Popular Myths about Hair Loss
Several myths have emerged to explain hair loss but is there some truth in them? Is there some truth to some of the popular misconceptions regarding hair loss?
From time immemorial, humanity has always had various myths about the causes of hair loss. Several myths have emerged from time immemorial on why we lose hair. Some might sound plausible and there are others that are just outright crazy. The bad thing about myths is that they distract us from the real causes of hair losses and hinder us from taking corrective measures. So what are some of the most common myths about the causes of hair loss?
Hair loss is from the mother’s side
It has long been believed that hair loss is as a result of genes from the mother’s side of the family. However, this myth has long been debunked and hair loss can result from the genes on any side of the family. This of course pertains to genetically inherited hair loss.
I will suffer hair loss if I wear hats
Just imagine the number of professional golfers who will bald just because they are wearing hats. Wearing hats does not cause hair loss unless the hat you are wearing is so tight that it prevents proper circulation of blood on your follicles. There are very rare cases in which someone would wear such a hat!
Hair loss is as a result of old age
This is one of the most common myths for which many of us believe there is “proof”. After all, a lot of the old people that we see have lost a considerable amount of hair. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are people who begin balding as early as 20 or 30. By the time they are 40, so much hair has been lost that it’s probably irretrievable. English footballer Wayne Rooney is a case in point. On the other hand, there are others who retain their full bloom of hair into their 80s or 90s. There are a lot of factors that cause chute de cheveux; old age might in some cases accelerate the effects of those factors depending on the lifestyle of the individual.
Using a lot of hair care products will lead to hair loss
This is certainly not true. There is no hair care product in the marketplace that will lead to hair loss. After all, they wouldn’t be in the market in the first place. However, there are people who are known to go to certain extremes with hair teasing and curling which applies extra strain to the hair and has been known to cause hair loss.
Stress causes hair loss
This is one of the most popular myths associated with hair loss. Will always assume automatically, particularly in an academic environment or in marriage, that if someone is suddenly losing a lot of hair, then they are under some stress. This myth holds some truth. Stress do cause hair loss, however it is the extreme form of stress that does this not the normal “stress” that many of us are more familiar with. Medical experts contend that stress resulting from miscarriage, child birth, accident or severe injury or an extreme emotional distress from the loss of someone close will result in the loss of hair.
