Another cause you’ve likely not heard of regarding thinning and shedding is blocked hair follicles. In its simplest terms, a clogged or inflamed hair follicle simply won’t allow hair to grow through and if this continues over long periods, it may eventually cause shedding or damage.
If you are experiencing shedding and have no reason, it may well be the hair follicles talking.
What Are Hair Follicles and Why Do They Get Blocked?
How a plugged hair follicle works In the top of your skin’s surface, your hair strand begins to sprout out from a teeny-tiny tube-like root called a hair follicle. Hair follicles require a clear space to function properly. Blockage can occur when excess product, dead skin cells, sebum, or bacteria become lodged on or around the surface of your hair follicle’s entryway. Blocked hair follicles are incapable of growing a strong, healthy new strand, and instead can manifest as thin and fragile hair or they can even become infected (forming a painful infection that can eventually lead to some long-term damage).
Common Causes of Blocked Hair Follicles
The secret to resolving clogged follicles begins with knowing what’s responsible. The most common offenders include:
i) Overproduction of sebum – An oily scalp is the breeding ground of matter, which becomes trapped around the entrances of the follicles.
ii) Buildup of dead skin cells – If these aren’t sloughing away, they stack up in your follicles, leading to an impaction.
iii) Product buildup – Dense pomades, dry shampoos, heavy conditioners, hairsprays, waxes, serums and other hair “care” products that aren’t rinsed out can develop waxy deposits on the scalp.
iv) Bacterial or fungal infections – A clogged, moist scalp provides the perfect place for various bacteria and/or fungus to grow, inflammation, and even lead to damage to the hair follicles.
v) Hormonal imbalances – Increased levels of dihydrotestosterone or DHT can shrink the hair follicles gradually over time.
vi) Poor hygiene – Without regular washes, sweat, oil, dirt, and other particulate matter will start collecting on your scalp and in your follicle openings.
vii) An over-abundance of processed foods – This contributes to systemic inflammation within the entire body, including the scalp.
Signs That Your Hair Follicles May Be Blocked
If you mistook your symptoms of Blocked Scalp Follicle for standard ‘dandruff’ or just an itchy scalp, you know it can be hard to tell. If you do suspect blocked Scalp Follicle, keep an eye out for any of the following tell-tale signs:
- Unremitting itching and burning on your scalp
- Small white or red pimple like spots on each hair follicle
- Flaking that isn’t treating by any over the counter anti-dandruff treatments
- Your hair starting to visibly thinning out over the weeks and months
- Patchy hair loss in particular areas of your scalp
- A tender scalp when touched in spots If you tick quite a few boxes of these symptoms
it’s time to get started early, to save some of those follicles that are still livable.
Can Blocked Follicles Cause Permanent Hair Loss?
This is a question everyone wants an answer to. In short, the answer is…yes, it is possible, but not indefinitely.
Blockage of the hair follicles themselves is correctable as long as scarring does not become involved. If the follicles have been inflamed over a period of time repeatedly it can begin to create scarring around them and at that point the follicles can not themselves make any hair on their own. That then becomes scarring alopecia which cannot be reversed without a surgical treatment.
How to Treat and Prevent Blocked Hair Follicles
Luckily, most causes of follicle blockage can be treated with diligent, diligent care. Here’s what works:
- Routine exfoliation – Either use a salicylic acid scalp scrub or salicylic acid shampoo once or twice a week to thoroughly remove unwanted buildup.
- Moderate shampoo schedule – Just because your hair may be prone to oily, frequent washes, there’s such a thing as too much, and washing that often strips your scalp of essential moisture.
- Lightweight products – Opt for water-based products that don’t clog follicles, such as those labeled as “non-comedogenic.”
- Scalp massage – This procedure helps improve blood circulation in your head, thus helping to detach stubborn buildup around open follicles.
- A cleaner diet – By lowering the amounts of sugar, dairy products, and fried food in your diet, you will be able to reduce inflammation on your scalp considerably.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy – While a more intensive option, PRP therapy helps to wake dormant follicles and reduces inflammation to boost scalp health. This works best on early to moderate damage to follicles.
When the Follicle Can No Longer Be Revived
However if your hair loss has reached a state where natural regrowth has become impossible, Hair Transplants procedures can give you a permanent result. The two highly effective procedures being performed today are: Dense Hair Implantation in Gurgaon QHT Clinic is intended for patients desirous of a full, dense appearance of the scalp in areas of non-existent hair roots. It implants numerous grafts in each sq.
Cms of the scalp in a strategically determined pattern which yields a density few traditional methods can match.
Hair Transplant in Gurgaon QHT’s general Hair Transplantation procedure utilizes cutting edge techniques of FUE along with high magnification instruments to maximize survival, precise insertion of each and every graft, and a natural output. Every surgery procedure being undertaken is done so inside a certified operation theater and administered by experts trained only in Hair Transplants.
Conclusion
Hair follicles get blocked; while fairly common it’s actually very manageable if caught early enough; whether treatment is a better hair care regime or even the use of PRP therapy or hair transplant surgery-what matters most is that you don’t neglect the signals your scalp is giving you.
If you’ve seen signs of your hair thinning, excessive itching or patchy hair loss, book a free scalp consultation now at the QHT Clinic Gurgaon; the experts can help evaluate your scalp, determine what your hair is going through and prescribe you the right treatment that actually works.
Dr. Sandeep
- 25 Years Total Clinical Experience
- QHT Hair Transplant Procedures
- Advanced Hair Restoration
- Hairline Design & Reconstruction
