Hair loss is a very common problem to have for both men and women.

However, due to this very reason, there have been many myths and misconceptions about hair loss, especially on the issue of "what causes hair loss?".

Dr Peter shared on hair loss and how you can get your hair back last week: Patient Mailbox: How to Get My Hair Back

However, there are many unverified clinics and beauty centers also providing hair loss treatments that are not guaranteed to be safe and effective. Many myths about hair loss are also included in the advertisements of these dodgy treatments, so today we shall take a look at some of the common myths of hair loss - so that you stop misunderstanding this condition!

Remember, in any case, it is always safer to consult a verified dermatologist for your hair loss treatment, rather than taking a risk at an unverified clinic or beauty center!

1. Baldness comes from your mother's side: MYTH

This may sound like a superstition, but it is actually a myth that is commonly misunderstood as a fact.

The most common cause for hair loss is genetics, and you can inherit hair loss traits genetically from either or both your parents.

So if your mother's side have people with hair loss problems, that doesn't mean that you will be bald. And vice versa, balding in your father's side doesn't mean that you won't get it!

Besides, there are so many other factors that can come into play other than genetics when it comes to hair loss, like hormones, medication side effects, skin conditions, and nutrition.

However, genetics is still a huge factor. So if anyone in your family have baldness traits, do seek advice from a certified dermatologist sooner rather than later!

2. Stress can cause hair loss: MYTH

Hair fall is normal for everyone, but we usually grow new hair back in time to replace the fallen ones to prevent balding. However, when we go through physical stress, our scalp goes through a "resting phase" that stops hair growth temporarily. During this phase, our hair falls like usual but there is not enough new hair to replace the fallen ones, resulting in the temporary balding effect.

Physical stress like the aftermath of a virus infection or after birth delivery can place severe stress on the scalp and cause temporary hair loss. But unlike permanent baldness like male and female pattern baldness, stress-induced hair loss naturally grow back after about 3 months.

So, no - getting stressed over your love life or your financial situation doesn't make you go bald permanently!

3. Caps can cause hair loss: MYTH

Wearing caps, hats or wigs will not make you go bald. There are only two possibilities in which your cap can make you lose your hair:

1. Your cap is filled with bacteria that causes a skin infection on your scalp

2. You wear your cap so tight (to the point that it is practically unbearable) that you have to pull your hair out to fit the cap

If anything, your cap actually protects your scalp from the UV (ultraviolet) rays of sunlight, rather than causing any balding or hair loss!

4. Hair loss only happens in old age: MYTH

If you thought that you should only worry about hair loss when you're 60, you'd be wrong. While hair loss is much more common in old age, it is entirely possible for anyone to experience hair loss at any age, especially if you have a family history of hair loss problems.

In a general case, the age of 30s is too early to have significant hair loss problems. However, if you find yourself beginning to experience early signs of hair loss, this can be due to family history, meaning that you have the genetic components that cause hair loss.

If you experience hair loss at an early age, do seek advice from a certified dermatologist sooner rather than later!

5. Testosterone causes hair loss: MYTH

This is a common misconception due to many men experiencing hair loss and balding, leading to many linking testosterone, a male hormone, to hair loss.

However, this is not true, and while hormones are indeed linked to hair loss, it is much more complicated than that.

Instead of testosterone, it is actually DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), a byproduct of testosterone, that causes hair loss. And high DHT levels can be present in men with both high testosterone levels or low testosterone levels.

So you're never "too manly" for your hair!

6. Mites cause hair loss: MYTH

Mites will not cause hair loss, unless the mites cause itchiness on our scalp and we scratch our scalp, which would then only cause temporary hair loss which will grow back. But mites in itself won't cause permanent hair loss.

This is a common myth in beauty centres and hair salons, where after a scan of your scalp, they would find that you have mites on your scalp causing your hair loss problems, and proceed to recommend you hair loss packages without any medical procedures. 

However, without treating the exact cause of the condition with proper diagnosis, these treatments wouldn't be effective, especially when they are done on the basis of mites causing your hair loss which isn't a true claim in the first place.

When it comes to hair loss, we always need to find out what the cause of hair loss is first, because the relevant treatment method is highly dependable on the cause. 

We don't want to be just treating the hair loss symptom on the surface, but to treat the hair loss condition based on its root cause.

Therefore, in any case, you should always get your condition checked thoroughly by a certified dermatologist before undergoing any treatments.

We'll be back with the Patient Mailbox series next week, so stay tuned!

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If you’d like to ask more about your skin condition or have a discussion with Dr Peter, you can contact us at +6011-22882299, Whatsapp us, or book an appointment with Dr Peter here!