It's generally understood that it's best not to wash your hair during menstruation, but for many women who value cleanliness, going several days without washing their hair is simply unbearable. Experts warn that washing your hair during menstruation may worsen menstrual cramps and can easily lead to hair loss, so it's best to avoid it. If you absolutely must wash your hair, it's recommended to wait until the third day after your period starts, and ideally, wash it during the day.
Washing your hair during your period may worsen menstrual cramps.
Western medicine believes that there is no medical basis for the idea that you shouldn't wash your hair during menstruation, but Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) holds a different view. TCM considers the head to be the most important of the six Yang meridians, and the uterus to be the starting point of the Ren meridian. During menstruation, blood circulation is already relatively poor. Washing your hair causes blood to concentrate in the head, affecting blood circulation to the uterus and preventing the uterus from emptying properly, which can easily lead to reduced menstrual flow or menstrual cramps.
Scientific research has shown that washing your hair during menstruation can stimulate the brain's nerves, causing uterine contractions. These contractions can disrupt the body's hormone secretion. Over time, this imbalance can lead to cell mutations and gynecological cancers such as breast cancer and uterine cancer.
Is it true that washing your hair during menstruation can cause cervical cancer ? (This is a Weibo post. )
A piece of common sense has begun circulating on Weibo: Some people have found that most cervical cancer patients have a habit of washing their hair during menstruation. They say that washing hair during menstruation is not a matter of whether it is cold or not, but that this practice will cause the uterus to not contract completely, and the menstrual blood that should be discharged will not be discharged completely. It will remain in the uterus, and over time, it will cause an imbalance in the secretion of hormones in the body, which will eventually lead to cancer.
Expert opinion:
1. Cervical cancer is not related to washing your hair during menstruation.
The claim on Weibo that washing your hair during menstruation can cause cervical cancer is very unscientific.
First, menstrual blood is not unclean blood, but rather normal blood from the human body. Besides blood, it also contains fragments of the uterine lining that have broken down, cervical mucus, and shed vaginal epithelium. Under the regulation of the hypothalamus, the central endocrine organ in a sexually mature woman, estrogen and progesterone levels undergo cyclical changes. As these hormone levels rise, the uterine lining thickens and ovulation occurs. If there is no sperm to fertilize the egg, hormone levels drop. Simultaneously, the uterine lining, deprived of hormonal support, breaks down, disintegrates, and sheds, resulting in menstruation.
Secondly, menstrual blood will not "remain," because once menstrual blood is produced, it will enter the vagina through the cervix and then be discharged from the body.
In addition, most factors affecting uterine contractions are related to the endocrine system. Prostaglandins and thromboxanes secreted during menstruation can promote uterine contractions to stop bleeding. Promoting the discharge of menstrual blood is certainly one of the results of uterine contractions, but if there is any reason for "incomplete uterine contractions," the consequence will be continuous vaginal bleeding, rather than "residual" blood inside.
How should I wash my hair during my period?
During your period, try to wash your hair around midday, and keep the washing time short. After washing, make sure to dry your hair thoroughly. Don't go outside immediately after washing your hair; wear a hat to avoid catching a cold. If you're a working professional and can't wash your hair during the day, as a rule of thumb, it's best to avoid washing it during the first two days of your period. Wait until the third day or later when your flow is lighter. Make sure to dry your hair completely afterward. Once you have this experience, you should develop the habit of washing your hair as soon as you realize your period is approaching.
It's not true that you can't wash your hair at all times during your period. Maintaining this strict rule is very difficult for women, so there are some flexibility options. Try to wash your hair during the day, around midday. Keep the washing time short and dry it thoroughly with a hairdryer afterwards. Don't go out immediately after washing your hair; wear a hat to protect your head from the cold.
