Most of the time, probably not. While certain shampoo ingredients may be less than ideal for healthy hair, existing evidence doesn't point to any specific ingredient as a potential cause of hair loss.
Causes of Alopecia Areata
In alopecia areata, the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing inflammation. Researchers do not fully understand what causes the immune attack on hair follicles, but they believe that both genetic and environmental (non-genetic) factors play a role.
Some styling products and hairstyles have been linked to traction alopecia, a type of permanent hair loss. This happens when pulling causes strands of hair to break or fall out, which can lead to permanent damage to hair follicles.
No, washing your hair won't make it worse
"A common myth is that shampooing can affect your hair loss, but this is wrong," says Dr Batter. "You can shampoo as normal, as this won't worsen hair loss."
Woman alleges Johnson & Johnson OGX shampoo can cause hair loss, sues company. The ingredient highlighted by the lawsuit is a preservative commonly used in cosmetic products.
Which Shampoos Should You Avoid? Sulfur. It's important to avoid shampoos that contain sulfur, which could worsen your hair loss. “While sulfur allows shampoos to lather well, it also strips the oils from your scalp, causing your hair to dry out and break," Taub says.
On the AIP elimination diet, you will avoid grains, legumes, nightshades (such as potatoes and peppers), dairy, eggs, coffee, alcohol, sugar, oil and food additives. After a few months, you can work the excluded foods back in one at a time to figure out which foods trigger an inflammatory reaction.
How Many Washes Should You Aim For? While this question truly depends on the nature of your hair and varies from every person, if you have thinning hair, try to wash your hair between 3-4 times a week if necessary; washing thinning hair just 3 to 4 times per week means doing so just about every other day.
In a small study of patients who had complete loss of hair on their scalp or entire body, 57% had complete regrowth with methotrexate. If this medication works for you, you should see some regrowth in about 3 months after you begin taking it. If methotrexate fully regrows your hair, regrowth will take 6 to 12 months.
Alopecia occurs for many different reasons and presents in various ways. It can occur suddenly or develop gradually over time. Sudden-onset causes include illness, diet, medications, and childbirth. Alopecia that has a gradual onset more likely has a genetic component.
Alopecia areata is sometimes triggered by viral infections such as influenza that causes excess production of interferons (IFN). IFN- γ is one of the key factors that lead to the collapse of immune privilege.
In most people, new hair eventually grows back in the affected areas, although this process can take months. Approximately 50 percent of people with mild alopecia areata recover within a year; however, most people will experience more than one episode during their lifetime.
Calcipotriol, a vitamin D analog, has been reported to be topically used in treating alopecia areata with promising results. Combination therapy of vitamin D analogs with corticosteroids might also be used in treating alopecia areata.
There is currently no cure for alopecia areata, although there are some forms of treatment that can be suggested by doctors to help hair re-grow more quickly. The most common form of alopecia areata treatment is the use of corticosteroids, powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that can suppress the immune system.
Alopecia areata is more common among African Americans but less common among Asians, compared with whites, according to a new study involving registry data for more than 11,000 individuals.
How Long does Hair Loss Last? In half of patients with alopecia areata, individual episodes of hair loss last less than one year, and hair grows back without treatment. These patients may experience recurrent episodes of hair loss that spontaneously regrow or respond quickly to treatments.
The results of this study indicate that massage for hair loss with essential oils is an effective treatment for the condition of alopecia areata.
Ways to Stop Alopecia Areata from Spreading or Worsening
Avoiding unnecessary hair or scalp trauma, reducing stress and analyzing your diet are all worthwhile endeavors when attempting to prevent alopecia areata from spreading.
Alopecia areata (AA) occurs when the immune system attacks the hair follicle. Studies have shown a relationship between AA and low vitamin D levels. Vitamin D should be supplemented if levels are low. However, more studies are needed to determine the effect of iron and zinc supplementation on AA patients.
A deficiency in vitamin D can be linked to many different types of autoimmune disease—including alopecia areata. This study found that vitamin D deficiency was a risk factor for developing alopecia areata and that a significant number of patients with this condition had low levels of vitamin D.
Best for Thinning: PURA D'OR Anti-Thinning Biotin Shampoo
PURA D'OR Anti-Thinning Biotin Shampoo is our best pick for people who are experiencing hair thinning because it's clinically proven to reduce hair thinning in eight weeks.
While biotin is added to some shampoos that claim to reduce hair loss, there is no evidence that this works. Consuming foods rich in healthy vitamins and minerals will help with overall hair health.