Among the myriad things that can contribute to hair loss, some are old wives tales and some are accurate. Among many other pieces of “common wisdom” is the idea that sweating can cause hair loss. Is there a tangible connection between exertion induced or night sweats and hair loss?
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!
