Who Needs Hair Supplements? What to Check Before Taking Them When your hair seems to be shedding more than usual or becoming thinner, hair supplements may be the first thing you look for. Product descriptions often list nutrients associated with hair health, such as biotin, zinc, and iron. This can make it seem as though taking several ingredients together will give you fuller hair. However, hair supplements are not a solution for every type of hair loss. Hair shedding has many possible causes, including nutritional deficiencies, genetics, childbirth, medical conditions, and medications. Taking supplements without identifying the cause may mean missing the care you actually need. On the other hand, healthcare professionals may recommend supplementation when a specific nutrient deficiency has been confirmed. More useful than advertising photos or testimonials are two questions: Do I have a nutrient deficiency, and what ingredients—and amounts—does this product contain? Supplement...

  How Tight Hairstyles Affect Your Hair Tying your hair back each morning is convenient. It keeps hair out of your face and looks tidy at work, which is why many people prefer ponytails or updos. However, if your scalp throbs or you feel pulling around your temples after letting your hair down, it may be time to reconsider how tightly you tie it. Repeatedly pulling your hair firmly in the same direction can place increasing strain on your scalp and hair. At first, you may notice only seemingly minor changes, such as soreness or short, broken strands. The hairline is particularly easy to check in a mirror, so compare it with how it usually looks. If your scalp hurts or stings after tying your hair, loosen the hair tie and wear your hair down whenever possible. However, reduced hair density is not necessarily caused by your styling habits. Hair loss has many possible causes. If an area looks noticeably sparse or the changes persist, see a dermatologist. The goal is not to avoid all t...

How Can You Tell Whether Your Scalp Is Oily, Dry, or Sensitive—and Should Your Care Routine Differ? If your scalp quickly becomes greasy, feels tight after shampooing, or itches with even mild irritation, you may wonder what scalp type you have. Scalps are commonly described as oily, dry, or sensitive, but these are practical categories for care rather than distinct medical diagnoses. A scalp can produce excess oil while lacking moisture. An oily scalp may become sensitive because of inflammation, and a dry scalp can also have dandruff. Rather than relying on how your scalp feels on one occasion, observe how soon it becomes greasy after washing, the appearance and amount of flaking, and whether redness, stinging, or itching keeps returning. An oily scalp tends to develop greasiness, odor, and clumped strands relatively quickly. A dry scalp is more likely to feel tight and have fine flakes, while the hair may feel dry and rough. A sensitive scalp may develop burning, redness, and itchin...

  If You Are Shedding More Hair Than Usual, Is It Temporary—or the Beginning of Hair Loss? Finding more hair on your pillow in the morning or seeing strands collect in the drain after shampooing can make you worry that hair loss has begun. However, hair naturally sheds and regrows as it cycles through the growth, transition, and resting phases. The American Academy of Dermatology explains that shedding approximately 50–100 hairs a day is generally normal. However, daily hair counts alone cannot determine whether you have a hair loss condition. If you have not washed your hair for several days, accumulated shed hairs may become visible all at once, making the amount seem greater. What matters is whether shedding has suddenly increased compared with your usual pattern, whether your part is widening, whether density at the crown or hairline is decreasing, or whether bald patches have appeared. Several months after childbirth, a high fever, surgery, rapid weight loss, or severe stress,...

  Why Does Your Scalp Hurt When You Press It or Move Your Hair? Have you ever felt a stinging or throbbing sensation when brushing your hair, changing your part, or pressing the crown of your head with your fingertips? Although it may feel as though your hair hurts, the pain usually comes from the scalp beneath your hair . Even when described as “scalp pain,” the symptoms require different considerations depending on when, where, and how the pain occurs. If you feel a pulling pain only on days when you wear your hair tightly tied, tension from your hairstyle may be a factor. If a particular area has bumps or redness and hurts when touched, you should check the condition of the scalp skin. Your scalp may also feel burning or unusually sensitive to touch even when there are no visible changes. Scalp pain does not automatically mean hair loss, nor does it necessarily mean your shampoo is to blame. Start by reviewing how you tie your hair, any products you have recently changed, when t...

  Can Frequent Perming and Coloring Contribute to Scalp Problems, Thinning Hair, and Hair Loss? Perming and coloring allow you to create different styles by changing your hair’s shape and color, but repeated treatments can put stress on your scalp and hair. Coloring and bleaching use chemicals to add pigment to the hair or remove its existing pigment, while perming changes the hair’s bond structure to create the desired shape. If these treatments are repeated too frequently or the chemicals are left on for too long, the cuticle—the hair’s outer protective layer—can become damaged. Hair may lose its shine, feel rougher, and develop more split ends and breakage. As more strands break, your hair may look thinner and less full, which can be mistaken for hair loss. When treatment chemicals touch the scalp, they can cause stinging, burning, redness, itching, and swelling. People who are allergic to certain ingredients may develop contact dermatitis. However, perming or coloring does not ...

  Are All Scalp Flakes Dandruff? Causes and Care Tips When white flakes fall onto your shoulders as you brush your hair, you may assume they are dandruff. However, not all scalp flakes have the same cause. Skin naturally sheds old cells as part of its renewal cycle. Flaking can become more noticeable when the scalp is excessively dry, oil and sweat build up, or products such as shampoo and hair dye cause irritation. Small, dry flakes accompanied by a tight-feeling scalp may be related to dryness. White or yellow flakes mixed with oil, along with itching and redness, may suggest dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis. Thick, silvery-white scales, oozing, pain, or patchy hair loss may require evaluation to distinguish conditions such as psoriasis or a scalp infection. Rather than scraping off visible flakes or repeatedly using strong scalp exfoliating products, start by observing their color, size, and oiliness, as well as any itching or redness. 1. How Do Dry Scalp Flakes Differ from Oil...