Women in their 20s suffering from acute hair loss

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Stress is said to manifest itself by in different ways. And if a recent study is anything to go , women in their 20s seem to be the hardest hit. The study revealed that young women are suffering from a range of hair problems thanks to leading stressful lives.The most common complaints include hair loss and thinning.
Consultant dermatologist Dr Snehal Sriram says that for the human body, the hair is the least important organ since it isn't vital to the body's survival unlike organs like the heart, lungs, brain, kidneys etc. “Therefore, whenever our body is put through any severe stress, blood supply and nourishment get diverted to vital organs, literally leaving your hair high and dry. This makes your hair enter the premature shedding stage and increases hairfall, which if not controlled early, can lead to hair thinning and, eventually, irreparable damage to the hair roots."
Common stressors
Experts say that an irregular dietary pattern due to work pressures (skipping breakfast and eating heavy meals with large gaps in-between meals), meagre intake of correct nutrients (proteins and micro-nutrients), inadequate sleep, smoking, lack of regular exercise, hormonal imbalances (eg. PCOD or thyroid) and numerous salon treatments that damage hair bonds, all have an adverse impact on hair.
“This is why one should refrain from using a lot of chemicals on their hair and avoid constant hairstyling treatments that damage the hair shaft and cause hairfall," says consultant dermatologist Dr Shefali Trasi Nerurkar.
Addressing this problem
Your diet, exercise and hair care regime all play a big role. “Your daily diet should include at least two helpings of proteins (sprouts, egg whites, paneer, yoghurt, etc), two colourful fruits or salads (pomegranates, cherries, berries, carrots, leafy vegetables, etc) and two to three whole walnuts. Ensure regular meals and exercise and at least six to seven hours of sleep. Use a shampoo and conditioner that suits your hair and scalp. Opt for hair health promoting treatments that rejuvenate both hair and scalp -these make the hair root and follicles strong and healthy and also help your hair overcome the damage caused by daily stress," says Dr Sriram.
Major causes for hairloss
Adds Dr Trasi-Nerurkar, “Sadly young women today are under tremendous pressure as they try to balance work and family life. Add to that other external factors like hair colouring, chemical treatments, hair styling, crash diets, hormonal factors and you have a severe hair loss problem."
Dr Trasi-Nerurkar says that hair styling should be kept simple without the use of tight hairbands and clips. “Use hair serum after washing your and before combing. Stick to a mild shampoo and conditioner and avoid using air wax, mousse, hair gel, etc."
Dr Sriram advises women to avoid hair straightening, ironing and colouring etc if they already have hair health concerns. “Work on making your hair and scalp healthy first so that they will withstand damages better. Also, air dry your hair or use the cold mode on your blow-dryer. Treat dandruff promptly with good anti-dandruff shampoos, but remember to keep them on for at least five minutes before rinsing off. Wash your hair at least twice or thrice a week and condition them well. After hair colouring or similar salon treatments, use acidic pH shampoos and conditioners. These preserve the hair cuticle better and reduce damage."
Treating hairfall
Experts agree that beginning treatment as early as possible is most effective. “Treatments that work the best are tailor-made treatments with a 360 degree approach that include getting to the root of a person's unique hair and scalp condition, balancing nutrition with special hair nutrients, repairing the damage to hair and scalp with scalp rejuvenation, hair growth treatments that control hairfall and regrow hair again and identifying and treating any hormonal imbalances," advises Dr Sriram.
Increase in reported cases
There has been a huge increase in the number of young women coming in with hairfall complaints in the past few years, say experts. Says Dr Sriram, “Some even have hair loss to the extent that their scalp starts showing through the hair and that type hair loss pattern is usually seen in much mature women. The sad part is that this hair loss affects their self-confidence to such an extent that they are not able to face society, especially at an age when they need it the most. The good news is, however, that this can be effectively cured if treatment is started in time."