The hair is an essential part of the personal image, which is why subjecting it to a cleaning can be the key to eliminating dirt and giving it vitality. But how often should this habit be practiced? Is it so bad to wash it every day? Here, what two dermatologists said.
He wash of hair It is one of the most common actions that humans incorporate into their routine, whether at the start of the day or at nightfall. . What is curious is that often this habit triggers debates and myths about how regularly it should be done during the week.
In this, there seem to be two sides fighting to be right. On the one hand, there are those who say that excessive washing only produces more oil in the hair, which gets dirty much faster and has other harmful effects.
On the other side, there are those who say that not washing it frequently leads to bad smell and bad appearance quite easily perceived. And that’s when a vicious cycle of both parties occurs that seems never to end.
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And what do dermatologists say? Is there an ideal time to wash? Is it so true that doing this habit every day of the week can be harmful? What is important for hair health? Two experts in the field sat down with La Tercera to dispel some hair myths.
A little more about hair
Héctor Fuenzalida, dermatologist at IntegraMédica, warns that we must take into account the fact that the hair we see from the outside is a living structure . “It has a root, which is the hair bulb, through which this hair is nourished every day by different substances that pass through the blood and irrigate this root”, he explains.
Then, he adds: “Immediately adjacent is the sebaceous gland, which drains the oily contents or sebum through the lateral wall of the hair shaft. Then this sebum comes out, precisely through the hair”.
There are at least two factors that influence whether a person has dry, oily or combination hair: genetics and hormonal changes .
“For women, this may be driven by certain types of birth control which are more likely to increase or stimulate male hormones, particularly injections. In postmenopausal women as well, fat tends to increase a bit,” explains Fuenzalida.
How often should you wash your hair?
As for how often the hair should be cleaned, the dermatologist is sure of the answer: “Hair should be washed as many times as necessary. The need is when it becomes greasy, dirty or smells bad » .
This action will also depend on the environment in which we usually find ourselves. For those who tend to sweat a lot, for example because they move a lot during the day or because of their work context they have to wear utensils, such as helmets, it could be suggested that the washing be done more than times per week.
“If I’m at home, I’m not sweating or doing any activity and my skin is pretty dry, maybe cleaning could be every 3 or 4 days,” says the expert.
However, he points out that nothing is strictly established and that everything depends on each case. “There is no norm or standard that says how many times this should be done per week. It is not harmful to wash your hair several times, the important thing is the care » .
Isabel Ogueta, UC Christus dermatologist, agrees. “There is no problem washing your hair every day. We have patients to whom we recommend washing daily, in this way we manage to maintain good hair hygiene and infections can be avoided, ”comments the specialist.
Ogueta adds that what is most flattering and tolerable for each patient should be identified, taking into account their scalp type or if they have any type of dermatological condition.
From the point of view of the two specialists, undergoing this practice on a daily basis does not cause hair fat to increase or appear more quickly . For the same reason, letting the hair “rest” has no impact, they point out.
Another question that often comes up around hair care is that if daily washing is done, hair tends to fall out in large amounts. Fuenzalida and Ogueta rule out this being true.
“The feeling that my hair is falling out more because I’m washing it more isn’t so real, because it’s going to fall out at some point. Every day on average 150 hairs fall, it’s normal. specifies the IntegraMédica dermatologist.
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What to do for hair health
According to Fuenzalida, one of the most important steps if we want to do something for our hair but we still don’t know what type it is, whether it is dry, mixed or greasy, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist for more advice.
If we already know what type of hair we have, we must always keep in mind the two factors mentioned above: how often we prefer to wash and the amount of sebum produced.
The dermatologist points out that shampoos are an essential step in the care process. Although today there is a long list for all tastes and needs, whether it is hypoallergenic, for dyed hair, and even others that stimulate growth, they should all be “used to remove and keep the hair clean,” says Fuenzalida.
“Remember that shampoos are specifically designed to remove dirt. By dirt, we mean that it is the dead cells that come out of the surface of the hair, plus the fat produced by the sebaceous glands linked to pollution, dust and what comes from the outside,” he underlines. .
For his part, Ogueta points out that to ensure good hair health “Daily washing should be thorough, brief and with lukewarm water, using the appropriate shampoos. If we apply inappropriate or unnecessary hair products, problems may arise” .
Source: Latercera
I am David Jack and I have been working in the news industry for over 10 years. As an experienced journalist, I specialize in covering sports news with a focus on golf. My articles have been published by some of the most respected publications in the world including The New York Times and Sports Illustrated.
