Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on "Healthwatch," we're talking about how your health can affect your appearance - and vice versa. Some of the things we do to make ourselves look good may actually hurt us in the long term.
There are a lot of things women do to make their hair look nice: rolling, straightening, curling and pinning. But dermatologists at UT Southwestern Medical Center say some hairstyling techniques can cause you to lose your hair. Pulling your hair back tightly with rollers, rubber bands or clips can put too much stress on the hair root. Over time, hair may stop growing, especially on the edges of the hairline.
The chemicals and heat used to straighten hair can also cause damage. The process may weaken hair's structure so that it's more likely to break mid-shaft.
To keep your hair healthy and strong, straighten or roll your hair less often.
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March 2005
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