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Does Wearing Hats Make You Lose Hair?

In the book, "Grow Hair and Stop Hair Loss," by Riquette Hofstein, the author explains dozens of steps that an individual can take to keep their hair from falling out. But the cessation of wearing hats is not one of them. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are many factors that contribute to hair loss, including genetics, disease and chemotherapy, but fortunately, men and women do not have to be too concerned about hats.

Although wearing hats does not cause hair loss, hair loss can occur when too much pressure is placed on the scalp. This pressure can be caused by wearing tight pony tails, braids or even hats. This problem is easily preventable by wearing looser hair styles and bigger hats. Anything that is prohibitively tight on the head can cause hair loss to a certain degree.

  1. Hats and Infections

    • Hats can carry infections. If a hat has been worn by someone with a contagious skin disease, an individual can catch the infection and then suffer from hair loss. For example, skin infections such as ringworm can invade the scalp and lead to hair loss. Ringworm of the scalp and lice are two infections that can be passed through hats and are particularly common in children. These types of fungal infections can be passed from person to person; be careful about sharing hats, brushes and other accessories.

    Warning

    • Wearing a hat in warm or hot weather for an extended period of time can increase the production of sebum, a natural oil released from the scalp. When this oil is released in excess, it can cause hair follicles to clog. This interrupts the oxygen flow needed to help hair grow. Excessive sebum clogs can cause hair to fall out.

    Hat Fabrics

    • Certain fabrics tend to be harsher against the hair. For example, wool and cotton have a tendency to catch strands and pull at the hair gently. Although these fabrics should not cause excessive hair loss, women and men can use softer and smoother hat fabrics to prevent hair breakage.

    Benefits

    • Hats can be beneficial for people trying to protect their hair from sun, wind and rain. In these cases, a loose-fitting hat can act as a protective barrier. Sun damage to the scalp can result in hair thinness and balding, and hats are an excellent solution in those cases.

    Hair Loss Treatment

    • New products and medical treatments are available for people with hair loss. The International Society for Stem Cell Research is experimenting with stem-cell injections that can be used for growing hair. Other pills, medications, shampoos and products are available.

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