Providing cures for baldness

Photo credit: A. Raja Chidambaram

The Chennai-based trichologist Dr. Talat Salim provides herbal cures for hair loss for men and women

By Shevlin Sebastian

Shriram Ramesh (name changed) was only 17 when he began to lose his hair rapidly. It affected his confidence and self-esteem so much that he refused to go to college.

“I did not want to appear in front of the female students and my peers, who will make fun of my baldness,” he told the London-trained and Chennai based trichologist Dr. Talat Salim. Instead, he opted to do business. “He is a brilliant student,” says Talat. “I said hair loss and studies have no connection. But he was adamant.”

A few months later Shriram was healed, but he decided to carry on with his business career. There are two types of hair loss for men: temporary and permanent. “Temporary hair loss can happen because of serious illnesses like typhoid or diabetes,” says Talat. “The hair can be restored through proper treatment.” 

Permanent hair loss happens because of genetic factors by which hair follicles become sensitive to testosterone. This hormone shrinks the follicles and thus, in turn, shortens the life span and prevents new hair from growing. “When this happens, the scalp start showing,” says Talat.

 Modern lifestyles have an impact: long hours at work, overwhelming stress, erratic sleeping patterns, and lack of nutritious food. For women hair loss happens because of a malfunctioning thyroid, anaemia, polycystic ovaries, menstrual problems and hormonal changes.

Hair loss for men and women can be countered through a protein-rich diet which includes sprouts, soya milk, dates, and figs. “Also, have two to three servings of green gram a week,” says Talat. “Or take flax seeds, make a powder of it, and sprinkle it on vegetable or fruit salads.”

 If the hair loss is severe, Talat recommends herbal tablets that contain 'saw palmetto' (an American berry). This is also available in lotions and can be applied directly on the scalp. “There are well-known Western drugs like Finasteride and Minoxidil, but they have side-effects,” says Talat. “I use local applications like Meso therapy. In this we apply a cocktail of vitamins and amino acids to the inner layer of the skin, near the hair roots. This gives very good results, especially for female baldness.” Finally, there is hair transplant and weaving.

But, most importantly, the patient needs to have a positive attitude. “Treatment does 50 per cent of the work,” says Talat. “A patient should feel confident that they will get cured. That makes a difference.”


Contact details:

 Sehat The Scalp and Hair Clinic, Chennai
Phones: +91 - 44 - 65416502
             +91 – 9940535786
www.scalpandhairclinic.com

(The New Indian Express, South India and Delhi)