Can chlorine make your hair fall out

With summer in full swing, most of us are headed for the pool or the beach for cool relief. However, it’s important to know that spending too much time in chlorinated water can be bad for your skin and hair. Dr. Anthony Farole, an experienced hair restoration expert who has worked with thousands of patients in the Philadelphia area, answers questions about chlorine exposure and hair health.

Chlorine, hair damage and your health

Though common in most public and private swimming pools, chlorine is a corrosive chemical that many health experts say is bad for human health, particularly the skin and eyes.

Chlorine has an oxidizing effect that can cause dryness and irritation after prolonged exposure. In some cases, exposure to chlorine may lead to the formation of hypochlorous acid, a substance known to penetrate cells and destroy them from the inside.

However, low concentrations of chlorine are highly effective in keeping swimming pools clean and healthy. Though low in concentration, chlorine in pool water still has the potential to cause serious harm to the hair, skin, and eyes.

Stay healthy this summer by taking a moment to review these frequently asked questions about chlorine, hair damage and loss and your health.

Does chlorine cause hair loss?

Normal exposure to chlorine will NOT make you lose your hair. This myth was debunked after a study was published in the Journal of Dermatology. In the study, researchers compared the hair of 67 professional swimmers to that of 54 individuals who spent little to no time in the pool. Although swimmers’ hair exhibited signs of chlorine-induced damage such as dryness and coarseness, swimmers were not significantly more likely to experience hair loss.

However, there is evidence that suggests abnormally high exposure to chlorine might cause the scalp to become irritated, dry, and flaky. Thinning or shedding of hair might result, but it’s important to understand that the chlorine exposure needed to bring about such side effects far exceeds that of a normal swimming pool.

Will chlorine change the color of my hair?

Chlorine does not change the color of one’s hair. Although prolonged pool time might give hair a greenish tint, the discoloration is actually due to the oxidized metals in the water, such as copper. However, color treatments exposed to chlorine might make it easier for hair to turn green.

As mentioned above, one of the primary side effects of chlorine exposure is that it causes dryness and irritation. When paired with hair treatments and dyes, hair can become extremely dry, porous, and brittle. Once porous, hair is primed to absorb more copper and other chemicals that cause discoloration.

Can I reduce the damage chlorine does to my hair?

Yes. Many people are surprised to know that chlorine damage can be significantly reduced simply by wetting hair with fresh water prior to getting in the pool. Strands of hair have the amazing ability to absorb moisture, much like a sponge. By thoroughly rinsing hair with fresh water prior to entering the pool, you create a barrier that makes it more difficult for hair to absorb chlorinated water while swimming.

If I experience hair loss or damage from chlorine, is it reversible?

The most common way that chlorine damages hair is by making it dry and porous, which may lead to discoloration. To reverse the damage, be sure to thoroughly wash and rinse hair after each swim session. Use ample amounts of shampoo to remove all chemical traces, and finish your post-swim wash with a protein-enriched conditioner that will replenish the hair’s natural moisture. For those who have color-treated hair, special shampoos and conditioners are available to minimize discoloration.

Take the Next Step

Want to learn if a hair restoration is right for you? Schedule a consultation at Dr. Farole’s Facial Cosmetic Surgery Center in Bala Cynwyd, PA by giving us a call at (610) 668-3300 today.

Source

Miamihair.com

Swimming pools are inviting during summer time when the climate is hot and humid, especially for people who frequent swimming pools, on a daily basis, who train to be professional swimmers. Researchers examined 67 professional swimmers and 54 nonswimmers and found that 61 percent of the swimmers showed signs of hair discoloration, compared with none of the nonswimmers. The study shows that the chlorine in swimming pools is unlikely culprit to chlorine cause hair loss but long exposure to chlorine can cause hair damage.

Chlorine damages hair by causing the scalp to become irritated, dry, and flaky. That effects are not as severe and will require hair loss treatment, such as scalp micropigmentation for men and women, it is still concerning. What exactly is scalp micropigmentation? We will tell you something about that later on this article.

How To Protect Your Hair When Swimming?

Saturate Your Hair with Water

Rinse your hair with clean tap water to saturate your hair. If you saturate your hair with clean tap water, your hair will be less likely to absorb as much of the chlorinated water in the pool.

Use a Swim Cap

A swim cap can make a world of difference. Try out a silicone swim cap as it is lightweight, breathable, and won’t snag your hair. It can shield your swimmers hair from prolonged chlorine exposure.

Rinse Every Now and Then

After taking a dip in the pool, it’s a good idea to rinse your hair every now and then with clean water while swimming to keep flushing the chlorine and chemicals out.

Shampoos and Conditioners

Shampooing your hair immediately after chlorine exposure is the best way to remove the chlorine and stop the chemical damage it is causing to your hair.

To replace the natural oils and proteins that the chlorine strips from your hair, it’s important to condition your hair to soothe dry, frazzled hair and prevent split ends by using protein conditioners.

5 Ways To Fix Chlorine Damaged Hair

Whether it is chlorine damage hair and skin or weak hair strands, men need activities that prevent this from happening. Here are some things you can do to protect your hair.

Get Professional Help

Try a Clarifying Shampoo

Check Your Scalp

Use a Regular Protein Treatment

Deep Condition Your Hair

Bottom Line

The levels of chlorine in a swimming pool determines if your hair and skin is in danger of damage. While it’s been long debunked by the Journal of Dermatology that chlorine does cause hair loss, yet the risk is tremendous in getting hair loss because of the highly chlorinated water. Chlorine water should hold a pH level between 7.2 and 7.8. If the water has more chlorine than this, the water becomes more alkaline.

Chlorine is a bleaching agent, like hypochlorous acid that can cause highlighted hair to turn a greenish color, dull the color, dry out, and lose it’s gleam. So, make sure to avoid activities that not only damage hair but cause hair loss that will obligate you to seek help for health experts regarding hair treatments and hair restoration.

Skin and hair are both sensitive to some chemicals that greatly affects human health, just like chlorine cause hair loss, not mentioning the nail plates and cuticle damage due to pool water friction. One side effects of hair loss treatments is allergic reaction. Some chemicals from color treatments, for one, has this effect on your skin.

The hair chlorine controversy is old news and doesn’t require validation purposes. So, relax and let your heart be content and soak up in your pool of happiness.