Will wearing a hard hat with a welding mask eventually cause permanent baldness?

Question

weighing about 10 pounds, with a majority of the weight being place about a 2 inch diameter surface area on the top center on my head eventually cause permanent baldness in that spot since it is decreasing the amount of blood flow to those follicles? Or is that not enough weight to cause damage? I'll only be in this job for about 2 months. Currently on 1 MG Finasteride daily and 5% minoxidil. Thank you for the information.

Jeff Rapaport, MD · Answer

Hard can cause friction alopecia as well as pressure alopecia. Most of this is reversible when discontinued. If you remove the hat after work and on weekends there should be minimal effect. Placing a foam pad in the areas of pressure may help.Jeff Rapaport MD FAADRealself All-star

Carlos Puig, DO · Answer

If your hat is putting pressure on certain areas of your head and tugging at your hair, it could result in permanent hair loss over time. I suggest you apply some padding to the areas where the hat is applying pressure to your scalp.

Matt Tahsini, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. I don’t think you have anything to worry about since you’ll only be on the job for 2 months. Even with long use of the hard hat as long as its off in the evenings and weekends you should be fine.

Sara Wasserbauer, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

It truly depends on how much rubbing there is in that certain area. Since it sounds like it will be short term there shouldn’t be a problem. To be safe you might want to put some sort of padding in there anyway.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

I have not examined a welding hat to determine any pressure points. I would image if there were pressure points you could pad them and therefore make is safer with regard to hair loss.

Will wearing a hard hat with a welding mask eventually cause permanent baldness?

Answers (5)

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