You will find many wearing hats in summers to protect their hair, but is there a hidden side effect of wearing hats? Rumour has it that wearing hats  can lead to hair loss and make you grow bald. But is this true? Dr Pankaj Krishna consultant trichologist at Max Medcentre tells you.

There is no evidence that wearing hats can lead to hair loss. Hair loss may occur because of a laundry list of reasons such as underlying medical conditions, medications, and genetics, but not hats. Hair loss happens when you put a lot of stress on your hair follicles through hair styles like braids and tight buns and hair extensions. Wearing a hat cannot cause hair loss unless you are wearing it too tightly for a prolonged period to break the follicles and pull out your hair. You could also notice some damage or breakage due to the elastic or plastic components in the hat. These are the top 10 reasons for hair loss in women.

There is also a common belief that male pattern baldness androgenic alopecia is a result of wearing a headwear in summer. This is clearly a myth as the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is responsible for the male pattern baldness. Also, find out if wearing helmets cause balding.

However, wearing a hat constantly can lead to a lack of circulation in the scalp. In summer, when the scalp perspires, the sweat can combine with the dead skin cells of the scalp to clog the hair follicles and pores. Also, a dirty hat can lead to a scalp infection.

Bottom line—If the hat were to contribute to hair loss, it would have to be tight enough and worn for an extended period.

Image source: Getty Images

[source;Thehealthsite]