Seasonal Hair Loss: Causes and Treatments

With the colder climate approaching, there are obviously some health related issues that come along with cooler weather. Although seasonal hair loss may occur during any seasonal change, it is most prominent as the winter months near. Especially if you are in part of the world where you experience drastic seasonal changes, your health and your body can become caught off guard and you may start to notice certain signs that your body was not ready for the blistery weather to come. One of the changes that some people experience as the seasons change is hair loss. If this describes your situation, then do not worry much longer. There are a number of causes and treatments so that you can combat this issue, which may otherwise seem inevitable.

Seasonal Changes/Causes

Dermal adjustment: You may be familiar with the changes that occur on our skin as the seasons change. Whether your skin becomes oilier in the summer or drier in the winter, you understand that the weather affects the texture of our skin. The same goes for the skin on our scalp. As winter approaches, the scalp and hair follicles become drier, which causes more hair to shed.

Clogged Pores: During the summer months, you may tend to sweat more and therefor, the pores on your scalp may become clogged. The clogged follicles may also be another culprit for seasonal hair loss.

Sun/UV over- exposure: Similar to the other skin on your body, the scalp does not react well to UV rays. UV damage is another offender that can cause hair loss.

Lack of sun: On the flip side, the lack of sun exposure, and thus Vitamin D exposure, in the winter months, can be the cause of lack of nutrients absorbed by the scalp. This malnutrition can actually cause hair to fall out in larger clumps.

Rain Rain Go Away: Even the rain can have an affect on hair loss. This is because polluted air can become mixed into the rain drops, which then fall into your hair, stripping some of the important nutrients that keep it healthy.

Symptoms

Everyone’s hair and scalp are different, so some people naturally shed more than others for any given reason. You can decide whether you are experiencing true hair loss if you notice that more hair than usual is coming out or if the pattern is different. So if it is falling out in certain areas or in clumps, rather than evenly throughout your head, this may be real hair loss. Similarly, pay attention to the condition of your scalp and notice if it seems drier or even flakier than usual. And obviously, take note of whether or not this hair loss is occurring as the seasons change, in order to ensure that this is merely seasonal hair loss and not the indication of any other condition.

Treatment/Prevention

Hot Oil Treatment: Many of you may already conduct hot oil treatments on a weekly basis, especially if you have curly or ethnic hair. However, this should be a practice copied by all in order to prevent hair loss. Regardless of the season, this is a good habit to have, but especially in the colder months when the scalp is the driest, doing a hot oil treatment with recommended oils such as Coconut or Jojoba, will work all the better in eliminating hair loss.

Henna: Henna is another great ingredient to try as it works to strengthen brittle roots and those that become even drier in the winter.

Protective Hairstyles: Wearing your hair in a protective style, such as a braid, is also a good idea for hair health in general, but especially from protecting against hair loss. Particularly when  you go to bed, you should get rid of the tight hair elastics and try a loose braid instead. Similarly, protective clothing and objects like hats, scarves and umbrellas can shield your hair from environmental harms.

Stop processing your hair: Similar to the unhealthy aspects of processed foods, processing your hair leaves it stripped of nutrients and unhealthy to say the least. Chemicals and heat are the main offenders, so stay away from harsh dyes, straightening chemicals, and flat irons for a while, especially if you have already begun to notice seasonal hair loss.

Keep in mind that the scalp on your head is skin too, so taking care of it as such, is important. It may be one of the most neglected parts, but remember that keeping it moist and healthy is essential, just as with the rest of the skin on your body. Another thing to bear in mind is the fact that hair loss is a natural part of the hair growth cycle, so unless you truly notice a difference in your hair shedding pattern, you need not worry. Something for everyone to remember is that a healthy scalp is the beginning to healthy hair, so following some of these remedies may be just the answer you need to prevent seasonal hair loss.

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