Can Too Much Exercise Cause Hair Loss?

Exercise is an essential part of our lives. We learn healthy habits during gym class during our school years. As adults, many of us purchase gym memberships or home workout equipment. We go for morning jogs or use apps to track our steps. Exercise is a priority for many adults.

While working toward a healthier lifestyle, it’s important to remember that you can have too much of a good thing, even when it comes to exercising. Excessive exercise can create health problems.

But can too much exercise also impact our hair?

Does Workout Sweat Cause Hair Loss?

This may sound like a stretch, but workout sweat could damage hair follicles and lead to hair loss if not treated properly. But allow us to explain – before you skip the gym to protect your hair.

The vast majority of what makes up your sweat is water. However, sweat also includes other elements like uric acid and salt. If salt gets into your hair follicles, it can clog and damage them – leading to hair loss. If you take care of your hair correctly (including washing your hair after a sweat-inducing workout), you shouldn’t have to worry about related hair loss.

Does Bodybuilding Cause Hair Loss?

Bodybuilding doesn’t necessarily cause hair loss, but how you go about it could! Certain activities – such as weightlifting – can build muscle and increase the amount of testosterone in your body. Additionally, many bodybuilders try to increase the amount of testosterone produced by using protein shakes as part of their workout routine.

Increases in testosterone can also cause an increase in dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT can cause your hair follicles to shrink, resulting in shorter growth phases of your hair. As a result, it causes an acceleration in hair loss. This primarily affects people predisposed to hair loss by accelerating male or female pattern baldness. That said, most of us are predisposed to experiencing some level of hair loss as we get older.

Does Exercise Regrow Hair?

Cardio exercises can potentially stimulate hair growth because cardio workouts get the blood pumping. Healthy circulation is essential to get nutrients where they need to be in your body – including your scalp. Additionally, cardio has been shown to reduce the amount of DHT in your blood… offsetting the damage it can do to your hair.

AHRC Can Help Restore And Promote Healthy Hair

Good habits – such as a proper diet, regular exercise, and a good night’s sleep – are essential for your health, but that’s not always enough to prevent hair loss. For many of us, hair loss is inevitable, but balding or staying bald doesn’t have to be.

Austin Hair Restoration Clinic offers a variety of non-surgical options as well as the minimally invasive ARTAS Robotic Hair Transplant System. This procedure produces exceptional results and will quickly get you back to your daily life. Contact us today for a free consultation.