Does Wearing Hats Cause Hair Loss?

I have been told wearing hats too often causes hair loss, is this true?

This is common misinformation that is often relayed by individuals without any real knowledge of what causes hair loss. The notion that hats cause hair loss stems from the thought that hair loss is due to poor circulation and that wearing hats too often restricts blood flow and nutrition to the follicles. However, the scalp is one of the most vascular places on the human body so, that concept is obviously untrue.

The most common form for hair loss is androgenic alopecia or genetic hair loss.  An individual can ultimately inherit the “balding” gene(s) from either their mother’s or father’s side of the family. Specifically, male and female pattern hair loss is the result of certain hormones interacting overtime with hair follicles that are susceptible to the effects of the hormones.  Hair follicles, as well as sebaceous glands, contain a high levels of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme converts testosterone in to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) through the blood stream. DHT is the hormone responsible causing hair loss.

Written and Published By,

Melvin, Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.