Hair Loss: Tips for Managing
Do you have issues with losing your hair? Not sure where to turn? Can a dermatologist really help me with this issue? See below for a few tips from the experts.
- Make an appointment to see a dermatologist. Hair loss can have many causes. The sooner you find the cause, the better your chance of getting results you want. A dermatologist can get to the root of the problem, and in many cases, successfully treat hair loss.
- Wash and condition your hair without traumatizing it. Hair that’s thinning or falling out is fragile and easily damaged. Here’s what dermatologists recommend for their patients who have hair loss:
- Use a gentle shampoo. Some shampoos can strip moisture from your hair.
- Apply a moisturizing conditioner after every shampoo. Conditioner coats your strands, which reduces breakage and split ends.
- Make use of a leave-in conditioner or detangler. Applying this every time after you wash and condition your hair helps to reduce breakage, split ends, and frizz.
- Wrap your hair in a microfiber towel to help it dry faster.This helps reduce blow-drying your hair.
- Stop at-home coloring, perming, chemical straightening, and relaxing. If you want to use these, find a salon that specializes in the service you want and has professionals who know how to examine your scalp and hair in order to find the product most suitable for you.
- Limit your use of curling irons, flat irons, and hot combs, using one only on a special occasion, such as a wedding or job interview. These heat up your hair, which can weaken it.
- Use the lowest heat setting on your blow-dryer. When possible, let your hair dry naturally rather than using a blow-dryer.
- Stop wearing your hair tightly pulled back in a bun, ponytail, pigtails, cornrows, or braids. Frequently wearing a hairstyle that pulls on your hair can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia. In time, anything that pulls on your hair can cause permanent hair loss.
- If you have a habit of twisting your hair around your finger or pulling on it, try to stop. These habits can further weaken already fragile hair, causing more hair loss.
- Brush or comb your hair gently, and only enough to style it. Tugging on your hair while brushing or combing it can lead to hair loss.
- If you smoke, stop. Smoking causes inflammation throughout the body, which can worsen hair loss.
- Eat healthy. If you’re not getting enough of some nutrients, such as iron or protein, this can lead to hair loss.
- Eating too few calories every day can also cause significant hair loss.
- Before taking a supplement to grow your hair, find out whether you’re getting enough of certain vitamins or minerals.
By seeing one of our dermatologists, you can learn ways to help with hair loss.