Miscellaneous Hair/Hair Loss Questions & Answers
Q: Why does losing my hair make me so depressed?
Because hair takes on such an important social and cosmetic role. Since biblical times, hairiness has symbolized strength, maturity and virility (ex. Samson and Delilah). For women, beauty magazines portray successful women as having long flowing locks. Scalp hair is often the first thing noticed when meeting someone for the first time; and a person's own hair is usually the first and last thing attended to before a social or business engagement. Hair loss and baldness, therefore, can significantly affect an individual's psychological state, affecting self esteem and body image, and causing stress, anxiety, and depression.
Q: How much hair should I have on my head?
It has been estimated that a healthy adult head of hair contains an average of 80,000-120,000 hairs. However, there are variations depending on the hair color/type. Red heads tend to average approx. 80,000 hairs and blondes average around 120,000. The average rate of hair growth is 1/2 an inch (1.2 cm) per month. In total, you actually grow approx. 3/4 mile (1 km) of scalp hair per month!
Q: I thought only men go bald, but I notice many women are also losing hair?
Both men AND women suffer hair thinning. Although it is more common for a man to lose hair, it has been reported that approx. 30% of women suffer from genetic hair loss and that about 60% of women suffer hair loss at some time in their lives from a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons could be due to illness, having a baby, medication, hormonal problems, or anemia.
Q: What is normal hair loss?
Normal hair loss depends on both hair type and hair growth cycle. If you have fine hair, you would tend to have more hair in numbers on your scalp and so you would expect to see more natural hair loss. If your hair growth cycle is short you would also expect to see more hair fall out as your hair will be replacing itself more regularly.. The average growth cycle is 3 years. Depending on these factors, you would expect to lose anywhere from 40 to 120 hairs per day quite naturally. Another way to assess if your hair fall is excessive is to see if it is thinning. If you have less hair than you did before or if you see balding areas, then your hair loss may be abnormal.
Q: Is all hair loss permanent?
No! It is important to realize that there are many different types and causes of hair loss, not all of which are permanent. An assessment of the type of hair loss you have should be made before choosing a treatment option.
Q: It's fall and I'm noticing more hair loss, is this normal?
With the falling of leaves from the trees, many people think losing more scalp hair is normal at this time of the year. Well, I'm afraid there has only been a little research done on what is known as 'seasonal hair fall', and the results have been inconclusive. Therefore, I suggest you ask yourself the following: "Do I have extra hair loss at this time of the year every year?". If the answer is yes, then you probably have seasonal hair loss and it could be normal for you; however, if the answer is no, or the hair loss is more excessive than usual, then it may be due to other reasons and I would suggest you visit a specialist for advice.
Q: My hair gets so dry when I go swimming, what can I do?
With frequent swimming in the sea or pool during the summer the salt &/or chlorine really takes a toll on the hair. When you add the ultra violet from the sun into the equation, the hair gets extra dry, brittle and can change color. To reduce this problem, I suggest the following:
- wet your hair with tap water before going to the pool/beach and apply a small amount of conditioner to the mid-length and ends of the hair. This will help reduce some of the harmful effects of the salt or chlorine.
- rinse your hair thoroughly with regular tap water each time you come out of the sea/pool to rinse away the salt or chlorine and reapply a little conditioner as you would reapply sun tan oil.
- wash your hair every evening using shampoo and conditioner.
- if you do not put your head under the water when you swim, wear a hat to protect your hair from the direct sun light and, if you have long hair, pin it up so the ends do not get wet.
Q: My hair, which is wavy all summer, goes limp in the fall, why?
Again, it's because of the change in humidity. During the summer the hair absorbs moisture from the air and, if it is naturally curly to begin with, will become wavy and have more body (unfortunately, it can also go frizzy and become dull!). When the fall comes, the humidity drops and so less moisture is available causing the hair to go limper. This problem often occurs if your hair is damaged or too dry. I suggest using a conditioner every time you wash your hair and also use a deep conditioning treatment on a regular basis to trap the correct level of moisture in your hair and so give it more shine and body throughout the year.
Q: I wash my hair more frequently during the summer, will this cause my hair to fall out?
No, as long as you use a gentle shampoo and conditioner each time you wash. Frequent washing is healthy for the hair as it keeps both the hair and scalp clean and does not make you lose more hair from the scalp.
Miscellaneous Scalp Questions & Answers
Q: What is the difference between dandruff and psoriasis?
Dandruff is a cosmetic problem which usually affects men and women mostly between the ages of 18 and 50. At 20 nearly 50% of the population are affected to some degree. The cause of dandruff is disputed, however, the most accepted explanation is that the yeast Pityrosporon ovale has a major role in triggering the condition by increasing the speed of epidermal turn over. Small white or grey scales accumulate on the surface of the scalp which are often shed on to the collar or shoulders..
Sometimes, if a person has an oily scalp, the seborrhea (scalp oil) binds to the dandruff in a greasy paste that is no longer shed, but accumulates in small adherent patches. These patches of scale often have a yellowish color. If scalp inflammation develops with redness, particularly around the hair line, then the condition may have turned into seborrheic dermatitis. This condition is often associated with increased itching (pruritus).
Psoriasis is a more severe scalp condition which has a very inflamed skin covered in thick silvery scales that often bleeds easily.. Although severe hair loss rarely occurs in psoriasis , some increased shedding of telogen (resting) hairs and some reduction in hair density is common.
Q: What are some treatments for dandruff and psoriasis?
Unfortunately, no reliable cure exists for the scalp problems mentioned above. Once treated these conditions often reoccur.. However, the most important first step in treating one of these scalp conditions is to wash your hair as frequently as possible (preferably daily) to reduce the buildup of flakes on the scalp. In some of the minor cases of dandruff conditions shampoos with selenium sulphide, which reduces epidermal skin turnover, can be useful as can shampoos with zinc pyrithione, which reduces the yeast population on the skin. For the more severe conditions, especially where inflammation is present, coal tar and salicylic acid are used to control the condition as are corticosteroid lotions or creams as well as PUVA treatments (psolarens and ultra violet A light).
Q: Why do I get more scalp itching and dandruff in the fall?
This is a very common problem and is often due to weather changes. During the fall the temperature and humidity decrease causing the scalp to lose moisture. This can lead to an increase in scalp flaking and irritation. Sometimes there is also a little flaking and redness long the hair line and in the eyebrows. People with an oily scalp are actually more likely to have this problem. I suggest washing your hair everyday to remove the dandruff build up and to keep the scalp clean to reduce the itchiness. Also, turn your humidifier on at home, especially at night, to help put more moisture in the air.
Q: What causes dandruff?
The cause of dandruff is not fully understood, however, it is thought that a certain yeast, which is naturally found on the skin, has a major role in triggering the condition in some people. You may have dandruff if you have small white or grey scales on your scalp which, when they become loose, can be seen on the hair shaft or on the collar and shoulders. Sometimes the flakes can become greasy from scalp oil giving them a yellowish color. Dandruff often begins at puberty and continues through adulthood. It usually becomes more severe at about 20 years of age and becomes less frequent after 50. Some researchers believe diet, stress, and climatic changes can influence the severity of a dandruff condition.
Q: I have psoriasis on my scalp, will this cause my hair to fall out?
Psoriasis is a disorder of the skin which frequently involves the scalp (it can also occur on other parts of the body). The classical feature of psoriasis is a bright pink, inflamed skin covered in thick silvery scales and tends to be quite itchy. On removal of these scales a small amount of bleeding may occur. Although severe hair loss rarely occurs with psoriasis , some increased shedding of the hair and some reduction in hair density can occur. Psoriasis is often treated with corticosteroid or coal tar lotions and creams and, in severe cases, with ultra violet light treatments.
Q: My scalp gets very oily, what gives?
Scalp oil (known as sebum) often leads to greasy, limp, unmanageable hair. The amount of oil that your scalp produces can depend on many things, including diet, stress, hormonal changes, genetic factors, age, etc. Teenagers who are noticing more acne often also complain of oilier hair as their oil glands tend to be more active. Men and women with genetic hair loss may also complain of extra scalp greasiness. I suggest that you wash your hair more frequently (at least once a day).
Q: My scalp gets sore and flakes when I've been out in the sun, why?
People often forget that the scalp is exposed to the sun during sunbathing and becomes burned just as easily as unprotected skin elsewhere on your body. If you do not wear a hat for protection, I suggest you apply sun tan oil carefully to the scalp with your fingertips.. This will prevent the scalp from burning. Also, remember to reapply the oil after swimming.
