Does Wearing Hats Contribute to Hair Loss?

  One of the reasons many people have come to believe that hat-wearing is connected to hair loss is because many men who are losing their hair favor hats to hide that fact. They wear the hat because they're losing their hair, not the other way around. Most commonly, hair loss in men is due to a condition called androgenic alopecia, or 'male-pattern baldness". This condition is a result of age, genetics and hormonal changes. It can be seen as early as the teens in some cases, and is usually seen by age 40. It is also important to know that by the age of 35 nearly 40 percent of men (and women) show some degree of hair loss.
      The biggest result of constant hat-wearing is usually the lack of air circulation to the scalp. In summer, or during periods of exertion, the scalp will perspire and the sweat can combine with dirt and the skin cells shed by the scalp to clog the pores and follicles. This can lead to scalp sensitivity and can hinder healthy hair growth. Using a scalp cleansing shampoo (shampoo formulas for oily scalp are also effective) you can clear away the detritus left behind by the day's toil under the hat. Thorough brushing with a natural bristle brush (after shampooing and drying the hair) will also help to clear away dead skin cells and keep the hair's natural oils distributed. Also keep in mind that wearing a hat too tight can cut off circulation to the hair follicles, wearing a hat in itself  does not cause hair to fall out. Instead, hats can contribute positively by blocking the sun and preventing sunburn. Wearing hats  for too long especially in hot and humid climate, however, can contribute to the excretion and accumulation of sebum and oil on your hair. Sebum is a waxy substance that is secreted by the sebaceous glands in your skin onto hair follicles. Overtime, sebum can react with cholesterol to create a hardened sebum plug that cuts off oxygen circulation to the hair follicles and cause it to fall out. Sebum plug can also accumulate dirt and become a breeding ground for bacteria and contributing to hair loss.

Bacteria can grow on the scalp and kill the root. Here again, make sure you keep your hair and hat clean. Cleanliness can give your hair a better chance of staying in and not falling out.
In order to lower the chances of your hat causing your hair to thin or fall out, you should do the following:
- Make sure you wear your hat loose and comfortable. Only wear it tight enough to keep it on your head.
- Make sure to wash your hair often. Keep the hair and roots clean of oil and sebum.
- Wash your hat or headband often. Keeping your hat clean is very important as this will also keep your hair and roots clean
  Again these are some practical suggestions that can be applied to help stop and prevent hair loss and thining hair.
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