Common myths and facts about hair loss

2019-09-01

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Acacia medical blog Hair loss

There are many myths surrounding hair loss and baldness. The list of myths is endless, ranging from strange ideas and weird 'cures' across the internet and social media. Everything from wearing a cap to shampooing too often and testosterone levels in the body. It can eventually become difficult to distinguish what is fact and what is not. 

 

Myths:

1. Wearing a cap makes you go bald

No matter how you wear your cap - tight, loose, sideways or backwards - it makes no difference to the hair follicles on your scalp. Hair follicles need oxygen to stay healthy, but the oxygen comes from your blood, not from the air.

 

1. Washing your hair too often causes your hair to fall out.

Just like shampoo can't make your hair grow faster, washing your hair often won't make you lose it. Sometimes people who are worried about hair loss wash their hair less often. Between these washes, the normal growth cycle will still occur. However, washing too infrequently can clog the pores of the scalp. 

 

3. Playing with your hair can cause baldness

Running your fingers through your hair or playing with your hair will not cause baldness. However, these actions can be a sign of stress, which can contribute to hair loss. Some people pull their hair out from the roots. Trichotillomania is a hair pulling disorder where a person has a recurring, irresistible urge to pull out their hair which can lead to baldness.

 

4. Shaving the hair makes it thicker.

Hair grows from healthy follicles on your scalp. Shaving your head can in no way increase the number or improve the quality of healthy hair follicles on your scalp. Nor does it create thicker hair.

 

5. A thinning hair is always permanent

In some cases, thinning hair can be a temporary reaction to a trigger, such as pregnancy, menopause, stress, illness or infection. Once the trigger has been corrected, hair growth usually resumes.

Facts:

1. Genetics is the main contributor to baldness
   Androgenic alopecia, also known as hereditary pattern hair loss, is a genetically determined disorder and is the main cause of hair loss in approximately 90% of affected men and women. The gene can be inherited from either parent. 
2. Hair loss can be reversed
   For temporary triggers such as hormonal imbalance, illness/infection, smoking, poor diet or overloaded stress, normal hair growth usually returns once the trigger has been treated. 
3. Baldness is influenced by internal factors rather than external or environmental factors. Hair loss and baldness are driven by internal factors such as genetics, health and diet, whether you smoke or not, and hormones. Thinning hair can also be a cause of stress and anxiety. Baldness is not affected by frequent hair washing, cap, hat or other external or environmental factors. 
4. Getting an accurate diagnosis is importantSeeking professional advice for hair loss is important. In order to have a successful treatment, an accurate diagnosis needs to be made. It is not enough to rely on home treatments. Usually a blood test is taken and then take it from there.