The thought of losing your hair can be upsetting, and it can have a big impact on your confidence. Hair loss is a common concern for many people, so it’s only natural that lots of people talk about it both online and in person. Unfortunately, this can make it easy for myths and misleading information to spread, and these misconceptions can lead to a lot of confusion. In some cases, they can even prevent you from finding effective treatments.
In this article, we look at some common hair loss myths, debunk them with facts and discuss some of the available treatments that are proven to be effective.
Common Hair Loss Myths
Wearing a Hat Can Cause Hair Loss
Simply put, wearing a hat doesn’t directly cause hair loss, and the idea that it does is a common misconception. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that wearing hats in general will cause hair loss; however, wearing a hat that is too tight could potentially cause traction alopecia, a type of hair loss caused by the hair follicles being pulled constantly. Traction alopecia is more commonly associated with tight hairstyles, but wearing a tight hat often can also lead to this condition.
Masturbation Can Cause Hair Loss
This is a common myth, but there is no scientific research to back up any connection between masturbation and hair loss. Hair loss can occur due to several different factors, including genetics, medical conditions, stress and medications. Additionally, masturbation can have positive health benefits like relieving stress, so if you are experiencing hair loss, you can rest assured that masturbating is not contributing to it.
Overwashing Your Hair Can Cause Hair Loss
There is no direct link between overwashing your hair and hair loss. Washing your hair helps to remove dirt, excess oils and any styling products you may use, keeping your hair clean and healthy. Some people find that they tend to notice hair loss more when washing their hair, leading to the concern that the two events are connected. However, in most cases, the simple truth is that this hair loss is normal. Scrubbing your scalp can loosen hairs that are already ready to shed, so it’s normal for you to experience more hairs falling out when washing or brushing your hair.
Using harsh shampoos can strip your hair and scalp of their natural oils and also lead to dryness. Instead, choose a gentle shampoo suitable for your hair type and lightly massage your scalp when washing your hair. This can help to ensure your hair continues to look and feel its best.
Bald Men Have More Testosterone
Many people believe that having higher testosterone levels causes hair loss, but this isn’t necessarily true. Hair loss happens when the hair follicles shrink, which stops the hair from growing normally. The new hairs keep getting thinner and thinner until they eventually disappear and the hair follicles stop working.
A hormone made from testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), is found in the skin, hair, and prostate, and it can cause hair follicles to shrink. However, research suggests there is no significant association between total testosterone levels and general hair loss. Dutasteride is a treatment for male pattern hair loss that can help reduce the production of DHT.
Common Hair Loss Facts
It’s Normal to Lose Between 50-100 Hairs a Day
It’s perfectly normal to lose strands of hair each day. We can typically shed between 50 and 100 hairs every day without even realising it. Losing this amount of hair is all part of the natural growth cycle. New hairs are produced continuously as your old hair starts to fall out. There are four parts to the hair growth cycle:
- Anagen: the hair follicles produce new hair.
- Catagen: the hair follicle shrinks and hair growth slows.
- Telogen: the hair neither grows nor falls out.
- Exogen: hair sheds from the scalp when washed or brushed.
Smoking Can Cause Hair Loss
It’s well known that smoking can increase your chances of lung cancer and respiratory illness, but did you know that smoking can also damage your hair follicles and increase your chance of developing hair loss? Breathing in tobacco smoke allows chemicals to travel from your lungs and spread to other parts of your body, reducing the blood flow to your scalp which harms the hair follicles.
Some Hairstyles Can Cause Hair Loss
Certain hairstyles can lead to strands of your hair breaking off or falling out, and some hairstyles can cause traction alopecia. This type of hair loss is caused by continuous pulling of the hair by wearing certain high-tension hairstyles such as a sleek ponytail, buns, cornrows or even hair extensions. Continuous pulling of the hair can damage the hair follicles and prevent the hair from growing back, which results in permanent hair loss.
Stress Can Cause Hair Loss
Chronic stress can indeed cause hair loss. Telogen effluvium is a common hair loss condition that occurs after a person experiences severe stress or changes to their body, causing their hair follicles to enter the telogen phase of the hair growth cycle, known as the resting phase. With telogen effluvium, the hair can become thin and fall out when washing or brushing. It’s usually temporary and hair can grow back within three to six months without treatment, although the exact timing of recovery can depend on whether the cause of your heightened stress levels is resolved.
Proven Treatments for Hair Loss
Many people will experience hair loss, which can be frustrating and distressing to go through. However, there are a number of effective treatments available that can help with some types of hair loss. Let’s take a look.
- Propecia: Propecia (Finasteride) is a prescription medication for men that is available from your GP, or you can buy Finasteride (the generic version containing the same active ingredient) directly from Simple Online Pharmacy. Propecia can help to slow hair loss and promote new hair growth.
- Minoxidil: Minoxidil (such as in Regaine) is a topical medication used to treat early hair loss for both men and women. Simply apply it to the affected area to stimulate the growth and prevent the hair from becoming thinner. Oral minoxidil is also available, a tablet form of the same medication
- Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids, commonly referred to as steroids, are another treatment available. A doctor can inject a corticosteroid to help treat hair loss caused by inflammation in the body.
While losing your hair can be concerning, myths and misconceptions regarding hair loss only create more confusion for people. If you are experiencing hair loss and finding it distressing, remember there are a range of treatments available that can help slow down and reverse hair loss.
