Although a few strands of hair may show up in your brush or down the drain, how can you tell when regular hair shedding occurs or when hair loss is evident? Although the hair development cycle naturally includes shedding, hair loss can indicate something more severe. This tutorial will go over the two when to be worried and give doable advice to stop too much hair loss.
What is Hair Shedding?
A normal component of the hair development cycle is the shedding of hair. As we move into the “telogen,” the resting phase of the cycle, we shed between 50 and 100 hairs every day. Hairs fall out during this period, after three to four months, to allow fresh hair to flourish.
About 85% of hair follicles on a healthy scalp are actively growing at any one moment; the remaining 15% are in the resting phase. A few hairs fall out of balance; others grow or dormant. Thus, don’t panic if you find some hair on your brush or in the shower; most likely, this is natural shedding.
What is Hair Loss?
Conversely, hair loss is more tenacious and can point to a more serious issue. Unlike transitory shedding, hair loss—or alopecia—can be long-term and usually results from a number of elements, including:
- Hormonal Imbalances (menopause, pregnancy, etc.)
- Medical Conditions (e.g., autoimmune diseases, thyroid problems)
- Men’s and women’s pattern baldness: genetics
- Medications (some medication’s adverse effects include hair loss).
Among the numerous forms of hair loss include alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease; androgenetic alopecia, sometimes known as pattern baldness; and traction alopecia, resulting from tight haircuts. Treating hair loss depends much on early detection. Early scarring alopecia detection, for instance, helps you avoid long-term follicular damage and gives you the opportunity for regrowth.
Telogen Effluvium: When Hair Shedding Becomes Excessive
Telogen Effluvium may strike you if you recently underwent a demanding event such as surgery, illness, or emotional upheaval. When a percentage of your hair moves into the telogen phase above normal, this transient disorder causes too much shedding. The great news is that it is usually temporary; your hair will probably get back to normal after six months.
Signs You’re Losing Too Much Hair
How can one find out whether one is losing excessive hair? The “pull test“ is a short one you can do at home. Starting with a tiny portion of dry, clean hair, gently tug at the ends. Should more than two or three strands surface, you could be dealing with too much hair shedding or loss. See a dermatologist for a correct diagnosis if you are often losing big volumes of hair.
How Much Hair Loss is Normal?
People lose between fifty and a hundred hairs daily on average. But women often lose more from things like heat styling, coloring, and hormonal changes experienced during pregnancy and menopause.
Three main phases define the lifetime of the hair on your scalp:
- About 90% of your hair is in the two to five-year Anagen Phase of growth.
- The catagen phase, or transition, is a brief two- to three-week period in which hair ceases to grow.
- Phase (Resting) Telogen: About 8 to 9% of your hair is in this phase, getting ready to shed. You could get Telogen Effluvium if more than 10% of your hair moves into this phase.
What Causes Hair to Fall Out?
Apart from the usual cycle of hair development, several elements might aggravate hair loss:
- Alopecia—hereditable hair loss.
- Thyroid diseases or hormonal abnormalities.
- Lupus or other autoimmune diseases.
- Nutritional deficits in vitamins, iron, or zinc.
- Bleaching, too much washing, or heat styling can decrease hair structure.
How to Prevent Hair Loss and Excessive Hair Shedding
1. Embrace a Healthy Lifestyle:
Your general health comes through in your hair. A diet high in vitamins, minerals, and protein can help to produce robust, healthy hair. Emphasize foods high in vital nutrients for hair growth, such as leafy greens, salmon, eggs, and nuts. Furthermore important for good hair is keeping active and getting enough sleep, which helps control stress.
2. Gentle Hair Care Practices:
Your daily treatment of your hair significantly influences it. Steer clear of tight hairstyles that could harm hair follicles, too aggressive chemical treatments, and too much heat styling. Choose encouraging shampoos and conditioners, particularly those meant for scalp treatment. Also, carefully brushing your hair—ideally with a wide-tooth comb—may help to minimize breaking.
The Importance of Scalp Care
Though we usually pay more attention to the hair itself, we sometimes overlook the need for a good scalp. Promoting thicker, fuller hair depends on proper maintenance of your scalp. One excellent way to feed your scalp and increase hair density is with the Dove Scalp + Hair Therapy Density Boost line.
Exfoliate and cleanse your scalp first using a scalp scrub. Refresh and balance with a scalp-washing shampoo next. Use a conditioner to strengthen and lessen breakage following washing. To encourage volume and thickness, treat it with the Fullness Restore Scalp Serum and Root Lift Thickening Spray. This collection feeds the scalp with components including niacinamide, zinc, and peptides, therefore providing the ideal conditions for hair to flourish.
When to See a Doctor
See a doctor if you find more extreme symptoms, including clumps of hair falling out, patchy bald areas, or general thinning. These symptoms might point to a more serious problem like autoimmune illnesses, hormone abnormalities, or scalp infections. An accurate diagnosis and direction through the finest treatment choices can be given by a dermatologist.
Although daily hair loss is a natural aspect of the hair development cycle, knowing the differences between hair loss and shedding is crucial. See a dermatologist if you’re worrying about too much hair loss. Emphasize in the interim keeping a good lifestyle, using light hair care, and looking after your scalp.