There hair loss is a problem that affects many people, both men and women. It can be caused by different factors, such as heredity, stress, hormonal changes during or before pregnancy, certain illnesses or drug treatments. And in this situation, washing your hair can become a source of worry.
This is what Dr Samantha Ellis, dermatologist in the United States, explains on her Instagram account @drsamanthaellis. “As a dermatologist who sees a lot of patients with hair loss, one of the things I hear most often is: ‘Dr. Ellis, I’m afraid to take a shower because every time I wash my hair I lose a ton of it‘. And this is what I tell them:
It doesn’t matter if you wash your hair once a day, once a week or once a month, it doesn’t matter. no impact on the amount of hair you lose“reassures the expert. In fact, washing your hair will not accelerate hair loss; the hair that falls out during washing is the one that is already in the process of shedding.
During the day, hair falls out at the roots, but it often gets stuck in the hair. When you take a shower, the water and especially the conditioner make the hair more slippery, allowing stuck hair to come loose. This may give the appearance of massive hair loss, when in reality it is hair that has fallen out over the past few days. SO, “if you are going through a phase of hair loss in your life, wash your hair as much as you want“, concludes the dermatologist.
How to wash your hair when you lose it?
And while it is important to know that washing your hair will not worsen hair loss, know that a regular washing is necessary to keep hair clean and healthy. This allows you to keep a healthy scalp, essential for hair growth. Washing your hair regularly helps remove dirt, oil and dandruff, which can clog hair follicles and harm hair growth.
However, it is important to wash your hair gently, using a gentle shampoo and avoid aggressively rubbing the scalp. Massage it gently with your fingertips and not with the nails and rinse your hair thoroughly to remove any shampoo residue. It is also recommended to dry one’s hair outdoors. Using a hair dryer at high temperatures can damage hair and make it more fragile.
If you are concerned about your hair loss, it is important to consult a dermatologist. The latter will be able to determine the cause of your hair loss and offer you a appropriate treatment.
