Can heat from blow dryers damage hair follicles in any way or cause hair loss or it just affects the shaft?

Question

We all know that it cause brittleness and split ends because it affects the shaft, but the follicles?

Ajaya Kashyap, MD · Answer

Thanks for your query. Heat from the blow dryers does not affect the follicles much. Yes excess heat can damage the hair shaft and make your hair brittle and dry which cause hair fall. Use of hair dryer should be limited and should not be used in excess as this cause hair fall. Hope it helps.All The Best

Ashley R. Curtis, MD · Answer

Damage caused by high heat hair drying and other damaging hair care practices primarily affects the hair shaft. While it may cause brittleness and split ends, which can make it appear as though the hair is thinning, it is unlikely to permanently harm the hair follicles that lie safely underneath the skin’s surface.

You should keep in mind, however, that serious and prolonged trauma to the scalp, either as a result of severe burns that damage the epidermis or the extreme tension that results from certain hairstyles can place enough strain on the follicles to have an effect on hair growth. In extreme cases, patients can experience traction alopecia or even permanent scarring alopecia when the scalp has suffered significant damage.

I often recommend that those concerned with hair loss dry their hair using low heat, since preventing breakage and split ends has the effect of making hair appear thicker and fuller. However, for heat to cause permanent damage to the follicles that are deep underneath the skin, serious burning to the scalp surface would have had to have occurred.

Baubac Hayatdavoudi, MD · Answer

Your follicles are typically 1centigrade cooler than your core temperature.  They do not like heat exposure over a long time, whether it comes in the form of sun exposure, hot ironing, or hot blow drying. If you need to use a blow dryer, use it on a cool setting.

Ilhan Serdaroglu, MD · Answer

The heat from blow dryers may damage to the shaft of hair and may cause dull , brittle , breakable hair. but it does not affect the root and cause a permanent damage or hair loss.

Michael Meshkin, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

extreme or excess heat from blow dryer can cause damage to the hair shaft, and can cause temporary hair loss. however the hair follicle should stay intact and start to regrow a few months later.

Can heat from blow dryers damage hair follicles in any way or cause hair loss or it just affects the shaft?

Answers (6)

Answer: Blow dryers damage hair follicles

Answer: Blow dryers damage hair follicles

Answer: Heat of blow dryer can it damage hair?

Answer: Heat of blow dryer can it damage hair?

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Can heat from blow dryers damage hair follicles in any way or cause hair loss or it just affects the shaft?

Answers (6)

Answer: Blow dryers damage hair follicles

Answer: Blow dryers damage hair follicles

Answer: Heat of blow dryer can it damage hair?

Answer: Heat of blow dryer can it damage hair?

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Hair Loss Treatment

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.