2023-04-17 07:00:00
Practicing sport is one of the best ways to promote physical and mental health and, of course, its benefits also extend to the hair healthas it is capable of promoting healthy hair development and preventing hair loss.
“Sport improves the general health of all the cells and organs of our body and, therefore, also that of the folliclessince, when exercising, blood flow and vascularization are increased, facilitating the arrival of nutrients to the hair follicles”, explains the doctor Francis Pilofrom the Hospital Capilar clinic, who also adds that its regular practice “reduces stress, which reduces the probability of suffering from telogen effluvium, favoring hair growth with better quality and looking softer and shinier.”
One of the main advantages of sport in hair health is that it promotes oxygenation of the scalp, which, in turn, serves to improve circulation in the area, making nutrients reach the hair follicles more quickly, promoting hair growth and therefore increasing its vitality.
Likewise, the regular practice of some sport prevents the appearance of various diseases that can lead to an unhealthy appearance of the hair or promote its loss in extreme cases; in addition to helping with the digestive function of the organism.
The expert stresses that the aerobic sports They are the ones that produce the most vasodilation and, by extension, are the ones that contribute the most to achieving good capillary health. “To improve hair quality, cardio workouts are recommended, such as walking, running or cycling; or practicing Pilates or yoga, an activity that is considered beneficial for hair because it increases blood flow to the head area and provides the optimal conditions needed for rapid hair growth, as well as helping to reduce breakouts. hormonal imbalances, increase calm and cleanse the digestive system”, emphasizes Dr. Pilo.
Another of the main benefits of doing sports is the increase in serotonin. The so-called happiness hormone helps combat stress, one of the great enemies of hair that can even cause the appearance of nervous alopecia. This type of hair loss is related to high levels of anxiety or depression that appears promoted by the exponential increase in cortisol levels, a toxin that affects the functioning of the body and hair, “causing up to 70% of hair follicles to scalp are affected by very pronounced stress situations”.
The sweating that occurs when practicing any sport also has benefits. “It serves to eliminate the negative toxins that circulate through the body, favoring the normal cycles of growth and loss to occur normally and that, when the hair falls out, it can recover normally”, explains the specialist.
However, the doctor warns that “it is important that let’s wash the hair after each workout, so that those toxins that we have eliminated through sweat do not remain in the hair and are eliminated, since many of them contain an acidic pH that, if they remain in our body for a long time, hair, can cause fragility and breakage of the hair fiber. Sweat leaves the hair drier and, in atopic skin, it could generate extra irritation, causing an increase in seborrhea or a worsening of dermatitis,” he stresses.
Beware of sports supplements
Of course, not everything is good for the hair with the practice of a sport. There are studies that corroborate that the abuse of certain supplements, such as steroids o anaboliccan cause progressive hair loss, due to the increase in dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a molecule that acts directly on the hormonal receptors of the hair follicles that has been shown to accelerate baldness in many cases, especially in the case of men.
“When the supplements are taken in large quantities, they can trigger alopecia, although, if they are located in time, they can be reversible; as long as their intake is suspended”, says the doctor.
Finally, the expert adds that physical activity must be complemented with healthy habits such as a good rest, low alcohol consumption or a balanced diet that includes enough nutrients, trace elements and vitamins to avoid extra supplementation. “A healthy diet is recommended in which ultra-processed foods are avoided and rich in proteins such as eggs, milk or fish, as well as meat, legumes, nuts and fruits and vegetables,” concludes Pilo.
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