Alopecia (Hair Loss) & Management In Unani Medicine
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International Alopecia Day is celebrated on the first Saturday of August, around the world. This is a day when people celebrate Alopecia with pride and raise awareness about it.
It’s a common situation for most of us to shed around 75 to 100 strands of hair per day. The typical hair growth cycle of a person can last around 2 to 6 years and the scalp can regrow fresh hairs in approximately every twelve weeks. On the other hand, excessive shedding of hairs calls for concern. Hair loss is extremely common, affecting about 50 million men and 30 million women all over the world. Hair loss, though not life-threatening, can have devastating psychological effects, particularly in women.
The loss of hair from the head or body is termed as alopecia which may lead to partial or complete baldness overtime. There are several types of hair loss, often classified by whether the loss is localized, or if it affects large areas, or if the hair loss is patchy or affects the entire scalp.
These include the following:
1. ALOPECIA AERATA
An autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles causing pattern baldness with thinning at front and top of the scalp. It affects both men and women and often appears in childhood first. There are several forms of alopecia aerate:
· Alopecia totalis: complete loss of scalp hair
· Alopecia universalis: total loss of hair on scalp and body including eyebrows, lashes, beard and pubic hair
· Alopecia barbae: hair loss only in the area of beard in men
· Ophiasis: hair loss occurring in a wave pattern around the edge of scalp, typically at the back of head
2. ALOPECIA ANDROGENETICA
Also known as hereditary hair loss, it is the most common and progressive one. Both men and women affected with this condition are born with inherited hair follicles that are sensitive to DHT (dihydrotestosterone) hormone. This DHT causes production of thinner and finer hair over time, eventually leading to baldness.
3. CICATRICIAL ALOPECIA
Also called scarring alopecia, is a rare disorder that destroys hair follicles and replace them with scar tissues and causes permanent hair loss.
· Central centrifugal cicatrical alopecia occurs at the crown and gradually radiates outward in circular pattern. This may occur either due to harsh hair styling practices or due to any genetic predisposition
· Lichen planopilaris occurs when a skin infection called lichen planus affects the scalp causing itching, scarring and hair loss
4. ANAGEN EFFLUVIUM
It is the sudden hair loss occurring in the growing phase (anagen) of hair growth cycle. It may occur due to excessive exposure of hair to chemicals/ toxins or radiations as in case of chemotherapy. Anagen effluvium is a reversible condition as hair can regrow within 3 months but in rare cases it becomes permanent.
5. TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM
A condition, where the hair follicles are prematurely pushed to the resting phase (telogen) of the hair growth cycle, causing diffused thinning across scalp. This occurs due to physical trauma, surgery, underactive thyroid, crash diets, stress or any major illness in the body.
6. HYPOTRICHOSIS
A congenital defect, where hair growth is negligible from the time of birth. This condition develops due to genetic mutations during fetal development.
7. SCALP FOLLICULITIS
Hair loss occurring due to bacterial infections as hair follicles become inflamed, blocked or damaged. In severe cases, the inflammation can permanently damage hair follicles and result in hair loss.
8. TRACTION ALOPECIA
Constant tension or repeated pulling of hair over time due to excessive hair stylings leads to traction alopecia. Hair loss in patches is evident near the temples or along the hairline. Localized traction alopecia near the crown of the head is called chignon alopecia.
9. TRICHORREXIS NODOSA
Certain weak points, or nodes along the hair shaft cause hair to break easily, leading to thinning of hair or patchy hair loss. This condition is triggered by overuse of chemicals and heat styling tools. In some cases trichorrexis nodosa may occur due to malfunctioning of thyroid gland or due to iron deficiency or a buildup of ammonia in the body.
10. TRICHOTILLOMANIA
It is an impulsive control disorder that drives individuals to compulsively pull out their own hair, causing observable hair loss or patchy bald spots on scalp, eyebrows and lashes.
MANAGEMENT IN UNANI MEDICINE
(1) Munabbite Sha-ar (Hair tonic/Hair grower): These drugs give nutrition to hair follicles and hair becomes long. As Roghan baiza e murgh (Egg oil), Roghan gandum (Wheat oil), Rai (Mustard). These drugs act locally and increase blood supply and nutrition of roots of hairs. So hairs become dense and falling hair is inhibited. As Roghan Malkangni (Celestrus peniculatus oil), Roghan Gandum (wheat oil) etc.
(2) Musavvidat e Sha-ar (black hair dye): Some drugs make white hairs, black, such as Bhangra Siyah, Haleela Siyah (Terminalia chebula).
SINGLE UNANI MEDICINES USED IN ALOPECIA
❖ Habb ul Gaar along with sirka and Roghan e Zaitoon
❖ Roghan e Turb
❖ Roghan e Beed Injeer
❖ Kalonji with Roghan e Zaitoon
❖ Zarareeh with Roghan e Bakain
❖ Parsiaoshan
Contributed by Ms Asma Mirza
Disclaimer: Any views or opinion represented in this blog are of the respective authors and do not represent those of people institutions or organizations that the authors may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated. Above articles are expressions of the respective authors and not reflective of the views of CCRUM. All possible efforts have been made to refine and edit the content. However, the stakeholders are requested to bring any inadvertent error to the notice of the council which may be rectified.
