Commonly Asked Hair and Scalp Questions
by Dr. Linda Amerson

Q. How do I know when my hair is unhealthy?
A. In most cases, signs of unhealthy hair will reveal hair that is excessively dry, breaks easily, brittle to the touch, excessive shedding, your hair will not hold a curl, and
brittle ends, to name a few. Your hair and scalp is a barometor of imbalances within your body. If you notice any changes on your scalp or hair, seek the professional expertise of a doctor of Trichology.

Q. What does a healthy scalp look like?
A. A healthy scalp is vital to healthy hair, and reveals a pink-tone color. Any other discoloration of the scalp could signal a scalp crisis. For example, redness, inflammation, oozing, blue, purple, black, or brown patches are visible signs of a scalp crisis.

Q. My scalp itches constantly. What would you recommend for an itchy scalp?
A. Pruritus, an excessively itchy scalp, affects millions of Americans on a daily basis. Therefore, could result from a combination of several contributing factors. One main
contributor, includes oil, dirt, and bacteria accumulation from infrequent shampooing and not thoroughly shampooing the hair and scalp. In addition, when changing hair care products, check the ingredients that you may be allergic to. Even innocent sounding plant extracts sometimes cause allergic reactions in some people.

Q. How do I know if my hair loss is excessive?
A. Most of us lose 80-125 strands of hair daily. Any amount above 125 is considered excessive. Some ways to observe if you are experiencing excessive hair loss is to observe your pillow each morning, your bathroom floors, and bathroom vanities for
visible signs of long and short strands.

Q. I was told by my Dermatologist that I have Alopecia. What is Alopecia?
A. Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss. However, there are several different forms of Alopecia. It is important to know what form you have before effective treatments are recommended, because no one treatment will correct all forms of Alopecia. Some examples include: Alopecia Areata, Diffused Alopecia, Marginal Alopecia, Banded Alopecia, Trichotillomania, Cicatricial Alopecia, Traction Alopecia, and the list goes on.

Q. I have a sever case of dandruff. What would you suggest I use to get rid of it?
A. You may think you have dandruff, but there are actually five types of scaly scalp disorders. Seek the professional expertise of a doctor of Trichology for an accurate evaluation, in order to receive the appropriate treatment.

Q. Is balding Hereditary?
A. In some cases Yes. Androgenetic Alopecia is commonly known as Male Pattern Baldness and Female Pattern Baldness. It affects approximately 69% of the American population. There are some widely advertised products available: Rogaine for both Men and Women, Propecia, Proscar, herbal treatments, etc.

Q. Does eating healthy affect hair growth?
A. I am so happy you asked this question. Yes, most definitely, proper nutrition daily is very important for a healthy body and a healthy scalp and hair.

Q. Does Stress affect Hair loss?
A. Yes, it does. An individual can usually cope with some stress in their lives. Actually,some consumers perform their best work when they have a deadline to meet. However, It is stress overload that can affect the Immune System and contribute to Alopecia, poor scalp circulation and scalp disorder conditions.

Q. Is styling gel harmful to the hair?
A. Yes and No, and I will explain why. Yes, it can be harmful to the hair is used on a daily basis. For daily use can contribute to dry, and brittle hair. Also, if a buildup of
gel is used on the hair, and you brush your hair prior to shampooing, you will notice hair breakage. No, using styling occasionally around the front hairline to smooth your hair is allowed, but use sparingly please. Do not become a Gel Queen.

Q. I use a wave kit on my hair every month, is this OK?
A. Using a wave kit every month could be damaging to your scalp, even though your goal is to make your hair more managable. I suggest, if you are applying your own chemical, wait at least 8 weeks between applications. Also, to confirm whether you have damaged your scalp, seek the expertise of a doctor of Trichology.

For additional questions contact
Dr. Linda Amerson at (817) 265-8854,
or via email
dramerson@hairandscalpessentials.com