Could Anti-Frizz Products Be a Factor in Hair Loss?

Recent hair loss research shines a light on frontal fibrosing alopecia, a hair loss mostly experienced by middle-aged women. The study found that many hair loss cases also experienced contact dermatitis ignited by a chemical commonly found in leave-in conditioners and anti-frizz products. This raises the question: Are these products contributing to hair loss?

Featured Experts

• Daniel Schlessinger, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in Omaha, NE, and co-author of the alopecia study
• Michelle Henry, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York
• Marianna Blyumin-Karasik, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in Davie, FL
• Bertha Baum, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in Aventura, FL

New Research Finds Surprising Connection

“We usually think of hair loss as being caused by internal factors, like hormones, aging or autoimmune diseases. But there are also a few external factors that can contribute,” says Omaha, NE dermatologist and study co-author, Daniel Schlessinger, MD. “In residency, I was part of a research study that looked at an increasingly common form of scarring hair loss called frontal fibrosing alopecia, in which mostly middle-aged women experience a sharply receding hairline and loss [of] eyebrows.”

In residency, Dr. Schlessinger learned that this kind of hair loss is often characterized by signs of contact dermatitis. “Because this kind of hair loss often has blotches of red, itchy rash on the scalp, dermatologists have long wondered whether this kind of hair loss is due to an allergy to a particular kind of facial or hair-care product,” he explains. “In our recent study, we saw that a large proportion of these patients had an allergic contact dermatitis in response to a kind of chemical that is used in conditioners and hair products for its anti-frizz properties.”

Do anti-frizz products cause hair loss?

It’s way too early to say.

“There isn’t yet a proven association,” Dr. Schlessinger notes. “But it was interesting that a chemical that is often used in leave-on conditioners may be linked to a very common form of hair loss.”

It is clear, though, that contact dermatitis can contribute to hair loss. And if you’re using a product that causes you to develop scalp irritation or inflammation, you should stop using that product.

Scalp Irritation Is Not Optimal for Hair Growth

“Similar to the gut microbiome, the scalp microbiome plays a critical role, helping to regulate the scalp environment, which affects everything from hair growth to scalp health,” explains New York dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD.

And if your scalp microbiome is unbalanced or disrupted, your skin will show it.

“Neglecting your scalp health and picking at your scalp irritations can lead to scalp folliculitis or breakouts of pimples on the scalp with slow-healing scabs, which is another common expression of microbiome disruption,” says Davie, FL dermatologist Marianna Blyumin-Karasik, MD.

And that disruption isn’t great for our hair.

“Scalp health plays a crucial role in maintaining the overall health of your hair,” explains Aventura, FL dermatologist Bertha Baum, MD. “Factors such as hair growth and strength can be affected, and the moisture of the scalp can have an effect on the hair follicle and production of dandruff can irritate the scalp leading to dry skin and other issues. Inflammatory conditions can cause itching and hair loss in certain cases.”