17 myths about hair loss, debunked

Hair loss is a fact that worries most, since it is a reality that hair falls out. But are all beliefs around hair loss true? Hair goes through different phases of renewal, therefore hair loss is normal. Although, as you know, there are variables that will make it fall to a greater extent, therefore having multiple causes, both genetic and environmental. In this article we present some of the most typical beliefs about hair loss that have not all been proven to be true.

What False Myths About Hair Loss Should Be Debunked?

There are many beliefs related to hair loss, not all of them being true and that sometimes some of these may be contraindicated and further harm the state of our scalp.

1. Hair loss is irreversible

This statement is false since the irreversibility of hair loss will depend on the type of hair loss. Thus, chronic fall, which is considered as such if it occurs for at least 12 months, can be corrected. Although it is true that in androgenic alopecia, also known as common baldness, which is caused by the action of androgens, male hormones, in different areas of the scalp, it causes hair that falls out no longer grows back.

2. Eating certain foods can prevent the fall

This belief is not completely true, since there are no specific foods that prevent hair loss. What has been seen, that eating a healthy and balanced diet, with all the necessary nutrients, such as vitamins of groups B, C and E or rich in zinc and iron can help and facilitate hair growth.

3. If you wash your hair a lot, it will fall more

It is false that washing your hair every day causes it to fall more. Yes, it can give the sensation of it since the force of the water helps the already loose hair to come off and we visualize it all together in the shower, but it is not more than the amount that normally falls in a day, only that we see it more concentrated.

One factor that we must take into account for the healing and health of our scalp and thus prevent it from becoming irritated, is not to use hair products, such as shampoos, which contain sulfates or other elements that are harmful to the hair, as they can produce dryness, itching or dandruff.

4. Dyeing, straightening, or blow drying your hair causes it to fall out.

This statement is not completely true since it is not a direct cause that all these actions that we carry out on our hair cause its consequent fall, although it has been proven that, for example, if we dye it continuously, we bleach it or we apply constant color to all these actions Harmful ones do weaken the hair, damaging its structure and affecting its quality and strength.

5. If you cut your hair you will prevent it from falling out

This statement is a myth, since the hair will fall the same being short or longerThe only thing that happens is that when we have it long, the fallen hair is more visible compared to when it is short, where it goes more unnoticed.

6. Food supplements and hair loss treatments do not work

This denial is false since if the supplements we take or the treatment we apply have the appropriate components, with nutrients that help strengthen the hair bulb, which is the area of ​​the hair follicle where the necessary functions take place for the cell to function. transform into hair, we will be able to generate, improve quality, and help hair grow better.

7. Wearing a helmet or cap regularly will make your hair fall out more or sooner

This statement is a myth since wearing a helmet or cap does not make the hair fall more since it can continue to "breathe" in the same way since it does so through the root and not through external contact. What has been observed is that continuously wearing a cap or helmet increases friction and can irritate or damage the scalp, affecting the density or quality of the hair.

Although we see that the option of not wearing a cap and much less a helmet is not adequate since they protect us from much worse consequences such as injuries due to accidents or related to capillary health, they prevent the sun's rays from constantly giving us that we do know that they are related to damage and aging of the skin and scalp.

8. Smoking causes more hair loss

It is false that smoking is a direct cause of hair loss, it is obvious that smoking is a bad habit and that it damages all the organs of our body in general, but We cannot say that it causes more hair loss.

9. If my father has alopecia, I will also have

This belief is not 100% true, since hair loss is not always hereditaryFor example, acute telogen effluvium is an alteration in the hair growth cycle that appears for a limited period of time and causes it to fall out, this loss of hair being visible.

In the same way, although it is known that androgenic alopecia is hereditary, preventive actions can be taken, such as the aforementioned anti-hair loss treatments, which can stop hair loss and help hair growth.

10. If I brush my hair more, I encourage it to fall less

These beliefs are not true since brushing our hair more will not make it fall more or, on the contrary, it will fall less. When we brush our hair we activate blood circulation, but this fact does not mean that we reverse its loss. Yes, we must be careful not to brush too aggressively, since we can cause an injury to the scalp.

11. Hair loss is due to aging.

This belief is a myth since we find alterations such as androgenic alopecia that appears at an early age, for example with only 20 years, when it is impossible for there to be an effect of hair aging.

12. It is better to wash your hair less to prevent hair loss.

It is not true that if we wash our head less, our hair will fall less, since on the contrary this fact can generate the opposite effect. If we do not wash our hair enough in it, excess fat accumulates that makes the hair follicle unable to breathe or nourish itself well, thus weakening and favoring its fall.

13. Women cannot have alopecia

This belief is false since, despite the fact that the percentage of men who suffer from alopecia is higher than that of women, between 70-80% in men compared to 29-42% in women, we see that women are not completely free from having alopecia.

Alopecia is due to a hormone called DHT that derives from testosterone, which is the male hormone that men therefore show higher levels, but women also have testosterone, although it is in smaller amounts, therefore they may also develop alopecia.

14. Washing your hair with cold water makes your hair fall out less

This statement is incorrect since the temperature of the water does not affect hair loss, not even if we do it with colder water or with hotter water. Yes, it has been observed that washing with very hot water can cause capillary dryness, but this fact is not directly related to hair loss.

15. If I do a hairstyle that pulls my hair, it will make it fall more

This belief is not true, we can observe that after having made a tighter hairstyle some hair falls out, but it is not due to the type of hairstyle, but it is a normal fall, that is, the hair that we see that has fallen is because they were in the renewal phase and therefore they were already weaker and had to fall.

16. Hair massages prevent hair loss

This statement is a myth, since hair massage, in the same way that we have seen what happens with brushing hair, activates blood flow, but the lack of flow is not the cause of hair loss or the appearance of hair loss. baldness.

17. Hair loss is a sign of alopecia

It is not true that hair loss causes alopecia, since as we have mentioned the hair goes through phases of renewal where it will fall more, this fact being therefore normal. The fall is not a sign of alopecia, there is other variables that we must look at, such as the quality or quantity of hair that grows back, to be able to speak of baldness.