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Where Did Your Hair Go, Part 2
Part 2
How does stress impact hair loss?
When the body experiences stress caused by a traumatic experience, nutritional deficiency, or illness, the rate of hair loss can increase. An example of this occurred in a man whose four-year-old child died. Within just a few months, he lost all but the permanent wreath of hair around his head.
Women's hair seems to be more sensitive to the effects of stress than men's hair. This may be because women with a genetic predisposition towards hair loss usually have a higher percentage of fragile miniaturized hair.
It is important to note that stress generally causes the type of hair loss referred to as telogen effluvium. This is very different from androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness). Telogen effluvium is the reversible shedding of hair in the resting phase when the body senses that it needs to divert its energies elsewhere. Therefore, stress temporarily changes the amount of hair that is shed, but the lost hair is likely to grow back.
Does lack of blood supply cause hair loss?
Some assert that a lack of blood supply contributes to hair loss. Bald skin gradually loses some of its blood supply and, consequently, it becomes thin and shiny. These changes, however, are secondary to the loss of hair.
Hair follicles are one of the most rapidly metabolizing tissues in the body; their high metabolic rate demands an excellent blood supply to carry oxygen and other nutrients to the cells. If the blood supply diminishes, the follicle cells wither and die.
Growing hair requires the proper nutrition that comes with a good blood supply. When hair follicles are transplanted into skin grafts or scar tissue, both of which have a relatively poor blood supply, the presence of the grafted hair causes the local blood supply to increase.
Does lack of air circulation to the head cause hair loss?
No. Folklore says that men who constantly wear hats are more likely to become bald, as hats prevent air from circulating to the head. Hair follicles get their oxygen through the bloodstream, rather than from ambient air. Factors that affect only the exposed part of the hair do not injure the growing portion of the hair root.
One exception to this is that constant traction on hair follicles, such as from the continuous wearing of “cornrows” or very tight braids, can cause permanent hair loss. This condition is called traction alopecia and is distinct from androgenetic alopecia.
Do hair styling treatments cause hair loss?
Many people change the appearance of their hair by using chemical treatments like dyes, tints, bleaches, straighteners, relaxers, and permanent weaves. Hair can break if the solution is left on too long, if two procedures are done on the same day, or if bleach is applied to previously bleached hair.
Some chemical relaxers do contain powerful chemicals and there have been instances of people getting chemical burns from these products resulting in permanent hair loss.
