Hair loss myth buster

Hair loss myth buster

NHS Choices

Source: nhs.uk

 

For every hair loss treatment that works there are a dozen that don’t, but some age-old myths live on. We sort fact from fiction in 20 of the most common hair loss myths.

 

Do you know the facts?

 

1) Hair loss comes from the mother's side.

 

FALSE: Baldness is hereditary, but it’s not limited to the maternal side of the family. The hair loss gene can come from either parent.

 

2) Frequent ejaculation can cause baldness.

 

FALSE: There’s no proven link between frequent ejaculation and hair loss. There’s also no truth to the myth that the more sex you have the less hair you’ll lose.

 

3) Washing your head in cold water can cure baldness.

 

FALSE: Washing your head every morning in cold water may boost blood circulation but it does nothing for baldness.

 

4) Losing hair every day means you're balding.

 

FALSE: If you’ve got male-pattern baldness then, yes, you’ll lose hair every day. That said, it’s normal to lose as many as 100 hairs a day. These will usually grow back.

 

5) It’s normal to start to lose some hair from our early 30s.

 

TRUE: As you get older, the number of hair follicles on your scalp will progressively reduce. With ageing, hair becomes finer and more sparse.

 

6) Hair products don't cause hair loss.

 

TRUE: Haircare products don’t cause hair loss. You can mix as much gel, mousse or spray into your hair as you like.

 

7) Standing on your head cures hair loss.

 

FALSE: Standing on your head to increase blood flow won’t regenerate your scalp. Blood circulation has no influence on hair loss.

 

8) Constantly wearing hats can cause baldness.

 

FALSE: Unless your hat is so tight that it puts excessive tension on the hair, it doesn't matter if you wear a cap 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Wearing hats does not lead to hair loss.

 

9) Brushing or massaging the scalp can reduce hair loss.

 

FALSE: Blood circulation doesn’t boost hair growth. However, too much brushing may cause injury, leading to loss of hair.

 

10) Some hairstyles can cause hair loss.

 

TRUE: Styles that put too much tension on hair – such as tight plaits, ponytails, cornrows or winding too tightly onto rollers (especially heated rollers) – can cause some hair loss.

 

11) Cutting your hair can help prevent hair loss.

 

FALSE: Hair feels thicker after a haircut because hair is thicker at the base. Cutting your hair will not help to prevent male- or female-pattern baldness.

 

12) Wigs and toupees can make hair loss worse.

 

FALSE: Hair doesn’t need to breathe. Only the roots are alive, and they get their oxygen from the blood in the scalp. Wigs and hairpieces only damage hair if they are too tight.

 

13) Washing your hair too often can cause hair loss.

 

FALSE: Washing your hair doesn't cause balding. Shampoo only removes hair that has already fallen out.

 

14) Long exposure to the sun leads to hair loss.

 

FALSE: Hair loss occurs at the follicle level. Fortunately, your hair acts as a shield against the sun to protect the roots.

 

15) Hair dyes can cause hair loss.

 

TRUE: Most hair-colouring treatments contain chemicals that, if not properly used, are harmful to hair. However, such dyes don’t cause permanent hair loss.

 

16) A bad diet can cause hair loss.

 

FALSE: There is some evidence that a diet very low in iron may be linked with hair loss but in general, hair loss is unlikely to be caused by a bad diet and there’s no evidence that certain types of food boost hair growth or cause hair loss.

 

17) Stress can cause hair loss.

 

TRUE: Stressful episodes, such as an accident or surgery, can cause hair production to shut down temporarily. However, stress does not cause male-pattern baldness.

 

18) Hormone problems can cause hair loss.

 

TRUE: Problems with your thyroid gland can cause hair loss. Women may have short-term hair loss shortly after pregnancy. Women may also experience hair loss as a symptom of polycystic ovary syndrome. This is caused by raised androgen levels but this is not common and the majority of women with PCOS do not suffer from hair loss.

 

19) Steroids can cause hair loss.

 

TRUE: Steroid use can cause hair loss. Research has proven that anabolic steroids increase the levels of male hormones that induce baldness.

 

20) Blow drying doesn't cause hair loss.

 

TRUE: Blow drying can damage, burn or dry the hair, which can cause it to fall out, but this hair will grow back immediately. It is not considered to be permanent hair loss.

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