Myths and facts about hair

In the culture of commercialism, it is sometimes difficult to know what is good for our health. PHOTO| FILE| NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Hair health is an area that is tainted with misconceptions that can sometimes cause us needless sleepless nights.

By DR MUKUHI NG’ANG’A
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Facts

Crash diets are unhealthy for your hair

With the new year, many of us have decided that we need to get into shape. Although that is commendable, a crash diet is not the way to go. Crash diets are usually extreme diets that guarantee large amounts of weight loss over a short amount of time.

The majority of them essentially starve you to ensure you reach your target goal. It is not unusual to have someone who has been on one of these diets experience hair loss after several weeks/months into the diet plan.

Illness can make you lose hair

Severe illness and physical stress can cause dramatic hair loss. This is known as telogen effluvium. This often grows back when one recovers from the illness. In addition, scalp infections with fungus and bacteria can cause hair around the infected area to fall out.

Hormones can play a role in hair changes

Hair changes (such as loss, appearance of beards/moustaches in women or even greying) can be related to hormonal issues. The most notorious for this are sex and growth hormone imbalances.

Babies who habitually pull out their hair should not be ignored

Some babies are known to perpetually get a hold of their hair and pull it out despite the extreme pain it causes. They often repeat this cycle many times and it is not unusual to find such babies without hair on the sides of their heads.

Most babies outgrow this stage but those who continue this habit into childhood need to be assessed by a child psychologist for underlying mental and emotional dysfunction.

Myths

Using hair chemicals in pregnancy is harmful to the foetus

The unborn baby is protected in the uterus and substances can only reach it if they can enter the placenta and get into the baby’s circulation. Hair chemicals are applied on the scalp and hair and have not been known to cross into the placenta and harm the unborn baby. They are also not known to be associated with birth defects and miscarriages.

Plucking grey hair will cause two or more to grow in its place

This is one of the most common hair myths around. As we age, we naturally get grey hair. However, plucking a single grey hair will not result in getting multiple strands to replace it.

Women don’t go bald

Although going bald is more common in men, it can happen in women as well. This can be due to hormonal changes that occur after menopause, pregnancy/childbirth and due to medication. Hair loss during pregnancy and childbirth is temporary and often goes back to its normal state.

Hats and head scarfs can cause balding

Hair growth is a process that is determined by what goes on in the inside of your body. It is not affected by objects put on the surface of the hair.

Hair loss is caused by clogged skin pores

Clogged skin pores can be a cause of acne but not of baldness. If baldness was simply due to clogged pores, then keeping your scalp clean through regular shampooing would be all that was needed to ensure that you have a full head of hair. (Obviously, this is not the case).

Vitamin supplements can cure baldness

If you are balding, there are no vitamin supplements that have been known to stimulate substantial hair growth that will eliminate your baldness. You also need to be careful about herbal supplements as, currently, few of them are regulated.

Using the right products the only requirement for thicker, longer hair

Most people think healthy-looking hair is all about external factors like the hair products you use. This is what is marketed to us daily.

Although getting the right hair products is crucial, the most important thing when it comes to growing healthy hair is good nutrition. (This concept is clearly illustrated in malnourished children. Regardless of what hair product you use on that child, their quality of hair will not improve until they start eating a healthy, balanced diet).

Dandruff is a sign of dirty hair

Dandruff is a common scalp condition marked by flaking of the skin on your scalp. Dandruff is not harmful to your health and contrary to popular belief, it is not contagious like fungal infections. It can, however, be embarrassing and difficult to get rid of. Most dandruff can, however, be managed by regular shampooing with medicated shampoo).

Babies don’t get scalp/hair problems

Babies can get yellow or brown scaly skin patches on their scalp which can sometimes be a little itchy. This is known as ‘cradle cap’. It normally clears up on its own by the time the baby is 8 to 12 months old.

Try putting mineral or vegetable oil on the baby’s scalp for 5-10 minutes, then washing with a mild baby shampoo.

This article was first published in the Business Daily.