Myths About Men's Hair Loss
There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding hair loss. Let’s separate fact from fiction.
THE HAIR LOSS GENE COMES FROM YOUR MOTHER’S SIDE
FALSE
Hereditary hair loss can be passed on by either parent, although it’s true that the strongest influence is on the maternal side. The pattern of inheritance is complex, but if hair loss runs on either side of the family, it is likely that you too will be affected.
MEN’S ROGAINE® CONTAINS THE ONLY OVER-THE-COUNTER ACTIVE INGREDIENT CLINICALLY PROVEN TO REGROW HAIR
TRUE
Men’s ROGAINE® contains Minoxidil, which originally showed signs of its ability to regrow hair when studied for other indications in the 1980s. To this day, Minoxidil is the only clinically-proven, over-the-counter treatment for hair loss.
WASHING YOUR HAIR TOO OFTEN CAN CAUSE HAIR LOSS
FALSE
Frequent shampooing has no effect, positive or negative, on hereditary hair loss. But it is important to take good care of the hair you have.
USING HAIR DYE CAN CAUSE HAIR LOSS
FALSE
Many hair treatments, such as bleaching and colouring, can be hard on your hair. If the treatments are too strong, they can even cause the hair to break off near the scalp, but no treatments will cause hereditary hair loss.
BLOW DRYING CAN CAUSE HAIR LOSS
FALSE
Hair dryers can burn and damage hairs, but don’t cause hair loss. If you're suffering from hereditary hair loss though, the new hairs replacing the damaged ones are often thinner and less visible.
THE AVERAGE PERSON LOSES 50-100 HAIRS A DAY
TRUE
This is true for people who don't have male pattern baldness, and the hairs that fall out will soon be replaced by new ones. However, if you're suffering from hereditary hair loss, those hairs often come from follicles that are shrinking. This can cause new hairs to grow back thinner and thinner, until eventually those follicles no longer produce any new hairs at all.
YOU CAN INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FOLLICLES ON YOUR SCALP BY USING MEDICATION
FALSE
There is currently no drug on the market that will alter the quantity of hair follicles on your head. The number of hair follicles you have now is the same amount you were born with — it's hereditary. ROGAINE® doesn’t change follicle quantity, but it can revitalize your existing follicles to stimulate more hair growth.
CUTTING OR SHAVING YOUR HAIR WILL MAKE IT GROW BACK THICKER AND FASTER
FALSE
Hair grows at an average rate of half an inch a month. Each hair shaft is slightly thicker at its base compared to its tip, so hair can appear thicker for about a week after it’s been cut. However, cutting hair has absolutely no effect on each hair's thickness or the number of hairs that will sprout from the follicles.
BALD MEN ARE MORE VIRILE
FALSE
There is no scientific basis for the belief that baldness makes you more virile than a man with a full head of hair.
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