Liver Disease: Expert discusses risks and symptoms
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It’s understandable why hair loss can leave one feeling dejected. An array of factors contribute to hair loss and many interact. Attempts to thwart these processes often yield mixed results at best. However, certain natural products have been shown to overcome the odds and reverse hair loss, such as lavender oil.
Lavender essential oil, which is distilled from the plant Lavandula angustifolia, is one of the most popular essential oils used in aromatherapy.
According to Holland and Barrett, lavender can “reportedly speed up hair growth”.
The health body explains: “It also boasts antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that can improve scalp health.”
Although human studies are scarce, animal studies hint at the promise of lavender oil as a treatment for hair loss.
A study published in the journal Toxicological Research sought to determine the hair growth effects of lavender oil in female mice.
A lavender solution was topically applied to the backs of the mice, once per day, five times a week, for four weeks.
Changes in hair follicle number, dermal thickness (fibrous network of tissue that provides structure and resilience to the skin, and hair follicle depth were recorded throughout the study.
The lavender oil treated mice showed a significantly increased number of hair follicles, deepened hair follicle depth, and thickened dermal layer by the end of the study.
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“These results indicated that lavender oil has a marked hair growth-promoting effect,” the researchers concluded.
Lavender oil – how to apply it
“Combine several drops of lavender oil with three tablespoons of olive oil or melted coconut oil and apply it directly to the scalp,” advises Holland and Barrett.
The health body continues: “Leave it for at least ten minutes before washing it out and shampooing.
“Repeat several times a week.”
Other treatment options
There are other things you can try if your hair loss is causing you distress.
But most treatments are not available on the NHS, so you’ll have to pay for them.
According to the NHS, finasteride and minoxidil are the main treatments for male pattern baldness.
Male pattern baldness is a permanent type of hair loss that usually runs in the family.
“Minoxidil can also be used to treat female pattern baldness. Women should not use finasteride,” warns the NHS.
Some wigs are available on the NHS, but you may have to pay unless you qualify for financial help.
Other hair loss treatments include:
- Steroid injections – injections given into bald patches
- Steroid creams – cream applied to bald patches
- Immunotherapy – chemical applied to bald patches
- Light treatment – shining ultraviolet light on bald patches
- Tattooing – tattoo used to look like short hair and eyebrows
- Hair transplant – hair is removed from the back of the head and moved to thinning patches
- Scalp reduction surgery – sections of scalp with hair are stretched and stitched together
- Artificial hair transplant – surgery to implant artificial hairs.
Many of the above treatments are not covered on the NHS.
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