Debunking Common Hair Loss Myths for Women
Are you afraid of shampooing your hair because you are worried that it will cause baldness? Well, you shouldn’t. There is actually no scientific evidence that links washing your hair too often with hair loss. In fact, if you don’t wash your hair enough, it can cause dandruff as well as removing oils from your scalp that may have hormones that can result in hair loss. Here are seven other hair loss myths that women should stop worrying about.
Myth One. You only have to worry about hair loss once you grow older.
Although this is generally true, there are some factors that can cause women in their twenties or even their teens to start losing their hair. An imbalance in the male hormone can trigger the condition polycystic ovary syndrome, which can result not only in hair loss but also excess facial and body hair, acne and irregular periods. Of course, being genetically disposed can also cause early hair loss.
Myth Two. Stress can cause hair loss.
Unfortunately, there is some truth to this myth. However, you don’t need to be concerned about the everyday stresses that you encounter, such as being stuck for hours in traffic. The stress that can cause hair loss has to be something seriously traumatic. The medical term for this condition is telogen effluvium, which refers to the sudden onset of stress. The causes of this condition include giving birth, suffering from a prolonged illness or high temperature, or undergoing a major surgery.
Myth Three. Hair loss is permanent.
If it seems that you’ve been shedding more hair than normal lately, it does not have to be a cause for concern. Women and men naturally shed around 100 to 150 strands of hair a day. There are a number of factors that can trigger temporary hair loss, such as childbirth or a nutritional deficiency. Once the problem is addressed, hair growth usually returns to normal.
Myth Four. Birth control pills cause hair loss.
This may have been an issue with older types of birth control pills, which used progesterone, a hormone that can cause hair follicles to become thinner. However, newer versions are less likely to result in this side effect and some doctors even prescribe them as a treatment for unwanted hair loss.
Myth Five. Biotin can reverse hair loss.
Biotin is a complex B vitamin that is sold as part of supplements that are advertised as helping to promote healthy hair and nails. While biotin is an essential nutrient that can help convert food that you eat to energy, it cannot reverse hair loss caused by genetics or hormone problems. This does not mean that you should not take it, but that you should have realistic expectations. Doctors generally prescribe biotin supplements for hair breakage.
Myth Six. Exposing your scalp to excess sunlight can cause hair loss.
Of course, getting too much sun without sunscreen or other protection can be bad for your skin but it will not cause hair loss. In fact, not having enough Vitamin D can be harmful to your hair since this nutrient is vital in causing your hair to move from its resting phase to the growing one. You need at least 600 IU of the vitamin every day. If you are worried about getting too much sun, eat more vitamin D-rich foods.
Myth Seven. Dyeing your hair can cause hair loss.
Again, there is some truth to this myth. While dyeing itself will not cause hair loss, excessive styling such as too much coloring or overuse of curling irons, can damage your hair in the long-term and result in hair breakage.
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