Does Sweating Cause Hair Loss?

The human scalp has poor ventilation due to its carpet of hair, making it both warmer and sweatier than other parts of the body. This can contribute to hair loss in several ways.

• The heat and humidity of the scalp is an excellent petri dish for growing microbes of various sorts. Perspiration then traps dead skin cells and other detritus providing food for these microbes allowing them to reproduce and lead to scalp infections.
• Since sweat has a high native salt content, it can have a drying effect on the hair which can make the strands brittle and more likely to break.
• More perspiration means increased production from the sebaceous glands, oils which are the perfect food for a fungus called Malassezia Furfur. This unpleasant little fungus contributes to increased dandruff, which in turn weakens the roots of the hair increasing the chances of breakage. 
• As excess perspiration is retained on the scalp, it can clog the pores of the hair follicles disrupting the hair growth cycle. This is also one of the main reasons for having an itchy scalp.

While there is no direct causation of hair loss, sweat can be a contributing factor in numerous ways.

Should I Wash My Hair If I Sweat?

Yes, you should wash your hair regularly in order to remove the sweat and oils from your hair. You also should avoid over washing, which can have a drying effect on your hair and damage it. When you do wash, use gentle hair products and lukewarm to cool water temperatures. For the best results wash immediately after a perspiration inducing event such as a workout.

Reef Hair – Your Hair Preservation and Restoration Resource

At Reef Hair, we believe in taking a bespoke approach to hair loss cases. Each situation is as unique as a snowflake and demands a similarly unique approach. Factors ranging from ethnicity to lifestyle and beyond must be taken into account in order to provide the most effective possible treatment plan. Our combination of experience and cutting-edge technologies enable us to slow, stop, or, in some cases, reverse the appearance of hair loss. We also offer a selection of hair replacement procedures for the more extreme cases.

Our team at Reef Hair knows how important a good-looking head of hair can be to one’s self esteem and are ready to work with you on your journey back to a luxuriant mane! Contact us today to set up an appointment and initial diagnosis!

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But did you know that smoking can cause hair loss? Which often leads to another question that we are not as clear about – can vaping also cause hair loss?

How Does Smoking Affect Hair?

Much like how a cookie is not good for weight loss, smoking is not good for the human body. All the various ingredients mixed together can cause different types of problems… creating a multi-factored problem for your hair. Tobacco smoke is known to cause premature graying and nicotine, according to this study, might be responsible for accelerating androgenetic alopecia (or age-related hair loss).

Smoking can also cause your blood vessels to constrict, making it harder for blood to get to the hair follicles. The hair follicles need nutrients carried in the blood stream for hair growth and hair health. Tobacco smoke and nicotine accumulation in hair strands may also play a role in oxidative stress. Recent studies have shown that skin in areas with hair loss are more vulnerable to oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress is thought to cause damage to the hair follicle at DNA level and can contribute to hair brittleness. So, even if the hair does not fall out, it breaks off. That is bad for hair health in general and makes hair look thinner.

Does Vaping Cause Hair Loss?

The science is not clear yet, but the short answer is probably.

A 2018 study showed that cigarettes have different combinations of as many as 7,000 different chemicals that are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. While many of those chemicals are not present in vaping, other chemicals are present. And one of the most dangerous substances to your health is sort of the point: tobacco smoke.

According to this study from the National Institutes of Health, tobacco smoke can lead to hair loss and premature graying. So much for smoking making you look cool… It does make you look older though.

Will Hair Loss From Smoking Grow Back?

While hair loss from smoking is not a myth, it has been difficult for scientists and hair restoration specialists to address because it can cause hair loss in many different ways. If you are having all-over hair loss, you may simply have upset the delicate balance of nutrients that your hair needs and knocked it out of its normal cycle of loss and regrowth. In that case, hair regrowth could begin as soon as three to six months after stopping smoking.

But hair loss might also be caused by damage from the free radicals, and that stress oxidation requires a much different treatment approach. Finally, as we discussed, some smokers simply see age-related alopecia start at a much younger age. In that case, since the body has just responded earlier than usual to something it would have done anyway, the hair is unlikely to grow back. In this case, you may need a transplant to restore the area.

Since smoking can create more negative outcomes in hair transplants, smoking cessation before starting a hair loss restoration process is a good idea. Because it helps your overall health, it will also facilitate good recovery.

Reef Hair Has Solutions for All of Your Hair Loss Concerns

No matter what kind of hair loss you are experiencing, Reef Hair can help you find a solution. Our dedicated team will work with you to find the treatment options that best suit your specific needs surrounding your hair loss and thinning. Call us today to get started looking better!

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What Ethnicity Loses Hair the Most?

It has been shown in studies that the average onset of graying varies across race. Caucasians generally start going gray sometime in their mid-30s, Asians in their later 30s, and Black people in their mid-40s.

There is also a difference in the type of damage the hair suffers as Asians and whites usually see it occurring to the hair shaft while in Black people the damage is usually closer to the hair’s roots. Of the various ethnicities, Caucasians have the highest rates of hair loss while Native Americans have the lowest.

Is Hair Loss Common in Black Women?

When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Academy Awards for making a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair loss, it not only made the news across the country but it also opened the larger conversation about alopecia in black women. It is not a small issue, a survey of black women made in 2016 noted that 47.6% of the those surveyed were afflicted with alopecia.

While genetics plays a factor, many traditional styling practices for ethnic hair also contribute to the issue. Tight weaves, dreadlocks, straightening with heat, and other common styles contribute to traction alopecia, which occurs when a continuous pulling force is applied to the hair roots – as happens with tight braids, extensions, and many other common hair styles. It is most commonly encountered in Black women with tight and curly spiral hair. On the good side it is preventable and can usually be reversed.

Another form of alopecia that black women are particularly susceptible to is Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA) which is a type of scarring alopecia resulting in permanent hair loss. It is the most common form of scarring hair loss seen in Black women. Early professional treatment is vital in these cases as there is a chance of reversing the hair loss if caught early before scarring makes it permanent.

Reef Hair – Your Hair Preservation and Restoration Resource

At Reef Hair, we offer an array of treatment options for people of all races and ethnicities suffering from hair loss. Our individualized approach will ensure that we develop a treatment plan that addresses your specific issues and needs.

Modern advances have provided a vast array of effective, non-invasive treatments for hair loss that can arrest or, in some cases, reverse hair loss. Whether the cause is genetic or otherwise, Reef Hair has the tools and experience to get you back on the road to a full, luxurious head of hair. Set up an appointment today and let’s begin your hair replacement journey!

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What Autoimmune Disease Affects the Scalp?

Scalp psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes the scalp to produce new skin cells at roughly ten times the normal rate. That creates thick patches of skin potentially leading to alopecia, a.k.a. hair loss.

What Autoimmune Diseases Can Cause Hair Loss?

In addition to scalp psoriasis, alopecia areata causes the immune system to attack the hair follicles… which causes hair loss. This particular condition affects approximately two percent of the population and causes patchy and sometimes complete loss of hair.

Crohn’s disease is a variety of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causing chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. While usually linked to physical pain, weight loss, extreme diarrhea, and malnutrition… it is becoming increasingly linked to hair loss. A 2021 research review is one of a growing body of work suggesting this connection.

Hashimoto’s disease is another autoimmune disease, this one affecting the thyroid and its ability to regulate the body’s physiological functions. Hair loss is only one presenting symptom – along with fatigue, temperature sensitivity, constipation, and many other unpleasant symptoms.

Lupus is an autoimmune condition that attacks the skin, joints, and internal organs. Hair loss is a common symptom – as well as a common side effect of the medications used to treat it. 

Is Autoimmune Hair Loss Reversible?

That all depends on the severity of the disease. Many cases can be treated with medications or other methodologies. But extreme cases may fail to respond to treatment.

In addition, research is always developing new methodologies and more advanced treatments. In fact, new advances are being made specifically in the arena of autoimmune disease based hair loss at MIT, where they are experimenting with a microneedle patch that can teach T cells not to attack hair follicles.

Contact Us Today and Begin Your Journey Back to a Full Head of Hair

Reef Hair offers a wide array of treatments and transplantation options for those suffering autoimmune disorder driven hair loss. From non-invasive products and procedures for milder cases, to robot assisted ARTAS® and NeoGraft® hair transplant procedures (as well as manual FUE and FUT transplants for the more severe cases), we have both the tools and the experience needed to give you the best possible results. Contact us today for a full hair and scalp analysis, and let’s start planning your roadmap to a restored hairline!

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What Causes Anagen Effluvium?

One of the most persistent images associated with cancer treatment is hair loss. Anagen effluvium as a direct result of chemotherapy treatments is often referred to as chemotherapy-induced alopecia. This is especially true for those treatments that are high dose or that employ alkylating agents.

Some of the chemotherapy drugs shown to have a direct relation to hair loss include (but are not limited to): 

• Bleomycin,
• Dactinomycin,
• Daunorubicin,
• Doxorubicin,
• Cyclophosphamide,
• and high-dose Methotrexate.

Other medications (such as colchicine) and poisons (such as thallium and arsenic) can also be responsible for anagen effluvium. This is due to them causing the same kind of chemical damage to the hair and follicles.

What Does Anagen Effluvium Look Like?

Usually beginning within a few days or weeks of starting chemotherapy treatments, anagen effluvium presents at first as diffused shedding of the hair. While the severity of the case varies from person to person, it is common for the patient to have complete hair loss within the first few months of chemotherapy. The diffuse shedding that anagen effluvium presents is visually quite similar to that presented by telogen effluvium.

However, when considering anagen effluvium vs telogen effluvium, there are fundamental differences between the two. Anagen effluvium is caused by chemical damage to the hair shaft. Meanwhile, telogen effluvium is caused by physical or emotional stresses disrupting the growth cycle. As a result, it is not uncommon to encounter overlapping cases of telogen effluvium and anagen effluvium, since chemotherapy causes significant emotional and physical stress.

Does Hair Grow Back After Anagen Effluvium?

While hair loss from chemotherapy is inevitable, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The majority of anagen effluvium cases are reversible. In the majority of cases, the hair will grow back once the course of chemotherapy ends.

Reef Hair Helps You Manage Telogen Effluvium

At Reef Hair, you have options when it comes to hair preservation and replacement. Whether your problem is derived from anagen effluvium or another type of hair loss we can diagnose and develop a customized treatment plan geared to your specific needs. Set up a consultation today and let’s begin your journey toward a restored and vibrant head of hair!

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As we get older, our hair – along with the rest of our body – also experiences changes. It can thin, fall out, change color, or even change texture in some cases. Understanding why and how to manage our hair as it changes along with us can help us navigate the stress of “aging gracefully.”

Why Does Aging Cause Hair Loss?

As we age, the size of your hair follicles naturally begins to shrink… or stop producing altogether. Your body will produce less sebum (the body’s natural oil) which helps hair appear shiny, soft, and smooth. Also, the anagen phase – the growth phase of the hair cycle – will shorten. All this combines to give hair a thinner and more sparse appearance.

Can I Stop Hair Thinning As I Age?

In the same way it is impossible to stop all the sand as it falls through the hourglass, so too is it impossible to stop all the signs of aging. But there are things you can do to mitigate the effects of aging on your hair. You can start by maintaining a balanced diet and talking with your healthcare provider to see if taking vitamin supplements might be the right path for you.

Maintaining the health of your scalp is important, and part of that is learning and understanding the specific needs of your hair type. For example, if you have straight or wavy hair it may have a tendency to become oily and washing your hair too often can cause the scalp to overproduce oils.

Can Hereditary Hair Loss Be Reversed?

While the effects of genetics can’t be completely reversed, the condition can be managed… and the progression can be slowed. In addition to diet and possible medication, hair transplants can also be an option to help people regain a fuller head of hair.

What Age Does Hair Start Thinning?

Most people start experiencing some thinning in their 30s. Some even start seeing hair loss as early as their late teens. This can depend on many factors, but is primarily affected by your genetics, lifestyle, and health. More noticeable thinning tends to happen in your 50s and 60s.

What Causes Hair Loss in Elderly Women?

The most common genetic condition for hair loss in women is androgenic alopecia, or female-pattern hair loss. Women in their 40s and 50s might begin to notice their hair part widening. They can inherit the genes from either of their parents and the hormonal shifts that happen during menopause can jump-start the condition.

Experiencing Hair Changes? Contact Reef Hair Today.

Aging happens… but looking old doesn’t have to! If you are experiencing changes to your hairline or hair volume as you age, contact the professionals at Reef Hair. Our team offers a full range of hair restoration treatments for hair loss and thinning. We offer minimally invasive device assisted ARTAS® and NeoGraft® hair replacement procedures, in addition to classic manual transplants.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation for a full hair and scalp analysis, and discuss potential treatments to help you achieve the hairline you desire!

The post Hair Loss And Aging first appeared on Reefhairca.

What Is the Best Supplement for Hair Health?

There are a few supplements that have a documented impact on the health of your hair.

• Vitamin B7, more commonly known as Biotin, is frequently taken to promote and support hair growth.
• Vitamin B complex supplements contain all eight B vitamins, including pantothenic acid, which is good for the scalp.
• Vitamin C is used by the body in its production of collagen, as well as in its absorption of iron, both of which are important to hair growth.
• Collagen supplements can prove quite effective. The most abundant protein in your body, collagen is the main building block for skin, muscles, bones, and other connective tissues as well as for your hair and nails.
• Zinc is a trace mineral that is important for maintaining hair and scalp health.

Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in supplements that contain fish oil. Considered to be a critical component of health at the cellular level, it is believed to be especially conducive to scalp and hair health.

What Vitamin Am I Deficient in If My Hair Is Falling Out?

A number of vitamin deficiencies can affect hair health, and it is not necessarily as simple as taking more. For example, an overabundance of some vitamins and minerals – such as vitamin A and the mineral selenium – can cause hair loss while deficiencies in iron and protein can contribute to hair thinning.

Is Zinc Good for Your Hair?

Zinc is a trace mineral that supports general healthy cell function. Deficiencies in zinc are rare, but it has been demonstrated to be associated with alopecia. However, the research so far on whether fixing the deficiency can have an impact on hair loss is mixed.

Can Too Much Zinc Cause Hair Loss?

When it comes to zinc, trace amounts are best. Just as too little can contribute to hair thinning, an excess of zinc can impede absorption and utilization of other minerals essential to overall health – including copper and iron. Copper deficiencies can lead to hair strands becoming brittle and easily broken, leading to hair loss.

Reef Hair, Bespoke Solutions To Hair Thinning and Loss

Whether your situation calls for dietary supplements or more involved treatments, Reef Hair has a wide variety of non-invasive treatments to bring to the table in addition to our hair transplant methodologies. Contact us today to arrange a consultation and let us get you back on the road to a full and healthy head of hair!

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Whatever the reason, medical tourism is a global, multibillion-dollar phenomenon that is projected to drastically increase over the next ten years. In fact, it has become so common that the American Medical Association has issued guidance for doctors whose patients have received medical care like this. Why? Because often patients who engage in medical tourism need follow-up care at home… especially if something went wrong.

As rocketing healthcare costs stateside cause more people to embrace medical tourism, the pros and cons bear examination. For those considering medical tourism for hair restoration procedures, the advantages are obvious – cheaper care, the ability to combine it with an overseas vacation, and so on. When making a decision of this magnitude, one should look at more than just the obvious.

What Risks Are Associated With Medical Tourism?

The most important concern about medical tourism is the inconsistent quality of the medical care. While there are accredited providers, many are not. Without accreditation you have no real guarantee that the staff and facility adhere to basic safety standards… or that they have the training and equipment needed to properly perform the procedures offered.

For that matter, what do you know about any accreditations they cite? Here in the U.S., you will recognize accreditations your doctor may display. But do you know if the ones listed by a doctor overseas are legitimate or something that sounds impressive but means nothing? It takes research.

With hair restoration procedures, this brings up a variety of questions about the quality of care you will receive and its final outcome. Do they overharvest follicles? Are their hairline designs of good quality and natural looking? What if I have an aftercare issue? When traveling abroad, your options are much more limited should complications arise. Infections, the need for further surgery to correct unsatisfactory results, and other issues are a legitimate concern.

In this information-driven age it is also vital to be aware that HIPAA privacy laws only apply in the United States. There are no such guarantees protecting your health and payment data when engaging in medical tourism. Another consideration is distance. If you have follow-up appointments you will have to stay in that country, fly back for them, or miss them entirely.

What Are the Ethical Issues Associated With Medical Tourism?

Going to another country for medical care means that you will be subject to that country’s laws while there. Many countries do not have malpractice insurance and getting traction with a legal action (should one be required) may also be problematic… especially for a non-citizen.

A more general concern from an ethical standpoint is the effect it can have on policy and healthcare in the host nation. An influx of money from wealthy medical tourists can help to enhance and expand the disparity between the care they receive and the care the vastly less affluent general population receive.

Reef Hair, Great Results With No Travel Required

While worth considering and researching, there are often options stateside that can provide comparable results without breaking the bank or requiring international travel, Before considering a flight out of the country for treatment, contact us to schedule a consultation for your hair and scalp analysis. You will find that Reef Hair can get you back on the road to a full, thick, and healthy hairline!

The post What You Need to Know About Medical Tourism for Hair Restoration first appeared on Reefhairca.

Our state of mind and mental health affect every part of our bodies. Those who experience stress, anxiety, or other psychological conditions are more likely to experience physical symptoms and side effects than those with higher levels of mental wellbeing. This even extends to the health of our hair. As Mental Health Awareness Month approaches, it’s a good time to examine the connection between mental health and hair loss.

Can Your Mental Health Affect Your Hair?

Your mental health has a significant impact on the health of your hair. Stress, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD, OCD, and other psychological issues can contribute to excess shedding or permanent hair loss. As well as possibly triggering behaviors that have a negative effect on your hair.

In turn, hair loss – whether from mental health issues or some other cause – can lead to stress, anxiety, and decreased self-esteem. This creates a vicious cycle of counterproductive emotional and physical reactions that wreak havoc on your scalp.

Can Stress and Anxiety Damage Your Hair?

Stress and anxiety are primary causes of telogen effluvium – a type of excess shedding occurring when the hair’s growth cycle is disrupted by physical or emotional stressors. In telogen effluvium, larger than usual numbers of follicles are pushed into their resting phase. With increased shedding and slower regrowth, one’s hair appears significantly thinner. 

Mental illness, anxiety, and stress are also triggers for alopecia areata and other autoimmune responses that cause hair loss. Autoimmune hair loss occurs when the immune system attacks the hair follicles, resulting in excess hair fall and bald patches on the scalp or elsewhere on the body.

Stress may also cause individuals to develop behaviors that are detrimental to their hair and scalp. The most obvious of these is failing to care for one’s health. Inadequate sleep, lack of exercise, and poor diet multiply the effects of telogen effluvium and other types of stress-related hair loss. Stress may even cause sufferers to literally pull out their hair. Trichotillomania is a condition where an individual nervously pulls on a section of hair on their head, eyebrows, or other location on the body. If left unaddressed, it can cause permanent bald spots in the affected area.

Can Depression Mess with Your Hair?

Depression hair loss is similar to that of stress and anxiety. It may trigger telogen effluvium, hair-related autoimmune issues, and negative or hair-damaging behaviors. Additionally, some antidepressant medications have been implicated in excessive hair shedding and slow regrowth. Both selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications and bupropion may cause or worsen telogen effluvium.

At Reef Hair, We Care for Your Hair While You Focus on Your Mental Health

Fortunately, many types of mental health related hair loss will grow back if you maintain a healthy lifestyle and address the root cause of the issue. This process can take months, but in the meantime, there are steps you can take to preserve your hair and stimulate its growth.

While you focus on your mental health, Reef Hair can protect your hair and maximize its growth with minimally invasive procedures like platelet rich plasma therapy and other hair preservation or replacement options. To learn how you can get slow or reverse hair loss and get a thicker, fuller head of hair… contact us today to set up a consultation. We look forward to guiding you on your hair replacement journey.

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Telogen effluvium occurs when a physical or emotional stressor disrupts the hair’s growth cycle, forcing too many follicles into their non-productive resting phase. This results in hair loss in excess of the 50-100 strands an average person sheds each day.

What Does Telogen Effluvium Look Like?

Telogen effluvium appears as diffuse hair shedding across the entire scalp, particularly on the top of the head. Your hair may look less dense overall, and you may notice a widening of your part.

While your hair loss may not be obvious to others, you might find a larger than normal number of hairs in your brush or comb, on your pillowcase, or in your tub or shower. This can be especially noticeable if you have long, dark, or curly hair.

What Causes Telogen Effluvium?

Some common telogen effluvium causes include psychological stress, weight loss, physical injury, illness (especially with a high fever), childbirth, surgery, dietary or hormonal changes, nutrient deficiencies, and certain medications. In up to a third of telogen effluvium cases, no cause can be determined. This is due in part to the delayed nature of this type of hair loss. Hairs typically shed two to four months after entering their telogen (resting) phase. So, excess telogen hair loss may happen several months after the triggering event occurred. 

How Long Does Telogen Effluvium Last?

Fortunately, telogen effluvium typically resolves in six months or less. Afterwards, most hair strands begin growing again. In some cases – particularly in the case of prolonged stress or illness – telogen effluvium hair loss can last for years.

Does Biotin Help with Telogen Effluvium?

While there is no magic-bullet food or supplement to immediately reverse telogen effluvium, there are a number of nutrients that may lessen its impact and aid in healthier regrowth. The optimal telogen effluvium diet will include healthy proteins; amino acids like lysine, L-cystine, and L-methionine; B vitamins, particularly B7 (biotin), and minerals like iron, zinc, and selenium.

Do Telogen Effluvium Hairs Grow Back?

Hair lost to telogen effluvium usually grows back over time… especially after the triggering stressor is removed. In the meantime, we offer our clients suffering from telogen effluvium treatments like platelet rich plasma therapy to preserve existing hair and to accelerate regrowth. If sufficient regrowth cannot be achieved, we can fill in sparse areas with scalp micropigmentation or replace hair with ARTAS® or NeoGraft® transplantation procedures.

Reef Hair Helps You Manage Telogen Effluvium

Reef Hair offers a wide variety of hair preservation and replacement options to manage telogen effluvium and other types of hair loss. Set up a consultation today to learn more about how you can get the thicker, fuller head of hair you desire. We look forward to guiding you through your hair replacement journey!

The post What Is Telogen Effluvium? first appeared on Reefhairca.