How does sweat cause hair loss? Explore the various reasons behind excessive scalp sweating, its impact on hair quality and growth, and effective ways to manage this issue.

The Link Between Sweating and Hair Loss

Sweating is a natural bodily function that helps regulate our temperature, but it can sometimes lead to unwanted consequences, including hair loss. If you live in a hot, humid climate or engage in frequent physical activity, you may have experienced excessive sweating on your scalp, which can have a detrimental effect on the health and growth of your hair.

Factors That Trigger Excessive Scalp Sweating

To understand how sweat can cause hair loss, it’s important to first identify the common reasons behind excessive scalp sweating. The most prevalent factors include:

• Physical exercise and increased body temperature
• High ambient temperatures, particularly during the summer months
• Certain sleeping positions or covers that trap heat
• Hormonal imbalances, such as those experienced during pregnancy or due to medical conditions like thyroid disorders
• Stress, anxiety, and other emotional triggers

The Mechanisms of Sweat-Induced Hair Loss

Now that we’ve covered the main causes of excessive scalp sweating, let’s explore how this can lead to hair loss:

1. Lactic acid buildup: The lactic acid naturally present in sweat can cause inflammation and damage the hair’s texture when left on the scalp for an extended period.
2. Clogged hair follicles: The combination of sweat and sebum can block the hair follicles, hindering hair growth and potentially leading to thinning or shedding.
3. Irritation and scratching: The itchiness and discomfort caused by excessive sweating can prompt people to scratch their scalp, which can further exacerbate hair loss.
4. Dehydration of sweat glands: Prolonged sweating can dehydrate the sweat glands on the scalp, directly impacting hair growth and quality.
5. DHT accumulation: Sweat produced during exercise can contain higher levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can bind to hair follicles and inhibit their growth, contributing to male pattern baldness.

The Damaging Effects of Sweat on Hair Quality

Excessive sweating can not only lead to hair loss but also negatively impact the overall quality and health of your hair:

• Lactic acid can bind to the keratin in your hair, reducing its natural luster and strength.
• Sweat mixed with a flaky scalp can clog hair follicles, depriving them of essential nutrients for growth.
• The accumulation of sweat can create an environment conducive to bacterial and fungal infections on the scalp.
• Inflammation caused by lactic acid can restrict blood flow to the scalp, further compromising hair health.

Strategies to Manage Sweat-Induced Hair Loss

Now that you understand the connection between excessive sweating and hair loss, you can take steps to mitigate this issue:

1. Maintain a clean and hygienic scalp: Wash your hair and scalp thoroughly after strenuous physical activity to remove sweat and prevent buildup.
2. Shampoo regularly: Aim to wash your hair every other day to keep the scalp clean and prevent sweat accumulation.
3. Use anti-inflammatory and antifungal products: Incorporating products with ingredients like salicylic acid or tea tree oil can help reduce scalp irritation and prevent infections.
4. Manage stress and anxiety: Find healthy ways to cope with emotional triggers, as they can contribute to excessive sweating and exacerbate hair loss.
5. Consider medical treatment: If the issue persists or is accompanied by other medical conditions, consult a healthcare professional for personalized guidance and treatment options.

Addressing the Root Cause of Sweat-Related Hair Loss

By understanding the underlying factors that contribute to excessive scalp sweating and its impact on hair health, you can take proactive steps to mitigate this issue and maintain a healthy, vibrant head of hair. Remember, addressing the root cause is key to finding a long-term solution and preventing further hair loss.

Conclusion

Sweat-induced hair loss is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors, from physical activity and environmental conditions to hormonal imbalances and emotional triggers. By addressing the root causes and implementing effective management strategies, you can take control of your hair health and prevent further damage from excessive sweating.

How Does Sweating Cause Hair Loss?

Sweating is a natural phenomenon. Though, it can sometimes lead to unwanted situations like hair loss. If you live in a tropical climate or work out a lot, then you must have experienced excessive sweating on your scalp as well. As surprising as it might sound, scalp sweating hair loss is a real thing, which can be harmful for health and nourishment of your hair. This makes a lot of people wonder, does sweating cause hair loss? There are numerous reasons behind it and one needs to understand the effect of sweat on hair to unravel this problem.

Reasons For Sweat on Hair

In order to understand how sweat causes hair loss, it is important to first understand the reasons for excessive sweating. Ideally, the following factors can trigger excessive scalp sweating and hair loss.

• The most common reason for sweating is working out. When we perform any physically demanding exercise, our body temperature increases. In order to regulate it, we release sweat through all the eccrine glands spread across our body (including the scalp)
• Temperature is also a big factor behind sweating. Majorly in the summers, we sweat more because the surrounding temperature is high and our body needs to cool naturally
• Sometimes, even a sleeping posture can trigger sweating as well. If you wonder why does my hair sweat when I sleep, then you need to monitor your postures. When we sleep on one side for a longer duration or cover our hair, then it can increase our body temperature as well
• Hormones can also have a direct impact on the way we sweat. Some people just sweat more than others. Pregnancy or a drastic lifestyle change can often increase perspiration in our body
• A medical condition like diabetes or thyroid imbalance can also be a reason behind hair sweating problem. It can also be a side effect of a medicine as well
• Last, but most importantly – tension, stress and anxiety could be some major triggers for sweating and are certainly not good for our body as a whole.

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Hair Loss Treatment

How Does Sweat Cause Hair Loss?

Even though perspiration is a natural phenomenon, it can lead to hair thinning and hair loss. In order to further understand how can sweat cause hair loss, consider the following factors-

• One of the major triggers related to sweat hair loss is lactic acid, which is naturally present in our perspiration. If accumulated on the scalp for a long duration, it can cause inflammation and damage the natural texture of our hair
• The combination of sweat and sebum on our scalp can also block our hair pores, which can further boost hair loss
• You must have experienced irritation and itchiness on the scalp after excessive sweating. Needless to say, the more we scratch our scalp, more hair we might end up losing
• When the amount of perspiration is high through the sweat glands present on the scalp, it leads to their dehydration. This can be a direct effect of sweat on hair
• The most important factor that answers sweat and hair loss relation, is the presence of DHT. DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) is an active form of testosterone, which is mostly found in post-workout sweat. It has been observed that DHT can bind with our hair follicles and prevent them from growing naturally. This can further contribute to male pattern baldness as well.

Can Sweat Damage Your Hair?

By now you must have guessed that hair sweating problem is quite complex. Apart from causing hair loss, excessive sweating on the scalp can even damage our hair quality as well.

• The lactic acid present in our sweat can bind with keratin (protein) that is already present in our hair follicles. This can take away the natural lustre and strength of our hair.
• If you have a flaky scalp, then the sweat can mix with it and make your scalp moist. This can block your hair follicles from getting the essential nutrients for hair growth.
• The accumulation of sweat on the scalp can be unhygienic as well. It can get mixed with bacteria on the scalp and might develop into a fungal or bacterial infection.
• The inflammation on the scalp due to the presence of lactic acid can restrict the supply of blood to the scalp and affect the quality of hair. As lactic acid accumulates on the scalp it also makes the hair brittle and weak

Also Read:

What Are The Causes Of Hair Loss In Men & Women

Now when you know how does sweating cause hair loss, you can easily understand how to control sweat in hair as well. After all, it is important to know the relationship between excessive scalp sweating and hair loss to control this problem. Ideally, you can implement these suggestions to learn how to stop sweating in your hair –

• The best way to resolve the hair sweating problem is by keeping your scalp clean and hygienic. Wash your scalp after an extensive workout session and make sure it won’t accumulate sweat. Furthermore, you should shampoo your hair every alternate day to have a clean scalp
• Nourish your hair and scalp with oil every now and then. Besides shampoo, oil is the best way to keep your scalp clean from toxins and unhygienic components.
• You should also brush your hair at least once a week. This will help with the circulation of blood and would further strengthen your hair follicles.
• If you have a hair sweating problem due to hormones or a medical condition, then you can get help from a doctor as well. By taking the right medicines, you can easily regulate the formation of sweat on your body
• Try to follow a deep breathing technique while working out. This will automatically calm your body and reduce perspiration as well.

Treatment of Hair That Is Lost Due To Sweat

There are many specialized treatments that can help you regain and regrow the lost hair. While many advanced procedures help in natural regrowth of hair, one of the procedure is very popular for its sheer safety and efficacy. This is the PRP or platelet-rich plasma treatment. It is a non-surgical and almost painless and therapeutic procedure. The blood from patients own body is extracted and it is then put to double spin process (centrifuge device) to separate the good platelets and plasma from rest of the blood. Then this platelet rich solution is infused with growth rich factors thus PRP is obtained. This PRP is then injected into the problem areas of the scalp which stimulate the dormant hair follicles and help in hair re-growth and regeneration.

There are other surgical treatments like hair transplant, scalp reduction, etc. In Hair transplant, grafts from your scalp are harvested and then sewed back in the scalp to stimulate hair growth. This procedure can be little painful though.

Also Read:

PRP Vs Other Treatments For Hair Fall – Which Is Better?

Prevention of Hair Loss Through Sweating

In order to prevent hair loss due to sweat, you can additionally follow these expert tips –

• Undergo a steam therapy for your scalp. This will let you get rid of dirt, sweat accumulation, and other toxins. It will clean your hair pores and make your hair follicles active as well
• Avoid making buns, ponytails, and the kind of hairstyles that can accumulate sweat and make its natural evaporation harder
• Follow breathing exercises and other practices to calm your senses. This will help you avoid sweating due to stress and anxiety. Avoid work pressure and other triggers that can cause anxiety
• If you are undergoing rapid hair loss due to sweating, then consider getting a dedicated treatment. A biotin treatment can strengthen your hair while a PRP (Platelet-rich Plasma) treatment can boost your hair growth and help you reclaim the lost hairline
• There are also some readily available drugs, serums, and creams that you can use to reduce sweating on the scalp and strengthening your follicles at the same time. You can consult expert dermato-trichologists to know more about these solutions
• Even though workout can be responsible for scalp sweating, it doesn’t mean that you should not exercise. Maintain a healthy and fit lifestyle as it will keep your scalp pores open and active. Just make sure that excessive sweat does not accumulate on your scalp.

There are different ways to get a holistic treatment for scalp suffering with sweat and hair loss. Try to follow the above-stated suggestions to keep your scalp clean and hygienic. If hair loss is a serious issue for you, then you should consult an expert. With the help of experienced cosmetic dermatologists and rigorously trained certified therapists, you can easily get lustrous hair and regain your lost hairline.

Excessive Sweating and Hair Loss

Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, is a condition where you sweat more than is typical based on the external temperature and your own activity levels. If bad enough, it can disrupt your daily activities and cause anxiety or embarrassment. To make matters worse, these overactive sweat glands might also be having an effect on your hair growth.

Does Sweating Cause Hair Loss?

Without proper care and cleaning of your hair and scalp, sweat can lead to hair loss by clogging hair follicles and disrupting hair growth. Sweating is a part of the body’s natural mechanisms and serves an important purpose in regulating body temperature.

Excessive sweating while sleeping – or night sweats – can be a sign of some other illness and typically coincide with other symptoms like fever, loss of appetite, cough, etc.

Is Sweating Good For Hair?

Sweating can unclog hair follicles and lead to hair growth. Sweating can also help to regulate stress and body temperature. But the salt build-up as a result of that sweat can also be harmful to your hair. To put simply, the act of sweating can be good for your hair while the byproduct of sweat – in excessive amounts – can be harmful.

How Often Should I Wash My Hair?

The average person should go two or three days between washing their hair. Though it often depends on the type of hair a person has and their activity level. If your hair is naturally more oily, then it will need to be washed more often… and more dry hair will need less.

Your lifestyle will also make a difference. If your job or various activities expose your hair to a multitude of dust and debris, regardless of hair type, you may need more frequent washing.

Does Washing My Hair Help Hair Growth?

Shampooing your hair (in excess of what your scalp needs) can actually cause dehydration and breakage. Normal washing habits will of course make for a clean and healthy scalp – which will promote hair growth.

On the opposite end, there is also no evidence that dirty hair will grow any faster than a well-kept coif.

Should I Wash My Hair If I Sweat?

As always, it depends on your hair, the amount of sweat, and your personal preference. It is fine to skip the shower after a workout or two. Skipping every now and again may actually be good for scalp health… though if you sweat a lot then it may be time to hit the showers.

It is possible for sweat and oil to build up and create a film on the scalp over time, causing redness and scaling on the scalp. This is called seborrheic dermatitis. If you already have a tendency toward dandruff, then it is likely best to shower after a workout.

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Night sweats may indicate these problems

What causes night sweats?
You may sweat when your room gets warm or you throw on too many blankets. But that’s not what we’re talking about. “Night sweats” refers to recurring profuse sweating in the middle of the night, which can wake you up, and sometimes so badly that you need to change your sheets. This is usually due to a medical problem. Working with it, whatever it is, can make sweating easier.

Overactive thyroid
Increased sweating and sensitivity to heat are prominent symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Your thyroid controls your metabolism, so when it produces too many hormones, your body goes into overload mode. Your body temperature rises, and you may feel more hungry or thirsty, have a faster heart rate or trembling hands, feel tired and out of sorts, have diarrhea, and lose weight.

Low blood sugar
Do you have diabetes? While your blood glucose levels may be normal when you go to bed, they may drop while you sleep. Perhaps you had a very active day, or you played sports in the evening, or you had a late dinner. If you are using insulin or taking sulfonylurea drugs to treat diabetes, this may be the cause of your nocturnal hypoglycemia. When your glucose level is below 140 mg/dL before bed, or you know it might drop in a few hours, have a snack.

Sleep apnea
When you have this condition, you briefly stop breathing again and again during the night. Because your body is not getting oxygen, it can go into fight or flight mode, which causes you to sweat. Every time he needs to start breathing, this also means a surge in the work of your muscles. People who use a CPAP machine to help them breathe at night experience night sweats about as often as those who don’t have sleep apnea.

Acid reflux
It’s not just heartburn and chest pain that can wake you up. GERD hasn’t been studied much as a cause of night sweats, but doctors say there’s a possible link. And treating it can often relieve your night sweats. Eat smaller meals and not before bed. Avoid trigger foods – such as fatty, fried or tomato-based foods. See your doctor if your symptoms are severe or appear more than a couple of times a week.

Lymphoma
Many types of cancer can cause night sweats, but the most common is lymphoma, which starts in parts of your body’s immune system, such as the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, and thymus. About a quarter of people with Hodgkin’s lymphoma have night sweats and a mild fever. They may also feel tired, itchy, and, after drinking alcohol, pain where their tumor is. People with aggressive or advanced non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may also sweat profusely at night.

Medicines
Many medications can cause night sweats, including over-the-counter antipyretics such as acetaminophen and NSAIDs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. The most common suspects are old antidepressants called tricyclics or TCAs, as well as bupropion and venlafaxine, hormone replacement therapy, and steroids such as cortisone and prednisone. Some medications for glaucoma and dry mouth also stimulate your sweat glands. Check with your pharmacist or doctor.

Tuberculosis
About half of all people with this condition experience night sweats. Bacteria usually grow in your lungs. You are likely to have a severe, painful cough with blood and colored mucus (phlegm). You may also feel feverish, tired, weak, and have no appetite.

Alarm
Stress, anxiety, and panic can make you sweat during the day, so it’s no surprise that anxiety can have the same effect at night. Night terrors and sleep terrors are less common in adults than in children, but both can make anyone sweat and heart pounding. Seek help from a counselor, therapist, or your doctor if these disorders continue or cause problems in your life.

HIV
Fever, pain or swollen lymph nodes, and joint pain are more common symptoms after you first become infected with the virus and become HIV-positive, but about 1 in 10 people develop night sweats. People living with HIV who have symptoms such as weight loss and diarrhea may experience night sweats about once a week. They can also be caused by AIDS-related opportunistic infections such as mycobacterium avium (MAC, MAI) and cytomegalovirus.

Tumors
Prostate cancer, kidney cancer, and some tumors in the ovaries and testicles (both cancerous and not) are common examples of what doctors call “solid tumors,” which can cause night sweats. A type of advanced thyroid cancer and pancreatic cancer can also trigger them. Night sweats are a classic symptom of carcinoid syndrome, a rare cancer usually found in your digestive system or lungs.

Menopause
“Hot flashes” before and after your last period can be difficult to distinguish from night sweats. Young women who have had both ovaries removed or who have stopped menstruating due to chemotherapy may also receive them. They are more likely to happen when you are anxious, depressed, or drinking every day. But just because you’re a woman of the right age (usually in your 40s or 50s), don’t assume that your night sweats are related to menopause.

Infection
Infections can cause night sweats. Some infections, such as bacterial endocarditis (infection of the inner lining of your heart and heart valves) and osteomyelitis (bone infections), can cause this. There are other, rarer infections that can also cause night sweats, and your doctor will test you for these based on your risk factors, exposure, and medical history.

Pheochromocytoma
This rare tumor that grows in the adrenal glands is not usually cancerous, but it can cause your body to produce too many hormones that raise your blood pressure and cause night sweats, headaches, and rapid heart rate. Most people with pheochromocytoma are between 20 and 50 years old. You are more likely to get it if you have difficulty controlling your high blood pressure or if you have family members who have had one or a related genetic disorder.

Find relief
Cooler bedroom temperatures and fans to circulate the air can make you feel more comfortable. Use moisture-wicking, quick-drying sheets and pajamas. Avoid synthetic fabrics that do not breathe. If you can’t figure out what’s causing your night sweats, keep a diary to share with your doctor. Ideally, you will be able to treat the cause and not just the symptom.

ENTS specialists have established the impact of COVID-19on the processes of hair loss and sleep apnea

A regular meeting of the HORMONYA Press Club was held at the National Research Center for Endocrinology with the participation of specialists from the Federal State Budgetary Institution National Research Center for Endocrinology of the Ministry of Health of Russia dermatovenereologist, cosmetologist and trichologist and Marina Chernova and an otorhinolaryngologist , phoniatra Ph.D. Edward Vyazmenov.

The subject of conversation was two important topics that are of concern to a large part of the population of our country today – snoring and hair loss after suffering COVID-19.

According to domestic and foreign studies, hair loss after a coronavirus infection is observed in an average of 28% of recovered patients. So, according to the results of observations of 538 covid patients, alopecia (pathological hair loss) was diagnosed in 154 people (12 men and 142 women). Another 112 patients reported their baldness that began after discharge from the hospital, and 42 – directly during hospitalization. It is noteworthy that alopecia was more common in hospitalized patients (31.7%), among outpatients (24.3%) somewhat less frequently. Moreover, the identified trend was more negatively manifested in women (42.3%), while among men this pathology is observed seven times less often (6.2%) (data are given for a cohort of 204 patients with COVID-19in history).

During a discussion with journalists from leading Russian publications on issues related to the detection of hairline disorders and further ways to prevent them, Marina Chernova provided information on the features of hair and scalp damage associated with COVID-19. According to her, the clinical picture at the time of treatment of patients was characterized by the following complaints: acute, highly active hair loss, deterioration in the quality and structure of hair, and a decrease in hair volume. On physical examination, there was diffuse hair thinning of varying severity and a strongly positive hair pull test. In turn, trichoscopy data indicated thinning of the hair shaft, a decrease in the ratio of healthy and telogen (falling out) hair (it reached 25-30% at a rate of 10-15%), as well as the presence of empty follicles over the entire scalp skin surface, without binding to a specific area. In addition, there is a slow growth of new hair during a phototrichogram.

The main treatment of alopecia is systemic therapy (vitamin therapy according to indications), external therapy (topical glucocorticosteroids, topical minoxidil, stimulating lotions), intradermal administration of drugs, PRP therapy, fractional erbium laser treatment, a varied balanced diet, protein intake of at least 1 g / kg per day, compliance with sleep and rest.

Marina Nikolaevna also spoke about a new effective treatment approach, which is widely used in the field of cosmetology and trichology to eliminate the problem of hair loss – laser therapy, specifically – treatment with an erbium fractional laser. It is this therapy, as shown by the clinical experience of the “National Research Center for Endocrinology” of the Ministry of Health of Russia, that is able to stimulate blood circulation, leads to a decrease in scarring of hair follicles, and also contributes to the treatment of existing fibrosis. There is a powerful anti-inflammatory effect of laser therapy and an improvement in the effect of external therapy. As the trichologist Chernova noted, if hair loss has been observed for more than 3 months, then it is necessary to immediately contact specialists for help.

The second important topic of the next meeting of the HORMONY Press Club was devoted to snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. This pathology was analyzed in detail by the otorhinolaryngologist Eduard Vyazmenov.

Recall that snoring (ronchopathy) is a sound phenomenon caused by vibration and beating of the soft tissues of the pharynx against each other during the passage of an air stream. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a condition characterized by snoring, periodic collapse of the upper airways at the level of the pharynx and cessation of pulmonary ventilation with continued respiratory efforts, a decrease in blood oxygen levels, gross fragmentation of sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Apnea is indeed a very dangerous phenomenon, especially in childhood, because it has a significant negative effect on the human nervous system and can lead to chronic sleep deprivation, which manifests itself, for example, in hyperactivity. For an adult, there is a risk of coming to a “life on your feet” when a person chronically does not get enough sleep and consumes large amounts of coffee, which further aggravates the condition of the body.

According to statistics, the prevalence of OSA is 5-7% of the total population over 30 years of age. About 1-2% of this group of people suffer from severe forms of the disease. Of the features of the clinical manifestation of OSAS, there are loud snoring, indications of respiratory arrest, restless, unrefreshing sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, irritability, frequent nighttime urination (more than 60%), nocturnal asthma attacks, decreased libido and potency, night sweats, morning headache ( less frequent 10-60%), enuresis, insomnia, nocturnal cough and gastroesophageal reflux (10%).

According to Eduard Olegovich Vyazmenov, in the presence of the first symptom of the above, an in-depth study is indicated to identify OSAS. The most conservative method of treatment is SIAP therapy (it is necessary to sleep in a special mask, which significantly increases the patient’s discomfort). A more radical treatment is surgical, namely septoplasty, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, pharyngoplasty, lateral pharyngoplasty, tonsillotomy of the lingual tonsil. Such a diverse range of approaches to the surgical solution of the problem allows patients to permanently get rid of snoring.