Does excess sweating cause hair loss?
If weather reports are to be believed the UK is due for another heatwave. While we are rejoicing at the welcome return of summer, we're not looking forward to the inevitable sweatiness that is likely to ensue.
Sure there are some health benefits to sweating, but the same can't be said about the impact the extra moisture has on your hair and scalp, with experts explaining how excess perspiration can actually lead to hair loss.
In basic terms our sweat contains salt content which is not actually all that good for our hair and scalp and can potentially cause dryness and potential shedding.
But there's a little more to the science of summer hair.
How sweat can cause hair loss
According to experts when we sweat more than normal there is a risk of increased hair loss and this can happen for a number of reasons.
"Firstly, sweat contains lactic acid, which binds to the Keratin in your hair follicles, causing strain to the hair," explains Dr Balwi from Elithair.
"Lactic acid can also cause inflammation, bacteria growth, build up and, in some instances, scalp infections."
Moisture and humidity on the scalp also provide the perfect environment for bacterial or fungal infections which can result in temporary hair loss.
“Another reason why sweat can result in hair loss is because sweat contains minerals like sodium, potassium and magnesium, all of which get left behind on the scalp after the sweat evaporates," Dr Balwi continues. "Salt build-up can cause the hair to feel dry, brittle and prone to breakage."
Dr Balwi says the impact of sweat on overall scalp health is key to the correlation between sweat and hair loss.
"The accumulation of dead skin cells, dirt and bacteria can clog the hair follicles, therefore preventing the growth of healthy hair," he explains. "This is why knowing how to treat your scalp in sweaty conditions is so important."
According to Anabel Kingsley, brand president and trichologist at Philip Kingsley sweating during the summer months, or when exercising can also cause oils to accumulate on your scalp, which can lead to inflammation and irritation.
"You are also more likely to experience scalp conditions, like dandruff, if your scalp is overly oily," she explains. "This is because the yeasts responsible for dandruff thrive in an oily environment."
Thankfully there are a few ways to manage excess sweat during the summer to maintain scalp health and reduce chances of sweat-related hair loss.
How to prevent summer sweat causing hair loss
Care for your scalp
Dr Balwi says it is important to properly clean the scalp to prevent a build-up of lactic acid, sweat and dirt. "This can be done using sulfate-free or purifying shampoos," he explains.
Products with the following ingredients are effective in thoroughly cleaning the scalp:
Tea tree oil: "This has antibacterial and antifungal properties, it is good for keeping the scalp free of irritation and is effective in preventing hair loss," Dr Balwi explains.
Peppermint oil: Dr Balwi says this has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, helping to clean the scalp and promote healthy hair growth. “It is also important to nourish the scalp, especially after using ingredients with stripping agencies which can be found in purifying shampoos," he adds. "Using hair masks or hair oils will help to prevent dryness and stimulate hair growth."
Argan oil: This contains essential fatty acids and antioxidants that promote overall hair health. "It absorbs quickly into the hair shaft, helping to hydrate, nourish and tame frizz," Dr Balwi explains.
Vitamin E: This helps to moisturise the hair and scalp, preventing dryness and enhancing shine, it promotes healthy circulation to the scalp, which can stimulate hair growth. "It also has antioxidant properties that help to protect the hair from environmental damage and free radicals, which can cause dullness and breakage," Dr Balwi adds.
Stay Hydrated
Dr Balwi says it is important to drink lots of water to maintain a good balance between sweat and natural oils on your scalp.
Protect your scalp
Avoid colouring your hair. “If you have a sweaty scalp you should avoid adding any excess damage caused by bleach or colouring your hair," Dr Balwi explains.
Change your pillowcase
Cleaning your bedding regularly can help to prevent a sweat build-up as bacteria and minerals caused by sweat can linger on your pillowcase.
“Swapping to a silk pillowcase is another good way to improve hair health as silk is less harsh on the hair and does not absorb the hair's natural oils," Dr Balwi adds.
How often should you wash your hair during the summer?
Whilst it is tempting to wash your hair more frequently during the summer due to increased sweating, Dr Balwi says it is important to strike a balance between cleaning your scalp to avoid any build-up, and not stripping your hair of its natural oils.
"Therefore, you should not wash your hair any more than 2-3 times a week," he explains.
If you want to wash your hair more than that, he recommends rinsing the hair without using shampoo to help freshen it up without over-washing.
"Shampooing the hair too often can dry out the hair," he adds.
Other factors that can increase hair loss
As well as sweating from exercise, other factors can also increase the oiliness of your scalp, such as being stressed, during menstruation etc.
"During these times, make sure to shampoo more frequently and keep the scalp as clean as possible, reducing build up," Kingsley recommends.
"Focusing on your scalp (shampoo twice) can also help to reduce the oil build up and therefore improve hair health and reduce hair loss," she adds.
Having a flaky or itchy scalp can contribute to hair loss, so Kingsley says it is important to keep your scalp clean, which can be done by cleansing regularly with targeting products.
"I recommend our Flaky/Itchy Shampoo and Conditioner range," she adds.
Read more about health and wellness:
How to stay safe in high heat and dry weather (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
People who drink more water are happier, here's why (Yahoo Life UK, 2-min read)
How and when to replenish electrolytes as UK weather heats up (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
