Eight Hair Loss Myths:

1. Hats – Just because you never took off that baseball cap when you were young doesn’t mean that you will experience hair loss. The only way that wearing a hat could cause hair loss will occur is if the hat were so tight that it cut off the circulation of the hair follicles.
2. Hair Dryers – No hair dryer that is recommended for safe usage is able to blow off hair. If you use your hair dryer at the recommended distance, it’s extremely unlikely that your hair dryer will make a significant difference in your hair loss.
3. Standing on your head – As the myth goes, standing on your head will increase the blood flow to your head, and in doing so provide better circulation for your scalp. The truth of the matter is that your follicles need much more than blood flow to induce growth.
4. Haircuts Improve Hair Thickness – Sometimes it seems that when you get a haircut your hair grows back thicker and fuller, and to a point, this is true. The “thickest” part of the hair is at the base, which makes it appear that your hair is thicker and fuller at first. As the hair cycle continues, your individual hairs will grow to be the exact same diameter as they were before you cut your hair.
5. More Sex = More Hair – There is no evidence to confirm that you will grow more hair as a result of increased sexual activities. Likewise, there is no evidence to confirm that you’ll lose more hair if your sexual activities subside.
6. It’s Your Mother’s Fault – Many people think that the male pattern baldness gene can only be transferred from your mother’s side. This isn’t true, as hair loss is a hereditary trait and can be inherited from both mom and dad’s side of the family.
7. Curry and Alcohol Rubs – Bathing your scalp in any substance, whether it’s curry or alcohol isn’t going to do anything to improve the growth of your hair follicles, and they’re more likely to make your head smell funny than anything else.
8. There is No Way to Treat or Prevent Hair Loss – This is completely untrue. With the recent advances in the medical community, hair loss has become a treatable and preventable condition. If you’re concerned that you may be experiencing excessive hair loss, talk to your doctor about a treatment plan that is right for you, whether it involves taking a hair loss medication, taking a mineral supplement or receiving a follicle transplant, there are many options available to help you fight that receding hair line.

Excessive hair loss can be attributed to several different factors, dependent on the type of hair loss you experience.

If you experience:

• Patchy Hair Loss, which affects both men and women, could be caused by a condition called alopecia areata, where a small bald spot appears on the head that will grow back within three to six months. Patchy hair loss can also be inflicted through certain hairstyles and habits; wearing a ponytail, or simply twisting your hair around your finger may be enough to pull hairs from their follicles. Fungal infections are an additional cause of patchy hair loss, when treated with antibiotics will allow hair to grow back.
• General Hair Loss, which is categorized by simply losing more hair than you ought to be, is generally caused by the development of androgenetic hair loss, or baldness patterns in both men and women. Baldness occurs in all adults, how fast and how much your hair will thin out depends on your genetics and hormones.

Losing your hair is natural parts of life; however, if you think that you may be losing too much hair, talk to your healthcare provider about options for treating your hair loss, which may include taking medications like Finasteride for men and Minoxidil for both men and women.