If you’ve noticed more hair in your brush, shower drain, or on your pillow lately, it’s natural to be concerned about hair loss. However, what you might be experiencing is actually hair shedding, which is often a temporary condition, rather than true hair loss. Understanding the difference is key to addressing your concerns effectively.
Hair Shedding (Telogen Effluvium) Often Resolves Itself
It’s perfectly normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs each day. This is part of the natural hair growth cycle. However, when you start shedding significantly more than this daily, it’s considered excessive hair shedding, a condition medically known as telogen effluvium.
Excessive hair shedding is frequently triggered by a physical or emotional stressor experienced in the past few months. Common stressors that can lead to telogen effluvium include:
- Significant weight loss of 20 pounds or more
- Childbirth
- High levels of stress, such as from divorce, job loss, or caring for a sick loved one
- High fever
- Undergoing surgery
- Recovery from an illness, particularly those involving a high fever
- Discontinuing birth control pills
Typically, individuals notice this increased shedding a couple of months after the stressful event. For example, new mothers often observe excessive hair shedding around two months postpartum. The shedding usually peaks around four months after giving birth. The good news is that this type of hair shedding is generally normal and temporary.
As your body adjusts and recovers from the stressor, the excessive shedding should subside on its own. Within approximately six to nine months, your hair usually returns to its normal fullness.
However, if the stressor persists, hair shedding can become a long-term issue. Individuals experiencing chronic stress may endure prolonged periods of excessive hair shedding.
Hair Loss (Anagen Effluvium) Is Different From Hair Shedding
Hair loss, in contrast to shedding, occurs when something actively stops hair from growing. This condition is medically termed anagen effluvium. The most prevalent causes of hair loss include:
- Hereditary hair loss (androgenetic alopecia)
- Autoimmune conditions where the immune system attacks hair follicles (e.g., alopecia areata)
- Certain medications and medical treatments like chemotherapy
- Hairstyles that consistently pull on the hair roots (traction alopecia)
- Harsh hair care products and treatments
- Trichotillomania, a condition characterized by the compulsive urge to pull out one’s hair
With hair loss, hair growth will not resume until the underlying cause is addressed. For instance, individuals undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments often experience significant hair loss. Once these treatments are completed, hair typically regrows.
If you suspect a medication or treatment is causing your hair loss, it’s crucial to consult your doctor before making any changes. Abruptly stopping certain medications can lead to serious health complications.
Other causes of hair loss may necessitate specific treatments. Hereditary hair loss, for example, often progresses without intervention. Women with a genetic predisposition to hereditary hair loss may notice a gradual thinning of hair all over the head. Men with hereditary hair loss are more likely to develop a receding hairline or a bald spot starting at the crown of the scalp.
Treatments are available for many types of hair loss and can be effective for many people, though not universally. A dermatologist can provide a clear understanding of what to expect based on your specific condition.
Dermatologists Can Differentiate Between Hair Loss and Hair Shedding
If you are worried about the amount of hair you’re losing, seeking professional advice from a dermatologist is recommended. Dermatologists specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions of the skin, hair, and nails. They can accurately determine whether you are experiencing hair shedding or hair loss, as some individuals may experience both simultaneously.
A dermatologist can also identify the underlying cause or causes of your hair concerns and outline a suitable course of action. Effective treatment options exist for many types of hair loss, and the sooner treatment is initiated, the better the potential outcome.
Helpful Tips from Dermatologists
Hair loss in new moms – This resource provides specific tips for new mothers to help maintain fuller-looking hair during postpartum shedding.
Hair styling without damage – Learn how simple adjustments to your hair care routine can prevent hair breakage and minimize hair loss.
Related Resources from the AAD
Alopecia areata – Understand more about alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that can cause various patterns of hair loss, from patchy bald spots to more extensive loss.
References
Cheng AS, Bayliss SJ, “The genetics of hair shaft disorders.” J Am Acad Dermatol 2008;59(1):1-22.
