¿la masturbación causa pérdida de cabello? ¡descubrámoslo!
We have heard so many urban legends about masturbation. At times, it gets hard to differentiate the myth from the truth. The ones about hairy palms, blindness, and weight loss are widely known. One of the recent additions to this myth is the link between hair fall and masturbation. While there are no scientific studies on this matter, you will find many Nofappers sharing that abstinence improved their hair growth and texture. With so much information floating around, it is natural to wonder – does masturbation cause hair loss? And is there a link between masturbation and hair fall? Let us answer this question for once and all by taking a deep dive into the myths and truths that talk about masturbation effects on hair. What is Hair Loss? Before we examine the myths and truths about does masturbation cause hair loss, let us understand what hair loss is. Your hair follicle is a tube-like structure within the skin of the scalp. It encloses the shaft and the root of the hair strand. Each of these hair follicles goes through three distinct phases of the growth cycle, namely – anagen, catagen, and telogen. Anagen – During this phase, the hair within the follicle grows at the rate of one centimeter per month. The anagen phase lasts for two to seven years. Catagen – This is a two-week transitional phase. During the catagen phase, the hair detaches from the blood supply. Telogen – This is the final inactive stage during which the hair is shed. It can take as long as four months for the follicle to begin to grow a new strand of hair. Most healthy adults have 80,000 to 120,000 strands of hair on their scalp. and people normally lose 50 to 100 strands of hair every day. This hair loss usually goes unnoticed because you are growing new hair every day. But, when the rate of new hair growth slows down, that’s when hair loss happens. Here are the six most common causes of hair loss – Family history or hereditary factors have the most influence on hair loss for both men and women. Hereditary factors are the cause behind male pattern baldness (receding hairline and bald spot on top of head) and female pattern baldness (overall thinning of hair). And this genetic hair loss can not be reversed. High levels of Stress can inhibit hair regrowth and result in temporary hair loss. Typically, 85% of your hair will be in anagen state of growth, and 15% will be in the telogen phase of hair loss. Stress can make 70% of your hair strands enter the telogen phase prematurely, accelerating hair loss. Hormonal changes during pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause are the most likely reasons behind hair loss in women. Health conditions like Polycystic ovaries (PCOS and PCOD) can also make women lose hair. Environmental factors such as air pollution can weaken your hair strands. Water pollution causes dryness and breakage of hair along with thinning of hair follicles. UV exposure can damage the proteins in your hair and the scalp. Other environmental factors, such as pesticides and heavy metals, are also linked to hair loss. Autoimmune conditions called Alopecia areata is a major cause of hair loss. Other medical conditions, such as ringworm infections, can also cause hair loss. After a stressful event or post-surgery, you might develop a condition known as Telogen effluvium, which can cause hair fall. Poor lifestyle habits such as sleep deprivation, alcohol consumption, smoking, and nutrient deficiencies can cause hair loss. Is there a Relationship Between Masturbation and Hair Loss? Like most of the beliefs surrounding masturbation, the relationship between masturbation and hair loss has no evidence, it is a misconception that continues to persist. Hair loss or hair fall is a natural part of growing older. As we age our body slows down and loses its efficiency of regenerating new hair strands. As a result, the growth cycle of hair is disrupted and you get hair fall. The primary cause of hair loss is usually genetic or inherited. So, if you have a genetic predisposition, then your hair loss might start in your 20s itself. Having certain medical conditions such as Alopecia areata or undergoing hormone changes is also linked to risk of hair fall. Poor lifestyle habits can also accelerate hair loss. But, there is no evidence that definitively links masturbation with hair loss. Then what gives rise to the question – does masturbation cause hair loss? Why do myths about hair loss due to masturbation persist? The belief that masturbation causes hair loss arises from a couple of misinterpretations. The first misinterpretation is about the effect of androgens, such as DHT, on hair fall. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the sex hormone that controls hair growth, including facial hair. In adult men, an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase (5-AR) converts about 10% of testosterone into DHT. Excessive DHT in your bloodstream can link with the receptors in your hair follicles and shrink them. Such hair follicles cannot support the healthy hair growth cycle. They prematurely enter the shedding or rest stage and spend a longer duration in the dormant phase. Your risk of DHT-related hair loss depends on your genetics. If you have a hereditary susceptibility to the effects of DHT, then it will result in male-pattern and female-pattern hair loss. A popular theory links masturbation with elevated levels of testosterone and DHT. Which in turn is believed to cause hair loss. However, multiple scientific studies have proved that there is no correlation between DHT levels with masturbation or sex. The second misinterpretation regarding ‘does masturbation cause hair fall’ is about protein loss. Many people believe that as sperm contains protein, by masturbation and ejaculation, you will end up losing protein. This protein loss is claimed to cause hair loss. So, by this logic, the more you masturbate and ejaculate, the higher will be your protein loss and hair loss. But, the protein loss during ejaculation is too low – measured between