Hair-raising issue alarms youth

Bangalore: My hair is falling doctor, that''s why I''ve called
If it keeps on at this rate, I''m sure I''ll be bald
There''s hair on the comb, and there''s hair on the bed
There''s hair nearly everywhere, except on my head.
— from Ballad of The Bald
The ballad reflects the agony of Bangalore''s stressed-out folks who are losing hair. Nearly 70 per cent of 500 patients in an ongoing study suffer from hair loss due to stress.
``Hair loss is showing a significant increase over the last five years,'''' Dr Anil Abraham, professor of dermatology at St John''s Medical College and Hospital, who has been conducting this study since 1998, told `The Times of India''.
An alarming number of 45 to 90 patients (15 per cent of total patients) who visit skin and hair clinics every day in Bangalore suffer from hair loss.
Though the traditional image is of a balding man rather than woman, the difference is not much — 48 per cent women and 50 per cent men complain of the problem. The largest single group of hair losers is in the 20-30 age group.
Doctors from Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kerala descended on Bangalore over the weekend to discuss this problem at the National Workshop on Hair Loss to sensitise the medical community and haircare professionals to the increasing trend of hair loss, causes, diagnostic tests available, and medical and cosmetic approaches to treatment.
``The conclusion was that treatment should be based on a holistic approach, including de-stressing, correct nutrition, hair-care advice, in addition to appropriate medicine now available in India,'''' says Abraham, who coordinated the workshop.
He also talks of two major problems: shampoos and dandruff. Dandruff per se does not cause hair loss. It''s associated with a fungal infection caused by `Pityrosporum fungus'' that causes itching, flaking and loss of clumps of hair weakened at the root. Applying hair oil overnight may be harmful as oil is a good medium for this fungus to grow. Applying it 30 minutes to one hour before washing hair is adequate.
Shampoo is a good gentle way of cleansing the hair, and shampooing twice a week is adequate, he says. And remember: appropriate shampoos for each one''s hair type and texture. All vegetable shampoos and dyes are not necessarily better, he warns. Some of them have harsh chemicals and only claim to be ``natural''''.
There are many reasons behind hair loss, right from heredity to hormones to lifestyle. Here''s why.
• Baldness in men is due to heredity.
• Work-related stress like deadlines, fear of losing job, money worries, domestic stress, divorce, balancing job and home.
• Hormonal changes in women after delivery, when feeding, menstrual irregularities, thyroid problems.
• Poor nutrition including crash diets, skipping meals especially breakfast, eating junk food, food fads like eating only salads, and iron, zinc and biotin deficiency.
• Recent severe illness like typhoid, jaundice, or surgery and blood loss.
• Drugs and medication taken for other problems can cause hair loss — contraceptive pills, anti-cholesterol drugs and some BP medicines.
• Repeated colouring, perming, straightening, harsh chemical shampoos.