Do hair gel and hairspray promote hair loss? The realities and myths to take into account

And it is a topic that is hardly talked about, but more and more women suffer from this disorder associated with seasonal changes, genetic inheritance, hormonal factors or the weakening of hair that occurs with age. Added to these are external factors such as stress, having an unbalanced diet or the consumption of tobacco or alcohol, which means that current estimates indicate that up to 30% of the female population suffers from some type of alopecia throughout their lives.

“Currently, there are at least 20% of women between 30 and 40 years old who suffer from androgenic alopecia, the most common cause of hair loss among women, of hormonal and sometimes hereditary origin. This type of alopecia is suffered to a greater extent in adolescence, between 15 and 25 years old, as well as in postmenopausal ages, between 50 and 55 years old,” explains the medical director of Hospital Capilar, Carlos Gómez.

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Some of the causes that influence hair loss among young women are severe hormonal imbalances, the appearance of anemia and, as a consequence, a lack of iron, or genetic capital, a determining factor when it comes to the hair health of each person and that also intervenes in the color, texture and thickness of the hair. However, almost the entire female population is usually affected by the phenomenon of thinning and volume produced by the passing of the years, in which the hair loses density and becomes less bushy to the touch.

“Genetics plays a fundamental role in hair loss. Thus, in some types of alopecia such as areata, there is a family history in approximately 10 or 20% of patients, while, in frontal fibrosing alopecia, there is a predisposition genetics in up to 8% of cases,” emphasizes the expert.

Although there are different factors that contribute equally to hair loss, the specialists at the hair medicine clinic highlight some topics and myths that also exist around female alopecia that should be discerned:

Solar overexposure. There are studies that defend that abusing UVA rays can accelerate androgenic alopecia, however, not using a sunscreen to protect the skin of the scalp will be the real trigger that can favor this loss, since it will contribute to the hair fibers becoming damaged. become more fragile, burn and dehydrate.

The abuse of dyes and lacquers. Using elements such as gels, dyes or hairsprays will not influence hair loss, although it will affect its quality, making it thinner, causing breakage and damaging its structure, if its use is very continuous. “For their part, very tight ponytails can cause the so-called tractional alopecia, which usually affects the temporal and frontal areas of the scalp,” they point out.

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Use of hats and caps. There is no evidence to confirm that the use of these accessories contributes in any way to hair loss, since the follicle does not receive oxygen from the outside, but rather through the bloodstream. Therefore, the use of helmets or caps only affects the aesthetic appearance and not the development of the hair, and experts even recommend their use during the summer months to protect our hair from the negative effects of the sun.

Wash the hair every day. The frequency with which hair should be washed depends on situations such as the individual situations of each person, such as their oil production or physical activity, but it has no direct relationship with the presence of alopecia. However, the characteristics of the shampoo used will be decisive, as it is a hair cosmetic that can damage the skin of the scalp or the hair shaft. “The hair products we use do not have to directly influence hair loss, although they can contribute to it if we do not have adequate hair health with the appropriate cosmetics,” emphasizes the doctor.

Oily hair is more prone to falling out. Excess oil in the hair does not have to cause hair loss problems, although it does affect its oxygenation; so it can make you weaker by reducing the supply of oxygen and nutrients. Therefore, the scalp must be cared for with specific products and an adequate diet, in order to keep it free of itching, dandruff or excess oil.

Cut your hair often. Cutting your hair frequently will not make it grow faster or stronger, since cutting does not act on the root of the follicle and, therefore, does not alter the biologically determined growth rate. However, it will contribute to improving its appearance and quality and will protect it from the different external aggressions that tend to cause split ends.