Wearing a wig can cause hair loss??
In my experience as a hair loss consultant over the last few years, 80 per cent of the women who walk into my clinic wear a wig and I ask myself why?
I can only surmise that when a woman wears a wig, she instantly feels more confident and beautiful, and possibly even sexier. What most women are not aware of, however, is that the constant wearing of these wigs to cover up their hair loss can actually have a deteriorating effect thereby worsening their condition and creating more hair loss.
However, it is important for us to understand the origins of wig wearing for us to appreciate why in some circumstances it might be a good thing.
Wearing wigs goes back to biblical times. The Jewish sheitel, for instance, is worn for religious reasons where a woman’s natural hair is shielded from the gaze of all men who are not her close relatives or husband.
The 17th century in Europe saw the emergence of the wig as a fashion statement for both men and women with many shaving their natural hair to make wearing wigs comfortable and to ensure a good fit. In fact the hairs used in making these wigs were harvested from the heads of the poor; again a practice which continues till the present day.
Wigs made another comeback in the early 1950s as a way of wearing fantasy hairstyles and emulating the celebrities of the day. Brown women embraced the wigs as an alternative to undergoing the time-consuming and sometimes painful experience of straightening their natural hair. It was also a subconscious effort to look more European and thereby become more acceptable in mainstream society.
Nowadays women wear wigs because it gives them an instant different look which they can change at their whim depending on how they are feeling on a particular day. It is not uncommon to see celebrities and wealthy women having a room full of different wigs in their dressing rooms.
From a medical standpoint wigs have become vital for patients undergoing "chemotherapy treatments" to help them conceal their temporary hair loss until such time as their natural hair can start growing again.
It is also common for people who are balding, have thinning or receding hair or suffering from eczema dermatitis to wear wigs in social circles to save themselves the embarrassment of their hair loss.
However women need to be aware that there are some common problems with constantly wearing wigs, whether they are manufactured using natural or synthetic hair.
Wearing synthetic-hair wigs can lead to scalp health problems because it can prevent the sweat glands from doing their vital job of releasing bodily toxins through the scalp. The lactic acid in the sweat can mix with the keratin in hair and cause damage and eventually hair loss.
In addition, the sweat glands all over your scalp release sweat which can mix with pre-existing bacteria and cause nasty fungal formations. This is a major cause of the vile smell associated with sweat. Worse, these infections can set the stage for hair loss if not eradicated or treated. Have you ever wondered why the wigs worn all day suddenly become very smelly in the evening or why you see some women patting their heads periodically? This is due to the fact that sweat, which ordinarily would have evaporated into thin air, becomes trapped under the wig creating the itch which the wearer might find irritating.
Glue extensions, as well as double-sided tape, are often used with popular lace wigs. Unfortunately, they can cause damage that is often permanent. The glue can block your scalp pores and damage your hair follicles as well as burn and dry out your hair. The weight of the extensions can pull on your scalp which again can result in thinning hair. Sometimes these extensions can also cause headaches and bald spots.
Hair bonding glue contains high concentrations of soluble latex antigen and may cause anaphylaxis, which is a form of hidden latex allergy, without mucosal contact. Some people are allergic to latex and should remove the source of the problem if they experience itching, bumping and irritation on the scalp surface.
Just as you would not swallow any medication given to you without understanding what its properties are and its benefits, so you should not allow an untrained hair professional to apply anything on your scalp before you have had an opportunity to research the product and its possible side effects.
Women should educate themselves on the potential effects of wig wearing – both positive and negative.
My advice is to restrict the wearing of wigs to periods while waiting to have your hair done at the salon. Better still consult a hair restoration specialist if you are losing your hair rather than simply covering the hair loss as you are likely to be making a bad situation worse.
For more, visit the website www.hairtransplantinharidwar.com
Dr. Singhal is the State Director of the leading hair transplant brand, Regrow He is an experienced hair loss restoration consultant who has written many articles and presented several seminars and presentations on the prevention of hair loss and the restoration options.
