There are many reasons why your hair may fall out more than usual, from environmental factors to heat damage.
But if you think that using a hair growth shampoo will solve the problem, think again.
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There are many reasons why hair thins or falls out, but hair experts say most shampoos are unlikely to be effective.Credit: Getty
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If you’re concerned about hair loss, talk to your doctor Credit: Getty
Hair expert Philip Kingsley has explained why you should save your cash when it comes to shampoos that claim to stop hair loss or promote hair growth.
On TiKTok, this pro explained that there isn’t enough evidence to show that shampoo actually does anything other than clean hair.
“There are various reasons for this,” she added.
First of all, shampoos are used in a “dilute environment”, so the ingredients that might help hair growth are instantly diluted.
“Shampoos also need to contain many other ingredients to perform their primary job of cleaning the hair and scalp.
“So the formula at the moment is muddy and a little busy,” she added.
Not only that, but because the shampoo is washed away immediately, the active hair removal ingredients have no chance of working, and must be left on the scalp for a long time to have any effect.
However, if you want your locks to be a little stronger, there are products available instead.
Leave-in products are your best bet because they have time to work before you wash your hair again.
You can also look for products that contain caffeine. Experts say of caffeine, “There is good evidence that it helps hair growth, but it’s only found in leave-in products.”
Hair loss is often caused by “internal factors”, so shampoos don’t do much to solve the real problem at hand, experts conclude.
So what should you do if hair loss occurs?
TV doctor Amir Khan said that there are many reasons for hair loss and some of them are very treatable.
genetics
Is your father bald? Or did your mom’s hair thin out significantly after her 35th birthday?
Sadly, family history is the biggest determining factor in whether you’ll lose your hair as you age, Dr. Amir explains.
“This is the cause of pattern hair loss in both men and women, and it tends to occur gradually and has a predictable pattern,” he said in a video shared on Instagram.
A typical bald pattern starts at the hairline at the front of the head.
The hairline gradually moves backwards (recedes), forming an “M” shape.
The circular area at the back of the head often thins and increases in size over time.
hormonal changes
Temporary or permanent hair loss can occur in both men and women due to changes in hormone levels.
“This is especially true for menopausal people,” experts say.
This type of hair loss is known as androgenetic alopecia, and is very similar to androgenetic alopecia, which starts at the top of the head.
During menopause, estrogen and progesterone rapidly decline, inadvertently creating an increased “playground” for androgens.
Estrogens and progesterone are primarily female hormones, and androgens are male hormones.
Excess androgens are associated with hair loss.
If you’re concerned, talk to your doctor, who may recommend hormone therapy and implement the strategies listed above.
alopecia
In people with alopecia, the immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing hair loss. This can occur anywhere on the body.
According to charity Alopecia UK, around 400,000 people in the UK have or have had the condition.
The cause is unknown, but iron deficiency and stress can cause this condition, although many experts dispute this.
In some cases, alopecia areata can transform into alopecia totalis, if the hair loss spreads over the entire head, or alopecia universalis, if it is all over the body.
There is currently no cure for this condition, but there are several treatments, all of which are guaranteed to be effective.
Hair in patchy alopecia areata typically regrows over a period of months or years, but regrowth is not guaranteed.
However, once the condition progresses to alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis, complete regrowth is unlikely.
medicine
Medications used to treat cancer, arthritis, heart disease, and depression can all cause hair loss.
However, don’t stop taking prescription medications without talking to your doctor.
malnutrition
Not getting enough of the right nutrients can be the reason for sudden hair loss.
According to the NHS, a diet that is too low in protein and iron.
It may be a good idea to see your doctor, get blood tests done to check for nutritional deficiencies, and consider boosting your levels of certain vitamins with the help of supplements.
hair removal tips
According to the NHS, we can lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day.
It’s usually nothing to worry about, but in some cases it can be a sign of medical concern.
These include illness, stress, cancer treatment, weight loss, iron deficiency, etc.
The NHS advises you to make an appointment to see your GP to see if they can identify the cause.
Experts from the American Academy of Dermatology also recommend eating a healthy diet, limiting the use of curling irons, and using them only on special occasions.
It also recommends using a mild shampoo and a leave-in conditioner.
