AIR TRAVEL AND HEALTHY HAIR
by Tony Pearce RN.
Specialist Trichologist, National Trichology
Services
The anticipation of overseas
travel is a happy prospect for most people, and the
miniscule risks associated with flying are soon
forgotten in the excitement.
The cells of the hair bulb are the third most
rapidly dividing cells of the body after bone marrow
and the mucosal lining of the stomach. Because of
this, hair growth is very sensitive to physiological
or external changes that may affect us.
The “jet lag” from a non-stop flight from Australia
to the United States or United Kingdom may in
susceptible people be enough physiological
stress on the body to induce a short bout of
excessive hair fall. Hair loss from this
circumstance is temporary and self-correcting. What
often gets people in a panic however is the hair
fall suddenly begins 2-3 months after the
flight was undertaken and they don’t associate their
present problem with an event some months before.
Ten to fifty percent of the hair can be synchronized
into a premature falling phase and begins shedding
from all over the scalp. This often continues for
about 2-3 months before settling. In a temporary,
self-correcting hair loss the hair is usually being
replaced even as it sheds. Apart from reassurance no
treatment is indicated for this condition.
More commonly the affected person may have an
existing nutritional deficiency - particularly low
iron in women, or a metabolic condition such as
diabetes or problems of the thyroid gland. They may
be in poor health, or severely stressed for whatever
reason. Normal hair growth may only just be “coping”
and the added stress to the body “tips the scales”
into a hair loss state. In this situation the
underlying factor/s would need to be stabilised
before the hair loss settles.
I have been consulted by numbers of commercial
flight crew for hair loss and scalp concerns, some
of which was occupation-related and some not.
Contrary to what might be the widely held view of
people who live out of travel luggage, the majority
of airline flight personell are much disciplined in
their dietary and fitness routines!
However they often experience situations peculiar to
their occupation that may give rise to recurring
episodes of excessive hair loss. Departing from an
area of high ambient temperature and humidity, and
arriving at one’s destination to temperatures of 20
degrees below freezing may generate a physiological
“shock” to the body’s internal balance.
Continual dietary changes from “stop overs” in
different continents or countries may also create an
internal disturbance. Severe vomiting/diarrhea and
its accompanying dehydration from contaminated water
or food will nearly always trigger a delayed bout of
excessive hair fall.
Dramatic changes in diet, “crash” dieting or rapid
weight loss are common causes of hair loss of a
temporary, self-correcting type. Finally, whilst it
is known there is an increased exposure to
ultraviolet radiation from high altitude flying, its
adverse effects on normal hair growth remain
inconclusive.
Female flight attendants are at particular risk of
developing a form of hair loss termed ‘traction
alopecia’. Traction alopecia gradually occurs
along the front hairline margins of the scalp, and
distressingly presents as a “receding” hairline. The
problem is caused by the hair being pulled back
tightly off the face and held under tension for
extended periods of time. If the woman ties her hair
back whilst it’s wet and/or has an underlying low
iron state, these will combine to exacerbate the
hair loss considerably.
It’s not all bad news though! Some simple steps
taken during and after your international flight can
help your hair remain healthy and on your head!
During the flight consume small servings of food,
preferably protein, salads/vegetables, and
carbohydrates such as pasta. Avoid sugary, refined
or salty foods as the sugar will “spike” your blood
sugar levels and the salt will make you thirstier
and retain fluid.
Drink 2-3 litres of bottled water on a 15-hour
flight, including some fruit juices (not cordial).
During long flights your skin can become quite
dehydrated from the ultra-dry recycled air within
the aircraft. Liberally applying a facial/body
moisturiser prior and during your flight is also a
good idea.
Minimise your alcohol, coffee, and to a lesser
extent, tea intake as they are all diuretics and
will dehydrate you. Rest quietly as you feel the
need.
Upon arrival at your destination, maintain the same
dietary regimen as you did in-flight for the first
24 hours. Where possible use your first day to relax
and help reset your body’s circadian rhythms. Three
to six hours of judicious exposure to strong
sunlight or artificial light as bright as sunlight
has been shown to speed recovery from jet lag.
Sunlight stimulates the pineal gland in the brain to
inhibit the secretion of the hormone melatonin, thus
regulating our ‘biological clock’ for falling asleep
and awakening.
If a woman knows her ferritin (iron storage) levels
to be less than 40ug/L, an iron supplement taken
daily for a week prior to her flight and a week
after arriving at her destination will greatly
reduce the risk of excessive hair fall later on. She
should certainly take an iron supplement if she is
menstruating whilst undertaking international air
travel.
“Economy Class” Syndrome: The so-called
economy class syndrome has achieved much media
notoriety in recent years, but what does the term
really mean?
The condition is actually a deep-venous
thrombosis (DVT); a blood clot that usually
originates in the deep veins of the lower limbs.
Whilst a DVT may occur in any person, more commonly
it affects those who have an inherited or lifestyle
predisposition to develop them.
The restricted movement of being seated for extended
periods of time causes blood pooling in the veins of
the lower legs. Those at increased risk of
developing DVT are sedentary, overweight people,
smokers, and women who smoke and take pregnancy
contraceptives. Those who consume high-sodium (salt)
diets or regularly consume excessive amounts of
alcohol are also at greater risk of DVT.
The two serious complications of DVT are:
- Pulmonary embolism
occurs when the clot dislodges and finds its way
into the pulmonary (lung) arterial blood flow.
- Post-phlebitic syndrome
that presents as swollen, hot, painful area on
the limb due to destruction of the ‘back-flow’
valves within the vein.
The risk of developing a DVT after
air travel is very low when one considers the vast
numbers of people who undertake air travel every day
of the year throught the world.
People who have a history of
developing blood clots or those who feel they may be
at increased risk can consider the following
pre-flight measures to minimise the possibility:
- Engage in some moderate
exercise such as brisk walking 2-3 times per
week for a week or two before your international
flight.
- Stop or reduce tobacco
smoking for at least 2 weeks before departure.
- Take half an asprin daily for
2 weeks prior to departure.
- For the duration of your
flight wear correctly fitted anti-embolic (TED)
stockings to reduce blood pooling and assist
vein bloodflow.
- Avoid or minimise in-flight
alcohol consumption.
- Drink 2-3 litres of water
during a 10-15 hour flight.
- Whilst seated gently exercise
your lower legs as instructed by your flight
attendants. When authorised to do so, move about
the cabin once per hour.
Enjoy your flight!
About the Author: Tony Pearce is a Specialist
Trichologist & Registered Nurse. He is a founding
member of the Society for Progressive Trichology &
the official lecturer for Analytical Reference
Laboratory (ARL) for hair loss & hormone imbalance.
In Australia he can be contacted on +61 2 9542 2700,
or through his website at
www.hairlossclinic.com.au.
Copyright Anthony Pearce
Copyright
Anthony Pearce 2005. *References for this article
available on request
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