While it is true that the scalp itself has little control over the hormones that cause male-pattern baldness, there are some activities that limit the robustness of your scalp. Activities like smoking and conditions like skin cancer affect your hair negatively if they are not controlled or treated.

1. Smoking

Blood circulation in the scalp is of utmost importance. A healthy scalp supplies nutrients and oxygen to live hair follicles through the various capillaries and arteries beneath the scalp. Smoking reduces healthy circulation beneath the scalp, and slows down the hair re-growth.

In the long run, continuous smoking may increase the pace of hair loss especially in dependent smokers in advanced age.

2. Sunburn

Even if the scalp is covered by hair, it is still very possible for the scalp to experience sunburn. As you already know, sunburns are painful and uncomfortable. When the sunburn occurs deeply enough, the primordial cells deep inside the scalp may be affected severely.

When this happens, the new hair produced might shrink. Since the biological components responsible for hair growth are damaged, the new hair is also naturally damaged even before it breaks out from the surface of the scalp.

3. Cancer Strikes

When hair loss occurs, the scalp is exposed to the harmful ultraviolet radiation of the sun. This wavelength of radiation has been known to cause skin cancer in people who are exposed to the sun unprotected nearly everyday. In this regard, balding becomes more than just an aesthetic concern: it becomes a medical concern.

If you think your scalp is receiving far too much damage from direct hits of the sun, use hats or similar apparel to protect your scalp from further damage. If you can, stay away from the sun and venture out only when needed.

4. Folliculitis

As the name implies, folliculitis is a disease that is characterized by inflammation and redness of the skin. When this disease occurs, parts of the scalp that are affected lose their hair immediately. Often, the hair loss that is the consequence of this medical condition is permanent. If you don't get treatment for the condition immediately, you can suffer from generalized balding in a very short amount of time.

5. Salty or Chlorinated Water

Unfortunately, for beach lovers, salt water is not really friendly to the human hair. Extremely salty waters can cause immense damage not only to the hair but the scalp itself. Folks who swim in public swimming pools that make use of lots of chlorine are also at risk.

To counter the harmful effects of salty or chlorinated water, you should take a bath or shower immediately after swimming. Use generous amounts of shampoo and conditioners to counter the damaging effect on the scalp and the hair.

You'll notice that your hair will feel rough and unmanageable after you surface from a pool or the sea. If your hair remains this way after one washing, wash your hair once again, this time with more shampoo. Continue re-washing until your hair returns to its normal texture and bounce.