Understanding Hair Loss due to Air Pollution and the Approach to Management

The document from 2015 examines the phenomenon of 'Sensitive Scalp Syndrome' and its association with hair loss due to air pollution (HDP) in individuals residing in metropolitan areas. It identifies pollutants like particulate matter, nickel, lead, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) as contributors to oxidative stress leading to symptoms such as itching, dandruff, and hair loss. The study suggests management strategies including antioxidants, regular hair washing, EDTA shampoos, and coconut oil application, which showed positive results within 6-8 weeks, with improvements in hair fall, scalp health, and trichoscopic evidence of increased hair density and caliber. The document also highlights the importance of distinguishing HDP from androgenic alopecia and other hair loss conditions through careful history and trichoscopic evaluation. However, the number of study participants and specific quantitative results were not mentioned.