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What Can I Do to Stop My Hair From Falling Out?

Hair loss is hereditary or caused by certain medications, an underlying medical condition, poor nutrition, hormonal changes or trichotillomania, a hair-pulling disorder. Gradual hair loss is a normal part of aging and it's normal for people to shed 50 to 100 hairs a day. There are also different types of hair loss that can be treated with medication or surgery. However, there are a number of things that you can do to help stop your hair from falling out.

  1. Proper Nutrition

    • Eating a nutritionally balanced diet can help prevent your hair from falling out. Hair loss can occur when your diet is inadequate in the B vitamins, biotin, magnesium, sulfur and zinc. Foods that you should eat include green, leafy vegetables, black beans, carrots, cauliflower, bran, eggs, brown rice, green peas, lentils, oats, soybeans, sunflower seeds, tofu, halibut, tuna and walnuts. Taking vitamin C, vitamin E and Coenzyme Q10 can help to improve scalp circulation and improve the growth of hair. The amino acids L-cysteine and L-methionine are believed to improve the quality, texture and growth of hair and help prevent hair from falling out. L-cysteine can be found in food such as whey protein, ricotta, cottage cheese, yogurt, red peppers, garlic, onions, brussels sprouts, oats, and granola. L-methionine can be found in food such as nuts, fish, meats, spinach, potatoes, boiled corn and some other plant seeds.

    Handling Your Hair

    • Always handle your hair gently, making sure not to brush or comb it too hard. If possible, allow your hair to air dry naturally as the heat from a hair dryer can cause it to become dry and brittle. Try not to tightly tie your hair in a braid, bun or ponytail or consistently twist, rub or pull your hair. Consider asking your hair stylist or barber about different ways that you can style your hair to help minimize balding. In addition, always use the proper hair tools, hair accessories and hair care products that work well with your hair type and that don't damage your hair.

    Medication

    • To grow hair and to prevent further hair loss, you can use minoxidil (Rogaine). This is an over- the-counter medication approved for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata. If you use minoxidil--which comes in liquid or foam form that you rub into your scalp twice a day--you may notice new hair in about 12 weeks. Although the hair that grows will be thinner and shorter than your original hair, enough hair can grow to cover bald spots. It is important to note that this is the only over-the-counter hair growth product that has proven benefits. You should, however, be aware that there are side effects to using minoxidil, such as irritation of the scalp.

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