Pollution and Hairfall

Being the protective layer of our body, hair and skin act as the first barrier to pollution. Various pollutants, including small airborne particles, large suspended particles, smoke and gaseous pollution, come in direct contact with the scalp and hair, thereby causing irritation, damage and other associated dermatological conditions.

Some Preventive measures:

• Avoid exercising or going out when pollution levels are high in your area.
•  One of the major causes of atmospheric pollution in urban areas is emission from increasing vehicular traffic. Pollution caused by fumes from vehicle exhausts can adversely affect the hair. These contain huge amounts of carbon monoxide and other hydrocarbons which pollute the air and can adversely affect the health of your hair.
• Wash your hair on a regular basis if you are often exposed to pollutants. Deep conditioning will also be helpful. You can use natural oils or essential oils to keep your hair healthy.
•  Do not wash your hair in hot water. Cold water can stimulate your scalp.
•  Avoid any kind of excessive hair treatment like dyeing, bleaching or coloring. These have harmful chemicals which will damage your hair further.
•  Do not oil your hair and go out. The pollutants will stick to your hair, causing harm.
•  Antioxidants can help. Since pollutants cause oxidative stress, which is the main mechanism of hair damage, minerals, oral vitamins, and antioxidants can help relieve symptoms. The combined use of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals along with the use of Minoxidil and Finasteride can be an effective treatment for hair loss.
• If your hair is exposed on a regular basis to pollutants it may cause oily scalp, dandruff, itchy scalp, pain at the hair roots and of course, hair fall. Actually, these pollutants settle on the scalp and harm the hair from within. The pollutants basically get into hair follicles causing hair loss and oxidative stress.

For people living in highly industrialized areas, harmful chemicals let out from factories can cause damage to the hair. These chemicals cause hair follicles to become weak leading to hair fall.