Several factors put the brakes on hair growth or make them grow at a snail’s pace.
Here are 10 of them
Genetics
Now we see how genetics influence the pattern of hair development.
- Growth Rate: Among many other determinants, genes were found, by researchers to influence speed and slowness. Some individuals naturally have delayed hair growth cycles.
- Hair-Length Potential: The genes may inhibit the growth of hair. Some individuals just cannot grow their hair beyond a specific length, irrespective of the time and effort they put into it.
- Hair Density: The number of hair follicles or strands from the scalp will determine how thick and denser your hair is as a result of genetics.
- Hair Type and Texture: The texture of your hair (whether straight, wavy, or curly) as well as how thick it is are both inherited traits.
- Male or female pattern baldness: Alder age makes people lose a few strands at a slower rate than what would have occurred with a familiar pattern. Gradual thinning and loss of hair can occur because of genetic predispositions.
Genetic Hair Growth Cycle
- Anagen Stage: The active growth phase lasts for years. The length of this period is subject to alteration influenced by the genes.
- Catagen phase: This is a short transitional stage lasting but weeks.
- Telogen phase: is the resting phase when hair ceases growth and throws off the dead hair bulb. This stage lasts for some months.
While you cannot change genetics, by eating well, taking care of your hair gently, and avoiding excess heat and chemical treatments, you can improve hair health.
Consult a healthcare professional or dermatologist to discuss your concerns about hair growth and to find a solution tailored specifically for you.
Age
Aging is a normal process responsible for major influencing factors on hair growth.
Here’s how.
Aging and Their Effects on Hair Growth:
- Shorter Anagen Phase: The hair cycle’s growth stage, the Anagen phase, shortens with age, leading to shorter hair than that of youth.
- Thinning Hair: Over time, hair follicles may shrink, yielding thinner hair strands, thus contributing to a reduction in hair volume.
- Less Active Follicles: As we age, the number of active hair follicles shrinks, leading to new hairs appearing relatively less frequently.
- Graying Hair: The production of melanin is reduced gradually in hair follicles, producing grayish-white hair that’s thin and brittle, too.
- Hormonal Changes: Reduction in androgens affects hair development and causes thinning of hair.
- Reduced Blood Circulation: Blood circulation decreases in the scalp which could affect the supply of important nutrients to hair follicles, slowing growth.
- Environmental Damage: The environment itself does damage over the long term by way of UV emissions and pollutants alike, which damage scalp and hair health.
- Slower Cell Regulation: As we age, the body decreases its ability to regulate growth, affecting hair growth and upkeep as well.
- None: Many elderly folks tend to have medicines that could lead them to hair fall or thinning hair.
- Nutritional Deficits: Deterioration and change of diet or deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals can have an effect on hair health and development.Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes greatly influence the health and growth of the hair, That said:
Effects of Hormonal Changes on Hair Growth:
- Androgens: Testosterone and its derivative dihydrotestosterone constrain hair follicles, which can lead to hair thinning and reduced growth rates.
- Thyroid hormone imbalances such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism affect the cycle of hair growth and lead to hair thinning and hair loss.
- During menopause, circulating estrogen declines, which can cause hair thinning and hence slowing of growth, as it is involved in prolonging the growing phase of hair.
- Pregnancy and postpartum: Another reason for the change in hair production is hormone disturbances during and after pregnancy. While raised estrogen in pregnancy gives the hair something of a thickening effect, hair loss after pregnancy is naturally due to hormonal changes.
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): In women with PCOS, there is higher secretion of androgens, which leads to thinning or loss of hair.
- Stress Hormones: Excessive stress results in raised cortisol levels that disrupt the hair growth cycle and result in hair loss or slow growth.
- Birth Control Pills: Initiation or cessation of birth control pills can result in hormonal changes leading to effects on hair growth.
Hormones and hair management
Consult a healthcare provider with knowledge in aesthetic medicine, if you think that hormonal irregularities are already inducing alopecia.
Eat plenty of vitamins and minerals in your daily diet, like biotin, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids, for hair health.
Stress management: Balance stressful hormones with stress-busting techniques like meditation, yoga, or regular exercise.
Proper areas of hair care: Minimize the stress on your hair by using soft hair products and avoiding excessive heat and chemical treatments.
Consult a doctor before taking hair-related vitamins for hormonal balance.
Nutritional deficiencies can also be blamed for the halt in your hair growth and poor hair density. Here are some essential nutrients for good hair growth and consequences when they are deficient:
1. Protein
Importance: Keratin is the main protein that makes up hair. Lack of protein weakens your hair, making it brittle and prone to breakage.
Sources: Eggs, seafood, legumes, nuts, and seeds.
2. Iron
Importance: Iron helps red blood cells carry oxygen to your cells, specifically the hair follicles. Deficiency can result in anemia-a major cause of hair loss.
Sources: Red meat, spinach, lentils, beans, and fortified cereals.
3. Vitamin D
Importance: Vitamin D creates new hair follicles and may encourage thickness. Deficiency has been linked with alopecia and other hair loss disorders.
Sources: Sunlight, fatty fish, fortified dairy products, and supplements.
4. Vitamin B12
Importance: Vitamin B12 is crucial in producing red blood cells; a deficiency could impair hair growth.
Meat, dairy foods, eggs, and fortified foods can all be potential sources.
5. Zinc
Importance: Zinc facilitates tissue growth and repair. Deficiencies can pose serious threats to scalp health and hair loss.
Sources: meat, seafood, dairy, nuts, and whole grains.
6. Vitamin Biotin (Vitamin B7).
Importance: Required for keratin synthesis; deficiency may lead to thinning and loss of hair.
Sources include eggs, nuts, seeds, salmon, and sweet potatoes.
7. Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Importance: These healthy fats nourish hair follicles and promote hair growth; deficiency may lead to dry, brittle hair.
Sources include fatty fish, flax seeds, chia seeds, and walnuts.
8. Vitamin E
Importance: Helpful for the scalp and hair because of its antioxidant properties that minimize oxidative stress and enhance the growth of hair.
Sources include nuts, seeds, spinach, and avocados.
9. Folate(Vitamin B9).
Importance: Vital for cell division and growth, and deficiency impairs hair growth.
Sources include; green leafy vegetables, legumes, citrus fruits, and fortified cereals.
10. Vitamin A.
Importance: This vitamin enables sebum production that treats the scalp and keeps it healthy. Too much or too little A may lead to problems with hair.
Sources include carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, and fish liver oil.
A balanced diet has to include fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and complete grains.
Supplements can be an option when nutrients are not getting enough in sufficient quantity from diets but check with your doctor.
Have regular check-ups with the doctor to adjust and rectify any deficits.
Hydration: Keeping hydrated encourages sound health and hair growth.
Hence, stress.
Stress has a direct impact on the production and growth of hair. It can lead to various problems that may stop your hair from growing or cause it to fall out. Here are some of the reasons why stress affects hair development.
Very few people know how adversely stress affects hair.
Well, here’s a list of those various other ways in which stress affects hair growth:
Telogen Effluvium: Stress will cause a noticeable number of hair follicles to enter into the rest (telogen) stage, resulting in increased hair shedding or hair thinning.
Alopecia Areata: Severe stress can lead to an autoimmune response in which the immune system attacks hair follicles, resulting in hair loss.
Trichotillomania is a disorder in which people obsessively rotate or pluck their hair due to stress or anxiety, resulting in visible hair loss.
Nutritional Deficiencies: Stress may result in changes in your diet, leading to deficiencies in nutrients necessary for ideal health and normal hair growth.
Hormonal Imbalance: Cortisol, released during stress, is scientifically proven to influence the normal cycle of hair growth in the case of chronic stress.
Scalp Health: Stress may worsen existing conditions, such as dandruff and psoriasis, which would harm the scalp environment and impede hair development and shedding.
Reduced Blood Flow: Stress causes reduced blood flow to the scalp, which lowers the distribution of crucial nutrients and oxygen to the hair roots.
Managing Stress to Promote Hair Growth
Physical exercise and relaxation methods may greatly benefit hair and scalp health. Regular exercise, a well-balanced diet, and scalp massages can all help reduce stress and encourage hair development.
Additionally, hydration is essential for general health. Seeking professional assistance may also be useful. Medical Conditions
Some medical issues involving the probable impairment of hair development are alopecia and, reproductive disorders-a leading cause of hair loss-or its delayed growth. These are common examples:
Autoimmune disorders, telogen effluvium, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, scalp infections, psoriasis, lupus, PCOS, nutritional deficiencies, and drug effects can cause hair loss.
Alopecia Areata, telogen effluvium, hypothyroidism, ringworm, psoriasis, lupus, PCOS, and nutritional deficiencies cause patchy areas of hair loss on the scalp. Infections of the scalp, psoriasis, lupus, and PCOS may damage the hair follicles, resulting in scaly patches and hair loss.
Nutritional deficiencies can also inhibit hair growth associated with brittle hair and delayed growth. Certain drugs may also contribute to hair loss.
Managing Medical Conditions
Consult a healthcare provider: If you believe problems with your hair are due to some medical condition, ask a healthcare provider for a diagnosis and treatment option.
Follow the prescribed treatment: Follow the prescribed treatments and medications for underlying diseases.
Lead a healthy life: eating a balanced diet, stress management, and proper hair care.
Hair Care Practices
Apart from keeping it in style, hair and scalp health is essential. Some of the common hair care sins that lead the hair to stall or become ravished are overwashing, strong shampoos, excessive heat styling, tight hairstyles, chemical treatments or dyes, and
combing when wet
Being aware of some of these aspects could allow easy ways to maintain healthy hair and lessen breakage. Use instead a mild shampoo and conditioner free of sulphates, let the hair air-dry instead of styling it with heat, and wear hairstyles that are as loose as possible.
Don’t use metal hair accessories and keep pressing the “trim” button. The light moisture is extremely essential for keeping hair shiny and preventing breakage.
Massaging your scalp daily can increase blood circulation and eliminate dandruff.
Medications
some medicines have adverse effects on hair loss and hair growth. Some examples of drugs that may be involved are:
Chemotherapy, antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, blood-thinning agents, beta-blockers, hormones, oral retinoids, coal-tar derivatives, immunosuppressants, antifungals, anti-androgens, and some weight-loss drugs, all produce hair loss.
Chemotherapy, antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, blood thinners, beta-blockers, hormone replacement therapy, oral retinoids, immunosuppressants, antifungal medications, and weight-loss medications may all lead to hair thinning and hair growth problems.
Managing Medication-Induced Hair Loss
- Consult Your Healthcare Provider: If you feel your medicine is causing hair loss, speak with your physician. They may change your dose or switch you to another drug.
- Monitor Your Hair Health: Keep track of any changes in your hair and notify your healthcare physician.
- Supportive Care: Use gentle hair care techniques and consider taking supplements that promote hair health, but always contact your doctor before beginning any new supplements.
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors influence hair growth and hair health. In the following sections, explore how.
Pollution, the effect of UV radiation, harsh weather conditions, data on water quality, exposure to harsh chemicals, hygiene, and environmental stressors play major roles in hair health.
Pollution, UV radiation, severe weather, and water quality can deteriorate the strands, while harsh chemicals can damage hair and inhibit hair growth in the hair products we use.
Hair can be helped by cleanliness and lesser exposure to environmental irritants.
Tips to Mitigate Environmental Damage:
Protective hairstyles and hair rinses are vital for keeping hair healthy. Wearing UV-protective products or a cap helps protect your hair from severe weather conditions.
Regular cleaning, hydrating hair treatments, and heat protection are all important. Avoid harsh chemicals and use products devoid of sulfates and parabens.
Poor Hair Health
Poor skin health affects hair growth and also causes numerous hair problems. Here is an explanation for that:
Effects of Poor Scalp Health on Hair Growth:
The hair follicles do play a crucial role in the formation of hair, and there are several factors that have damaging effects.
Dead skin cell accumulation, for example, inflammation, dandruff, poor blood circulation, dryness, infection, excess oil production, and vitamin deficiency could affect one’s scalp.
To avoid these problems, wash the scalp regularly, recognize and manage scalp conditions, use a medicated shampoo, control dandruff, keep a clean scalp, and consume a nutritionally balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals that promote healthy hair growth.
Scalp Care Tips
Wash and clean your hair regularly with nourishing hair care products. A balanced diet will help your hair development; you should refrain from using harsh chemical treatments and work on reducing stress.
