be pulled. Don’t brush constantly to improve blood circulation – this doesn’t work.

• Protect your hair every time you swim (wear a cap) or go out in the sun (wear a cap/hat/panama).

• Eat a balanced diet.

• Use hair growth products with peptides.

• Discuss with a trichologist the use of minoxidil products (original brand – Rogaine) – its effectiveness for hair loss is clinically proven. Initial results can be seen after 6-12 months of daily application to the scalp.

• Consider microneedling – treating the scalp with a roller equipped with micro-needles. It’s best to use this method after consulting with a dermatologist-trichologist to choose the right device and ensure it can be used – microneedling can be harmful in certain conditions, such as inflammation or scalp infection.

• A laser hair comb might be useful – some data supports its effectiveness. When used 3 times a week, results can be noticed within 6 months.

Most importantly, don’t start rubbing pepper tincture, coconut oil, or rosemary oil into your scalp abruptly (there’s a review on it by chemist Michelle Wong).