A reader asks: I have been reading your health matters column for a while. It is very informative and helpful.
My problem is early balding. I am 21-year-old man. One year back, my hair started to fall off. And I am rapidly becoming bald.
Even though my hair is quite thin, my scalp gets oily soon after showering with shampoo. I have used different shampoos, including the medicated one after consulting doctors.
Doctors here consider hair loss as a common issue and suggest hair transplant. I would like you to suggest natural methods to reduce hair fall and make my oily scalp normal. Please advise.
Dr Iftikhar Ahmad Saifi (Unani Medicine and Surgery and Doctor of Naturopathy) answers: Thinning of hair may be caused by a number of reasons. E.g. Vitamin, minerals and micronutrients deficiency, thyroid problem, inflammation, hormonal issues etc. If we can figure out the cause, we may overcome this issue. For this you may have to see the doctor and he may run some test for you.
However, I can give you few tips on the most common causes that are deficiencies of vitamin, minerals and micronutrients. This could be due to lack of balanced food i.e. not consuming enough of vegetables, fruits, grains and animal proteins or improper digestive system. Another important but less talked about two important causes are over-eating and consuming processed food. These two factors may cause increased inflammation in the body resulting in hair loss.
What to do: Eat a balanced food
- Salad (coloured)
- Boiled or steamed vegetables
- Beans and Lentils
- Raw nuts
- Fruits
- Chicken, Fish, meat (Protein is important to strengthen hair and promote growth)
Caution:
Try to cut down sugar and sugary things (including juices, soda etc), oil and oily things as well salt.
Herbal treatment:
My favorite Unani recommendation:
Fenugreek seeds capsule: 1-2 capsule 2 times per day. It works amazing.
Supplements:
Biotin and Zinc ( or just get a good 'Hair formula' containing these two e.g. either from the brands like Natures plus, BioCare, Solgar, or other good available brands.)
Iron: Anemia can cause hair loss. But iron supplements are only recommended if you've tested positive for iron-deficiency anemia. This is generally common with ladies.
Hair oil recipe:
Add 100 gm of fenugreek seeds powder in 250 ml of olive oil. Let it sit for 3 days. Apply on scalp before bed.
Disclaimer: This blog is a conversation and is not an alternative for treatment. The recommendations and suggestions offered by our panel of doctors are their own and Gulf News will not take any responsibility for the advice they provide.
