Hair loss is a common problem in with a high probability of myths being attached to it. Here is a list of myths that are most often linked to hair fall.
Baldness is inherited from the mother’s share of genetics.The main cause of hair loss in women and men is androgenetic alopecia, more commonly known as genetic hair loss. It had been a common notion for a very long time that this trait is inherited from the mother’s side. However, studies have shown that combination of genes from mother’s and father’s sides is responsible for this. So, you can get a good indicator of the future of your hairline from comparing the collective hairlines of your aunts and uncles along with your parents and grandparents.Hair loss can be prevented by standing on your head or frequent hair brushing.It has been a very popular belief that hair loss can be prevented or minimized by increasing the scalp circulation. Activities such as constant brushing can increase scalp circulation, but studies have shown that such activities are not going to help you out. However, this opinion is nothing more than a myth because alopecia (hair loss) has nothing to do with blood flow and therefore, frequent hair brushing is not going to bring about a boost in the hair growth. In fact, alopecia is mainly caused by genetic predisposition and presence of DHT. Similar is the case with standing on the head, it also increases blood flow to the scalp, but this cannot prevent hair loss. So, rather than standing on your head or frequently brushing your hair, it will be much better if you incorporate some changes in your sedentary lifestyle which are far more responsible for hair loss than ’scalp circulation’.Regular haircuts make your hair grow faster and thicker.This is one of the most popular myths, which has been in existence for quite a long time. People often shave their scalp and get regular haircuts in the hope that their hair will grow faster and thicker. Another common misconception associated with hair loss is that people with long hair lose them more rapidly in comparison to those who have shorter hair. Length of the hair has nothing to do with hair loss. In fact, the hygiene issues related to long hair can be held responsible for hair loss in some cases. Long hair tends to attract more dust and is more prone to dandruff and other related problems. These issues can lead to an increased rate of hair fall. However, if you shampoo your hair regularly, these factors are not going to bother you at all. On the other hand, getting regular haircuts is certainly an effective way of keeping the existing hair healthy as the damaged hair and split ends are removed. But, this definitely does not have any effect on your hair’s thickness and growth rate.Hair loss cannot be treated.This used to be true only in the early days, when using hats and artificial hairpieces was the only option available to deal with hair loss. However, this is no longer a fact in the present day, because the advances in the field of medication have made it possible to treat hair loss. You can easily find a number of medications and treatments for hair loss. These treatments are not only capable of preventing hair loss, but also replenish balding hairlines. For instance, it has been seen that retane is effective in the treatment of hair loss as it prevents further shedding of hair. The first step in dealing with progressive hair loss is stopping it from happening further as it allows you to retain your original hair. It has also been observed that retane promotes growth of new hair in many people who are in the early stages of hair loss.Wearing hats causes hair loss.Hats do not cause any damage to your hair at all. Hats can lead to hair fall only when they are tight enough to limit the circulation to the follicles, which is practically not possible. However, you need to make sure that your hat is not dirty, otherwise it can lead to infection in the scalp, which in turn accelerates the rate of hair loss.Loading up on carbohydrates can lead to hair loss.Having a diet rich in carbohydrates is not going to increase the rate of hair fall. In fact, studies have shown that carbohydrates and red meat provide nutrients which help in maintaining a healthy hair. However, deficiency of iron can be associated with hair loss. In such cases, taking iron supplements can be quite useful in restoring the growth of hair.Blow drying, color treatment, gel, and hair spray lead to hair fall.Blow drying cannot be held responsible for hair fall. Although it can damage your hair or may even dry it to the extent that it eventually falls, the hair will immediately grow back. So, blow dryers cannot lead to permanent hair loss. Also, there is no need to maintain a distance from shampoo, gel, and hair sprays as they don’t cause balding. However, teasing your hair and using curling irons can certainly speed up the process. Same is the case with most hair coloring products. These products may contain some chemicals which can cause serious harm to your hair, but they cannot instigate hair loss.Number of hair follicles can be increased.Drugs and supplements can do absolutely nothing in increasing the number of your hair follicles because this is something which is determined by genetics. You are born with all the follicles you’ll ever have. However, hair transplant surgery can increase the number of follicles. Similarly, other factors such as rate of growth, diameter of hair shaft, tendency to gray, and tendency to curl are all genetically determined.Long exposure to sun favors hair loss.The sun plays no role in initiating hair loss. For this to happen, the sun rays would have to penetrate through your hair to the follicle level because hair loss appears at this depth. However, this cannot be deemed possible because hair acts as a shield against the rays of the sun.
