Dermatology (medical science dealing with skin) is a branch which is associated with the maximum no of misconceptions. Trichology (science dealing with hair) which is a branch of dermatology is no exception.
Myth # 1. First & foremost , it is widely believed that trichology is a separate branch in allopathy.
The fact is that every dermatologist, in his allopathic career, has hair & nails (in his curriculum) , while pursuing M. D degree in dermatology. This general lack of awareness has led to mushrooming of so called trichology centres without adequate qualifications.
Myth no 2: people believe that regular shaving of hair leads to increase in the growth & thickness of hair.
But all specific data indicates that there is no relation between the two.
Myth no 3: Special kinds of hair oils promote hair growth.
Oil is used in the hair to make the hair shiny and to comb them into proper shape, so that they don’t look unruly or don’t get tangled. Hair oil does not have any nourishing role to play.
Myth no 4: Natural cleansers like soapnuts or home made remedies are good for hair.
Infact these agents cannot cleanse the hair, as effectively as shampoos, which are created specifically for the very purpose of cleansing the hair
Myth no 5: Applying hair dyes regularly promotes greying of hair.
This is not correct as the hair keep turning grey naturally because of various factors, mainly genetic or hereditary reasons when you do not dye your hair, after regular usage of say about 1 year. Obviously you will see more grey because of side effect of the dye.
Myth no6: Dandruff is caused because of dry hair.
Infact, excess oil produced in the scalp dries up & form scales & flakes which appear as dandruff, so less oil or infrequent oil application is recommended for people suffering with dandruff.
Myth no 7: Excessive reading & insufficient sleep cause loss of hair which eventually results in baldness.
Baldness is hereditary & has nothing to do with your sleeping habits or stress.
Myth no 8: 100 strokes a day at night with a comb is good for your hair.
Infact, if you brush your hair too vigourously or for too long a time, there is a chance that you nay lose or damage the hair cuticle and you may end up with dry hair and also split ends, if you are harsh with your hair.
There are many more myths & misconceptions in the general population. Public needs to be made more aware about hair science in general. There are many philanthropic societies where you can contact for information about the hair, and any queries regarding hair. Some of them are www.had.org.in, www.hairaware.co.in.
Or one can call helpline numbers like toll free 1800-425-4247.
Trichology is a very fascinating and an evidence based science and is included in the curriculum of every post graduate MD degree, after M B B S. Regular conferences and updates also are conducted from time to time. In this connection IADVL ( Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists & Leprologists) is conducting a Trichocon A P 2008 on 27th april which is a day long progarmme for updating the knowledge base of all the dermatologist of the state of A.P.Speakers from all over India are coming to deliberate over the issues pertaining to hair.
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