Dr Nidhi Patel's Cosmedics

Seeing more hair in the shower drain doesn’t automatically mean your shampoo is causing hair loss.

Here’s the part most people don’t realize:

Hair that has already completed its growth cycle is naturally going to shed. Washing simply collects several loose hairs at the same time, making the amount look much more dramatic.

So daily shampooing does not usually “pull out” healthy hair from the root.

In fact, avoiding shampoo because you’re afraid of hair fall can create another problem. Sweat, sebum, dandruff and product buildup can accumulate on the scalp and worsen inflammation or existing scalp conditions.

The important thing is to look at the overall pattern, not just your shower drain.

If you’re also finding significantly more hair:
• On your pillow
• On your clothes
• On your comb
• Throughout the day
• Or noticing visible thinning or a widening part

then the issue may be actual excessive shedding rather than simply noticing normal shedding during washing.

Common triggers include recent illness, major stress, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid problems, hormonal changes, medications and genetic hair loss.

And remember: washing frequency should be based on your scalp, not fear of hair fall.

A clean scalp doesn’t cause hair loss.
Ignoring persistent shedding can delay finding its actual cause.



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If your scalp feels oily again just one day after shampooing, don’t blame your shampoo just yet.

An oily scalp isn’t caused by one thing—it can have multiple reasons.

1. Naturally active oil glands
Your scalp contains sebaceous glands that produce sebum to protect your hair and skin. In some people, genetics and hormones make these glands naturally more active, so the scalp becomes oily much faster than average.

2. Heat, humidity & sweating
During summer and monsoon, sweat mixes with sebum and makes the scalp feel greasy much sooner. This doesn’t necessarily mean your shampoo has stopped working—it means your environment has changed.

If you’re sweating heavily or exercising regularly, washing your scalp more frequently during these seasons is completely normal.

3. An underlying hormonal issue
If your scalp becomes oily within a day throughout the year—and it’s accompanied by persistent acne, very oily skin, irregular periods (in women), or increased hair fall—it may be a sign that hormones are contributing to excess sebum production.

In these cases, changing shampoos alone rarely solves the problem.

A few dermatologist-approved tips:
✔ Wash your scalp as often as needed—frequent shampooing does not increase oil production.
✔ Don’t leave your scalp damp for hours after washing or getting caught in the rain.
✔ Cleanse your scalp after heavy workouts if sweat has accumulated.
✔ If dandruff, itching, or hair fall are also present, the problem may be inflammation rather than just excess oil.

Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp—not with the most expensive shampoo.



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The sleek bun may be trending…

But wearing it every single day could put your hairline at risk.

The problem isn’t the hairstyle itself.

It’s the constant tension.

When your ponytail or bun is tied very tightly, it continuously pulls on the hairs around the front and sides of your scalp. Over time, this repeated traction can damage the hair follicles.

This condition is called traction alopecia.

The earliest signs are easy to miss:
• A thinning hairline, especially around the temples.
• Small broken hairs along the front of the scalp.
• Tenderness or tightness after removing your hairstyle.

If the pulling continues for months or years, the follicles can become permanently damaged. Once scarring develops, hair regrowth becomes much more difficult.

Here’s what I recommend as a dermatologist:

✅ Alternate between different hairstyles.
✅ Change your hair parting regularly.
✅ Avoid tying your hair so tightly that it feels uncomfortable.
✅ Give your hairline “rest days” with loose hairstyles.
✅ If you notice persistent thinning around the temples, seek treatment early—traction alopecia is often reversible in its initial stages.

📌 Fashion trends change. Your hair follicles don’t.

Protecting your hairline today can help prevent permanent hair loss tomorrow.



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If your acne suddenly worsened after starting whey protein, it may not be a coincidence.

But it also doesn’t mean whey protein is “bad.”

Here’s what dermatologists know.

Some studies have found an association between whey protein and acne in susceptible individuals, particularly those who are already acne-prone.

Why?

Whey protein can increase insulin and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) levels. These hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce more oil and increase the rate at which skin cells are produced.

More oil + faster cell turnover = pores clog more easily.

When acne-causing bacteria are already present, this creates the ideal environment for new breakouts.

Does this happen to everyone?

No.

Many people consume whey protein for years without developing acne. Genetics, hormone levels, and whether you’re already acne-prone all influence your risk.

So should everyone with acne stop consuming protein?

Absolutely not.

Protein is essential for muscle recovery and overall health.

If you notice a clear link between whey protein and your breakouts, discuss switching to a plant-based or yeast-based protein source with your healthcare professional and monitor how your skin responds.

Most importantly, don’t ignore persistent acne.

Changing your protein source may reduce one trigger, but it won’t treat acne that’s already active. That still requires an appropriate skincare routine or medical treatment based on the severity of your acne.



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Many people think ketoconazole shampoo is only for dandruff.

In dermatology, we use it for much more than that—because many scalp problems have the same underlying trigger: yeast overgrowth (Malassezia) and the inflammation it causes.

Here’s how it helps:

✓ Dandruff: Reduces the yeast responsible for flaking.

✓ Itchy Scalp: Calms inflammation that’s often triggered by dandruff.

✓ Oily Scalp: Malassezia thrives in oily environments. Controlling the yeast can improve symptoms associated with excess oil.

✓ White Flakes: Helps reduce visible scaling by treating the underlying cause rather than just washing flakes away.

✓ Scalp Acne (Selected Cases): If the “pimples” are actually Malassezia folliculitis (often mistaken for acne), ketoconazole may help. True bacterial scalp acne requires different treatment.

✓ Bad Scalp Odour: Reducing yeast overgrowth and improving scalp health can also decrease unpleasant odour in some patients.

✓ Hair Fall Due To Dandruff: Dandruff doesn’t usually cause permanent hair loss, but chronic inflammation and persistent scratching can increase temporary shedding. Treating the dandruff often reduces this type of hair fall.

One important point:

Ketoconazole shampoo is a medicated treatment, not a regular cosmetic shampoo. It works best when left on the scalp for 3–5 minutes before rinsing, and the frequency depends on your diagnosis and your dermatologist’s advice.

If your dandruff keeps returning despite using medicated shampoos, the diagnosis may be something else—such as psoriasis, eczema, or seborrhoeic dermatitis—and it deserves a proper evaluation.



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One of the biggest myths about hair transplantation is that FUE is the “new” technique and FUT is “outdated.”

As someone who evaluates patients for hair restoration, that’s not how the decision is made.

Both procedures have the same objective:
Move healthy, permanent hair follicles from the donor area to areas affected by hair loss.

The difference lies in how those follicles are harvested.

FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)
Individual follicular units are removed one by one using tiny punches. There is no long linear scar, recovery is generally quicker, and many patients prefer it if they wear their hair short.

FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation)
A thin strip of scalp is removed from the donor area, after which individual follicular units are carefully separated under magnification. Although it leaves a linear scar, it can be advantageous in selected patients who require a large number of grafts or when preserving the donor area is an important long-term consideration.

So which one is better?

Neither.

The right technique depends on factors such as:
• Your pattern and stage of hair loss
• Donor hair density and scalp laxity
• The number of grafts required
• Your hairstyle preferences
• The possibility of needing future transplant sessions

A good hair transplant isn’t defined by whether it’s FUE or FUT.

It’s defined by proper patient selection, donor planning, natural hairline design, and graft survival.

Choosing the right surgeon is far more important than choosing the right acronym.



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