You might choose to wear hats for various reasons. Although these accessories make you look fashionable, they also conceal baldness. While this solution is convenient and cost effective, it might trigger concerns about the long term effects of head coverings. Is it true that hats cause hair loss or is it just a myth that many believe without evidence? The Advanced Medical Hair Institute provides conclusive answers to this and other hair-related inquiries.
Do Head Coverings Cause Baldness?
The short answer is no. There’s no scientific study that shows a solid correlation between wearing hats and losing hair. The main causes of baldness are genetics, age, alopecia areata, stress, chemotherapy, hormonal imbalance, and harmful hair products. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an androgen that’s produced mainly by male bodies, also contributes to male pattern baldness.
DHT causes hair follicles to shrink when secreted in high levels, which gradually thins your hair. That means you’re likely to lose hair if you’re susceptible to these causes, whether you wear hats or not. You might also have worries about the effect of tight head accessories and their likelihood of causing friction alopecia.
This type of baldness occurs when tight hats damage hair follicles and cause baldness in the affected parts. Fortunately, your hair will grow back when you start wearing better fitting headgear or stop altogether.
Other Hat-Related Hair Loss Concerns
Some people believe wearing hats can cause hair loss by denying your scalp some much needed oxygen. There’s no scientific evidence to support this claim. Although not always caused by head accessories, traction alopecia is a related condition that adversely affects hair follicles. It occurs when your hair gets tightly pulled in a way that puts pressure on the scalp.
Although tight hats rarely pull hair, the force they put on your scalp may have the same effect. The long term results include miniaturized hair follicles and scarring. Ultimately, your hair becomes super fine or stops growing altogether. Other causes of traction alopecia include aggressive brushing or using styling products that pull it excessively.
The dyes, textiles and other materials used in manufacturing hats could also play a role in causing hair loss. An allergic reaction on your scalp could result in inflammation and hair shedding. This condition could speed up the balding process even if it’s caused by hereditary factors.
In rare circumstances, sweating while wearing a hat could also cause discomfort. The salts in sweat can irritate the skin and result in inflammation if you keep wearing the same hat over and over.
The Bottom Line on Hats and Hair Loss
While hats have some downsides, they affect a very tiny margin of wearers. Studies show that they have more advantages than disadvantages. For example, they protect your face and scalp from harmful UV rays which can cause skin cancer. Sometimes you might notice some hairs stuck on your head covering after taking it off. Although it’s cause for concern, it’s not concrete evidence of hair loss. It could be your hair undergoing its normal hair loss cycle.
We advise you to pay us a visit if you still have unease about your hair loss. Dr. Williams will perform a thorough examination to determine the exact cause and recommend the most effective treatment plan. He’ll also give you tips on the best lifestyle habits for healthy hair.
Schedule Your Hair Restoration Appointment
At the Advanced Medical Hair Institute, we have a history of excellence in treating the most challenging hair conditions. They range from non-invasive options to state-of-the-art surgical solutions such as FUT and FUE. Dr. Joseph Williams, our lead surgeon, has extensive skills and experience in this field. In addition to incorporating the latest technology for utmost precision, he’s also a respected member of various industry bodies. His procedures guarantee the most natural looking results. Please schedule a consultation today for more details.
