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Hair loss, also known as alopecia, can ravage one’s mental health for many reasons. Hair is a shield that many people hide behind; it can be a barrier against insecurity. Losing clumps of hair can therefore cause self-confidence to plummet at an alarming rate.
Hair loss can seem inevitable but research suggests such fatalism is ill-judged.
Research has identified a range of natural remedies that target the mechanisms of hair loss.
What’s more, these solutions do not usually come with nasty side effects and are less costly than surgical procedures.
One of the most promising is green tea, which may support healthy hair growth and regrowth.
In one small study, researchers added topical green tea-derived EGCG extract to the scalps of three participants with alopecia.
After four days, the participants experienced significant increases in hair growth activity.
EGCG is a natural plant compound found in green tea that has been shown to provide a host of health benefits.
EGCG appears to increase hair growth by stimulating hair follicles and preventing damage to skin and hair cells.
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What’s more, in a hair loss study in mice, researchers found that 33 percent of the animals that consumed green tea extract experienced hair regrowth after six months, while no mice in the control group experienced improvement.
There are other suggested explanations for the role green tea plays in hair growth.
Hair growth is largely related to oxygen and nutrient delivery to the skin. In fact, poor blood circulation can lead to hair loss.
Therefore, researchers reason that drinking green tea may increase the supply of these nutrients to your scalp and improve hair growth.
Conventional treatments
Finasteride and minoxidil are the main treatments for male pattern baldness, according to the NHS.
Male pattern baldness is a permanent form of hair loss that usually runs in the family.
Minoxidil can also be used to treat female pattern baldness but women shouldn’t use finasteride, says the NHS.
According to the health body, these treatments:
- Don’t work for everyone
- Only work for as long as they’re used
- Aren’t available on the NHS
- Can be expensive.
Some wigs are available on the NHS, but you may have to pay unless you qualify for financial help.
If your hair loss is causing you distress, you may benefit from some psychological support.
You may benefit from joining a support group, or speaking to other people in the same situation on online forums.
Try these online support groups:
- Alopecia UK
- Alopecia Awareness.
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