Hair Loss: Debunking the Myths and Knowing the Facts

Myths about hair loss and balding have existed for thousands of years. For example, Hippocrates—Father of Medicine—thought that baldness could be cured by a mixture containing horseradish and pigeon droppings. As time moved on, the myths continued to grow—although the reasons for their creation changed slightly.

The proliferation of these myths is most likely due to the overwhelming desire to have a simple solution to a complicated problem—particularly one that is within our control. But today, let’s debunk some of these myths and learn what the facts really are.

Myth 1: Hair loss is caused by clogged pores

Clogged pores, while actually a common cause of acne, do not cause baldness. If common baldness were simply due to clogged pores, then rigorous shampooing would be all that was needed to maintain a full head of hair. This is obviously not the case.

Myth 2: Frequent shampooing causes hair to fall out

When people’s hair start to thin, they sometimes think that shampooing is the cause since they notice hair in the tub. To prevent this, they begin to shampoo less often. The hair that would normally come out in the shower now builds up on the scalp. With the next shampoo application, even more hair ends up in the tub only confirming the patient’s suspicion.

Remember, hereditary baldness is not due to hair falling out but rather by normal hair gradually being replaced by finer thinner hairs. The simple solution is to shampoo every day and the frequency of seeing excess hair in the tub will lessen.

Myth 3: Only men suffer from genetic hair loss

Balding is often thought of as a ‘man’s problem’ but the fact is that over 40 percent of women suffer from significant thinning throughout their lifetime.

Myth 4: Hair loss medications only work in the crown

The main benefit of drugs like minoxidil and finasteride is to slow down or halt hair loss rather than to regrow hair. Although initial studies showing the effectiveness of both minoxidil and finasteride were done on the crown, this doesn’t mean that the medications won’t work on other parts of the scalp as well. In fact, the medicines can work wherever there is thinning and baldness—as long as the area is not completely bald.

Myth 5: Hair loss stops when you get older

Once hair loss begins, it tends to progress over a person’s lifetime and never completely stops. However, the rate at which hair will continue to fall out is hard to guess. The younger you are when you start to lose your hair, the more likely you are to become completely bald.

Now you are better prepared to deal with the realities of hair loss and baldness rather than trudge through the myths. If your personal hair loss is too advanced for minoxidil or finasteride to control, you might consider hair restoration surgery.