Why does hair get tangled. Why do knots appear on the hair? Hair breakage treatment
They are quite rare, the most common of them are trichoclasia nodosa (brittle hair) and trichoptylosis (split ends). The main reasons for the appearance of hair anomalies are considered to be infectious diseases transferred by the mother during pregnancy and genetic determinism. The research algorithm for hair anomalies includes spectral analysis and hair microscopy. Treatment consists in the regular use of individually selected hair care products. Although hair anomalies are not dangerous to health, they are a serious aesthetic problem and have an impact on the mental sphere of the patient, especially when it comes to women.
General information
They are quite rare, the most common of them are trichoclasia nodosa (brittle hair) and trichoptylosis (split ends).
Causes of Hair Abnormalities
The main cause of trichoclasia, trichoptilosis and other hair abnormalities are infectious diseases of the mother during pregnancy. Syphilis, tuberculosis, viral infections in the first trimester of pregnancy are especially dangerous for the development of the fetus. Iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy, frequent stress, mental and physical overwork adversely affect the fetus and can lead to various congenital anomalies, including more serious ones than trichoclasia and trichoptylosis. Once a pathology has arisen, it is fixed in the genome and then is inherited.
The use of cytostatics, antibiotics and other drugs that affect the fetus during pregnancy can also lead to congenital pathology of the skin appendages. If, in addition to the altered follicles, there is dystrophy of the sebaceous glands, then the disease is more pronounced and is accompanied by dryness and brittle hair.
Trichoclasia and trichoptilosis account for no more than 4% of all hair pathologies, which are mostly acquired. Minor cases of the disease are noted already in adulthood, more often due to hard rubbing of ointments into the scalp, but after the drug is discontinued, the condition of the hair returns to normal, this pathology is not genetically determined.
With genetically determined trichoclasia and trichoptilosis, only a part of the hair follicles is affected, so the diseases are most noticeable in the first years of a child's life. Over time, due to the increase in hair mass, the altered hair shafts become less noticeable. The rest of the hair can be completely healthy, if secondary dryness and brittleness do not join.
Trichoclasia and trichoptilosis do not pose a threat to life, but, however, with significant damage to the hair follicles or in combination with other hair pathologies, they can become a serious aesthetic problem in the future.
Clinical manifestations of hair development anomalies
With ordinary trichoclasia, transverse fragility of the hair is noted, the formation of nodules on the hair shaft is possible. Knotty trichoclasia is characterized by the appearance of nodules on the hair shaft. Nodules appear on the lower third of the hair and look like dense translucent light or dark (depending on hair color) thickening. Nodules are located on different hair, in different quantities. At the same time, the rest of the hair is absolutely healthy. A multiple increase in the hair affected by nodular trichoclasia allows you to see that the hair has longitudinal splits.
In the areas between the nodules of the hair is absolutely healthy, the absence of medulla in the hair shaft is observed only in close proximity to the nodule. In areas affected by trichoclasia, the hair breaks easily and there are tassels at both ends of the broken hair due to delamination.
Trichonodiasis or looped hair externally manifests itself in the same way as trichoclasia nodosa. And only with a multiple increase in the affected hair, it becomes clear that these are not nodules, but loops. These nodules accumulate dust particles, desquamated epidermis and microorganisms.
With trichoptylosis, the ends of the hair are split longitudinally, while part of the hair is affected, in contrast to split ends, when the bulk of the hairline is affected. The tip of the hair is split into several parts and looks like a brush. Sometimes trichoptilosis is combined with degenerative changes in hair follicles and atrophy of the sebaceous glands.
One of the rare hair anomalies is moniletrix. This is a defect, and unlike other congenital malformations, moniletrix does not have other pathogenetic causes. Moniletrix manifests itself at the 1.5-2nd month of life, at the same time follicular hyperkeratosis develops. Moniletrix affects the entire scalp or individual places.
Throughout the length of the hair shaft, there are a number of alternating thickening and thinning of the hair. On blond hair, areas thickened with moniletrix look darker, this is due to the presence of air bubbles in places of thickening and its absence in thinned areas. Hair tends to break off in thin places, so the length of the hairline rarely exceeds 1-1.5 cm.
Due to the congenital changes in the innervation of the scalp, the hair follicles are subject to deformation, the hair becomes thinner, dry and brittle. Deep changes in the hair follicle are observed, starting from the bulb, which contributes to the development of chronic follicular hyperkeratosis.
Diagnosis and treatment of hair anomalies
To differentiate moniletrix, trichoclasia, trichoptilosis and trichonodiasis from acquired hair pathologies in trichology, microscopy and spectral analysis of hair for the content of trace elements are used.
Treatment is hair care. The use of medical cosmetics specially selected by the trichologist makes it possible to make these defects less noticeable, by increasing the elasticity and softness of the hair. In some cases, if the number of affected hairs is insignificant, but when combing due to knots and thickenings, the hair gets tangled, you can resort to epilation of the changed hair shafts.
Intricate and beautiful hairstyles, expertly styled in a bun, are considered very sophisticated. But sometimes knots in the hair appear in addition to our desire - the curls are tied into "loops" by themselves, and at the same time they get confused and break. This can be the result of both improper hair care and health failures.
Nodules on the hair: why they form and how to get rid of them
In fact, the nodules look different. They can be collected in loops at the tips. Or such formations can be covered with a hair shaft along its entire length. Often there is also a breakage of hairs with the formation of a "brush" at the ends. What is the reason for this phenomenon?
Improper care and exposure to chemicals. Often, improper washing, combing, and the use of inappropriate products can worsen the condition of our magnificent wealth and lead to the formation of such “ties”. We can say that these are peculiar nodules for memory - one should not forget about competent hair care.
This is very beautiful - healthy hair without knots:
Also, perms, dyeing, blonding, the use of irons, curling irons, thermal curlers and other similar special devices can worsen the condition of the curls.
What to do? Refuse everything that has an aggressive effect on the hair: from chemical perms, dyeing, frequent blow-drying, straightening with irons, curling on thermal curlers, staying without a headgear on open sultry Sun. You should also comb your hair more carefully (it is advisable to put aside plastic or iron combs and use combs made from natural materials), pick up good shampoo, balm, mask that suit your type of curls. There are also special means that will help to avoid the formation of such annoying "loops".
Health failures. Metabolic disorders can also lead to a similar phenomenon. Therefore, similar “ties” appeared on the hair, it is not superfluous to consult a doctor and conduct an examination.
Fungus. Or rather, knotty trichosporia (piedra). As a rule, in this case, nodules form along the entire length of the hair. However, a dermatologist, trichologist knows more accurate symptoms of this phenomenon. Therefore, when annoying nodules appear, you should, of course, consult such specialists.
Omens and superstitions. The most important sign associated with the formation of knots: if you use a plastic comb, do not dry and style properlythose curls, are fond of experiments and often change the image with the help of paints - expect such a phenomenon on your hair.
Photo from the Internet, is in the public domain.
Hair breakage(trichoclasia) occurs in two types: longitudinal fragility and transverse fragility. Longitudinal fragility is characterized by longitudinal splitting of the hair, starting from their tips (trichoptilosis) or the formation of nodules (knotty hair fragility, trichonodiasis). Transverse hair breakage includes diseases such as idiopathic trichoclasia and hair fragility.
Trichoptylosis (split ends of hair).
Cause of hair breakage due to split ends of the hair is hypofunction of the sebaceous glands, which results in dry hair, depriving them of healthy shine and smoothness. Improper hair care (use of unsuitable cosmetics, daily shampooing in hard water, mechanical damage to the hair) can also cause degreasing.
In addition, split ends of the hair can be a symptom of anemia or tuberculosis. More often trichoptilosis occurs in women than in men. It should be noted that with this disease, usually only part of the hair on the head suffers. The affected hair splits at the tip, forming a kind of brush. Trichoptylosis can be combined with atrophy of the hair follicles, thus appearing in the hair roots.
Knotty brittle hair
Knotty brittle hair is a disease characterized by the formation of small dense nodules on the hair itself. The nodules are light in color on dark hair and dark in color on hair of lighter shades. The number of nodules is individual and can be both small and significant.
The reason for the appearance of nodules- longitudinal splitting of the hair. As a result of the appearance of this defect, the hair easily breaks off in the areas where nodules appear. Also, the causes of this disease include mechanical damage to the hair, improperly performed massage in the head area, affecting the hair, and improper hair care.
In addition, a general weakening of the body's defenses, various diets that provoke a deficiency of nutrients, vitamins, microelements can also lead to a decrease in the strength and density of the hair shaft, causing the development knotty brittle hair. Most often, knotty brittle hair affects beards and mustaches in men, as well as the hair of women wearing haircuts of shoulder length or more. This disease can manifest itself both in early and in adulthood.
Hair fragility
The fragility of the hair is expressed in the fact that the hair breaks easily even with a slight mechanical impact on them. Most often, such hair lacks the normal level of smoothness, is dry and lacks the healthy sheen of normal hair. Cause of brittle hair- decreased secretion of the sebaceous glands. There are two types of hair fragility: idiopathic and symptomatic.
Symptomatic hair fragility is a consequence of various lesions of the scalp associated with severe systemic diseases.
Idiopathic hair fragility- an extremely rare form of this disease and occurs in individuals with long hair. With this form of hair fragility, not all hair is affected, but only a part of it.
Idiopathic trichoclasia
Idiopathic trichoclasia- a disease in which the hair breaks at approximately the same level due to little or no mechanical stress (for example, combing). Areas of hair affected by this disease can increase in size and reach 5-6 centimeters.
Idiopathic trichoclasia can develop at any age, regardless of gender, but according to statistics, women are more susceptible to it. The skin at the site of the lesion may not have any changes, but occasionally patients experience increased dryness of the skin, peeling and itching.
Loopy hair (trichonosis)
Trichonodiasis has some resemblance to knotty brittle hair, however, in its structure, the defect does not have a nodal structure, but is tiny loops in which fragments of dirt accumulate. One hair can have several loops throughout, both simple and complex.
As a rule, at the point of formation of loops, the hair breaks quickly, and a brush may form at its tip. Cause of trichonodiasis- improper hair care, too rough combing. Trichonodiasis occurs on different parts of the body that have hairline.
Spindle hair (fusiform hair aplasia, moniletrix)
Moniletrix is a congenital malformation that manifests itself in the first few months after the birth of a child. It should be noted that such a violation is extremely rare. With this disease, both the entire scalp on the head and its individual sections can suffer. Moniletrix is characterized by a series of thinnings and thickenings on the hair shaft, and thickenings have more pronounced pigmentation than thinnings. In thin places, the hair is prone to breakage.
The cause of spindle hair dysplasia is follicular keratosis (dermatosis characterized by thickening of the stratum corneum of the epidermis). Most often, the affected areas are localized in the occipital region of the head and are accompanied by skin changes. The skin in the affected area has a rough surface, the hair follicles are deformed, and peeling often occurs.
Hair breakage treatment
Depending on the reasons that caused brittle hair, the following are distinguished: treatments this violation:
- medical cosmetics;
- vitamins of groups B, C, A, E, intake of iron, zinc, magnesium, selenium;
- balanced diet;
- with the introduction of therapeutic cocktails under the skin;
- physiotherapy procedures;
- effect on the skin.
Knots in the hair for a woman can be a serious problem, and it's not just about the aesthetic perception of the hair and the difficulties of combing it - after you have untangled the knot and achieved smooth hair, it is likely that the hair where the knot was will still break off. Over time, this can lead to the loss of most of the hair. Read more about how to prevent this.
Causes of the problem
Trichologists distinguish two large groups of reasons that human hair is prone to the formation of knots:
Heredity. If the mother suffered any infections during pregnancy, there was a strong lack of certain trace elements in her diet, if the woman was often nervous, then this could affect the hair structure of the unborn baby.
Wrong care. Most often, all knots are provoked by the following factors: a woman often keeps her hair loose when she is in strong wind, frost and other adverse weather conditions; split ends are rarely trimmed; a woman often experiments with her own hair: dyes, curls, straightens, and so on; there is combing with metal combs, or the hair is combed wet, which is absolutely not worth doing.
Care rules
They are quite simple but effective.
The first thing to do is to moisturize your hair using at least once a week.
What you need to know about daily care :
If there is a strong wind outside, collect your hair in a ponytail or pigtail. The same should be done before bed.
Be sure to use a conditioner after shampooing your hair - it helps to comb your hair.
Trim the ends at least once every two months.
A fine-toothed comb is your best friend when it comes to hair care. It is better if it is made of natural material. Comb carefully and long, but only dry hair.
- what to do if a child's hair grows poorly, you can.
Long hair is still the standard of beauty and causes envy and sighs from those who do not have it. Knots in the hair can darken the picture. Now in many ways there is a rollback towards Slavic traditions, natural tones and simplicity, which emphasize the naturalness and depth of the final image. Long hair imposes more measures aimed at maintaining their health and appearance, as well as more diligent daily care. There are often additional and minor problems that can pretty much overshadow the situation and complicate the natural course of things. Among these manifestations, a special place is occupied by knots in the hair, which from time to time appear in every person, no matter how attentive and firm in care he is. Consider why does hair get tied in knots and how to solve this problem on your own without resorting to cardinal methods.
Nodules on the hair is a rather arbitrary term, and sometimes it’s not even really nodules, but simply hairs tangled into various shapes, mostly closer to their ends. People with thin and curly hairs are more likely to suffer from this problem, although in many ways this process is individual and consists of concomitant factors. The main reasons contributing to the fact that the hair gets tangled in knots are irregular combing with the formation of tangled strands, excessive use of a hair dryer, poor-quality plastic combing devices. Additionally, this situation can be facilitated by excessive efforts when wiping the head after washing, improperly selected shampoo, abuse of chemicals, perms, and dyeing. In fact, knots in the hair are largely the result of your attitude or inaction.
The situation when hair tied in knots it is much easier to prevent than to comb out or cut off the unnecessary later. To do this, use the following simple everyday recommendations:
- do not rub your hair after washing, but simply blot it with a towel along the entire length
- give preference to natural drying, do not comb your hair while it is wet
- be sure to comb your hair in the evening before going to bed
- never go to bed with your hair and accessories on your hair
- in cold weather, hide your hair under clothing, and do not let it come into contact with cold air.
Such measures are largely able to reduce the risk of confusion, and as a result of nodules. Trouble will arise in any case, and watch for you, and here, too, there is salvation in place. First you need to try to comb the problem area, and get rid of crowding. To do this, take a comb with a rare tooth, preferably a wooden one, and try to comb the strands, while not trying to comb everything at once, but do it in parts, dividing the problem area into sections. Also try scratching from the bottom up, from the tips to the root, which allows less trauma to the hair and increases the likelihood of a successful outcome. If the hair is tangled in depth and the knots in the hair have reached the size of a tumbleweed, it is worth trying to use several combs, preferably specialized ones, and try to slowly comb everything and give it a normal look. Sometimes a situation arises that it is not possible to completely get rid of the problem, and there are still defective areas. In such a situation, it makes sense to cut out the problematic place, because. it can become a starting point in the formation of a new problem case in the future. After you have brought your hair in relative order - wash your hair, and be sure to use a balm to give your hair heaviness and weight, which helps to minimize the risk of tangles.
Nodules on the hair do not appear on their own, and favorable conditions for their occurrence often ripen for quite a long time, waiting for the confluence of factors. In many ways, our own attitude, inadequate care, and somewhere laziness bring the situation to such extremes. Remember that it is better to overdo it in care than to solve the complications that have arisen later.