There are many different reasons that are perfectly normal for hair shedding. In fact, it’s a natural part of the hair cycle for hair to shed at some point. But things might get worrying when you find that your shower is getting clogged up with hair strands. Or when you brush your hair and find that strands are falling out. It could be the shedding effect.
However, we can assure you that this is not the end of the world. When you start to notice a lot more hair in the shower. Or when your hair comes out easily with just gentle pressure. That is when you should start to be really concerned and look into how to stop hair from falling out. Normal hair shedding is about 100 hairs per day. So this is not something to be alarmed about. But if it comes off in more quantity, you should investigate that it is not the shedding effect.
What Causes Hair Shedding?
It’s completely normal to shed some hair. However, excessive shedding, also known as telogen effluvium in the medical field. Is frequently an indication that something is wrong. There is a pattern to how hair grows. It first expands, then stops, and finally sheds its old skin. Every single one of the hairs on your head is in a different stage of the cycle at any given point in time. This cycle requires some time. An unusual detachment, it may be the shedding effect
Therefore, any significant shedding of hair that you observe now is the direct effect of something that occurred three months ago. Excessive shedding can be caused by a number of different factors. The following are some of the most typical causes of the problem:
Stress
Stress can promote telogen effluvium or shedding effect. But in most cases, it takes a significantly stressful event, such as the dissolution of a marriage or the loss of a close family member (an important work deadline or a first date are generally not enough to cause your hair to shed to cause Shedding.
Pregnancy and hormone changes
The majority of women have severe hair loss in the months following the delivery of their baby. Some women go through menopause later in life, which is marked by greater shedding of hair and other body hair. Alterations in your hormone levels, such as those that may occur as a result of shedding the use of birth control pills, are another potential cause of hair loss in women or shedding effect.
Illness
Any severe shock to the body can lead to severe shedding two or three months after the illness. This is especially true if the illness is accompanied by a high fever.
Thyroid problems
Both hyperthyroid disorder, which refers to a thyroid gland that is overactive, and hypothyroid disorder, which refers to a thyroid that is underactive, can cause excessive shedding.
Nutrient deficiencies
Anemia is one of the conditions that can cause hair loss or shedding (low iron levels). It is also possible for it to be brought on by deficiencies in other nutrients, such as vitamin D and the B vitamins. To facilitate the growth of hair, our body need specific vitamins and nutrients.
Medications
It is well known that the chemotherapy medications used to treat cancer can cause hair loss. Antibiotics, antidepressants, and drugs for blood pressure can all contribute to hair loss or thinning, but there are many other common medications that have the same effect.
What are the clinical features of hair shedding?
The scalp becomes more noticeable as a result of diffuse thinning of the hair, which is caused by excessive hair shedding (diffuse alopecia). If the shedding is particularly extreme, baldness could develop. There is also the possibility of a more localized hair loss, which can either be scarring (cicatricial) or non-scarring (non-cicatricial).
Common causes of hair shedding and its differential diagnosis
Three conditions—telogen effluvium, anagen effluvium, and alopecia areata—are responsible for hair shedding in the majority of cases:
- Telogen effluvium
Telogen effluvium is characterized by extreme shedding that occurs after the body has been subjected to a shock. Up to fifty percent of the hair suddenly enters a time of dormancy, during which it stops growing and eventually falls out. A poor diet, stress (such as delivery, surgery, or a severe sickness), and a lack of minerals can all be triggers for this condition. Loss of hair normally occurs three months after an acute injury has taken place.
- Anagen effluvium
An acute injury to the hair follicles can trigger hair shedding during the growth phase, resulting in abrupt diffuse shedding of up to 90 percent of structurally aberrant scalp hairs. This can happen when the hair follicles are injured suddenly (anagen effluvium). The breaking point of the hair shafts is either at the level of the skin of the scalp or just below it. The most common reason for anagen effluvium is treatment with chemotherapy.
- Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune illness that can cause either diffuse alopecia or spherical patches of hair loss. Both types of alopecia areata can be distinguished by their appearance. It is possible for alopecia areata to result in total baldness of the scalp (alopecia totalis) and, in extremely rare cases, total baldness of the body (alopecia universalis).
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Tips on how to Stop Hair from Shedding
Eat a Balanced Diet
Consume a healthy, well-rounded diet that is rich in veggies, lean meat, and seafood. All of these foods offer necessary elements that are good for your hair. Eggs and avocados are two examples of foods that are filled in vitamin content as well as beneficial fats. Other essential foods that are good for preventing hair loss include the following:
- Spinach is full of iron. Which helps carry red blood cells to your scalp. To promote new hair growth.
- Foods full of vitamin C. Such as oranges, tomatoes, and peppers, help produce collagen. Which keeps hair follicles healthy.
- Iron-rich foods, such as spinach, help carry red blood cells to your scalp. Which promotes new hair growth.
- Seeds such as flax and chia are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. Which not only help keep hair healthy and strong but also promote new growth.
Avoid Tight Hairstyles
A ponytail that is pulled too tightly is not helpful if you are going through the shedding process. A tight hairstyle, strong chemical treatments, or heat applied close to the scalp should be avoided. These might cause stress on the follicles, which can result in greater hair loss. You should loosen your braids, avoid pulling your hair into too tight updos, and experiment with different hairstyles whenever you get the chance. Switching up your hairdo not only provides you a fresh look, but it also allows your hair the opportunity to rest and repair itself.
Get Enough Sleep
It is important to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night in order to allow your body and mind to fully repair. Melatonin is a hormone that has been shown to increase hair development in addition to its role in helping to regulate sleep cycles (both when applied topically and when you get enough of it naturally from sleep). Not only is getting enough rest essential to helping your hair grow, but it can also help avoid your hair from becoming too oily if you do it often. When you don’t get enough sleep, your stress levels can increase, which can result in slower hair growth as well as increased oil production.
Get Your Omega-3s
Consuming a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids is recommended, since this has been shown to promote faster hair development. You can obtain them in the form of whole foods such as salmon and chia seeds, or you can try taking a fish oil supplement manufactured by a reputable company. Because fish oil helps reduce inflammation, taking it may allow your hair follicles to expand, which in turn may encourage the growth of additional hair.
Try a Scalp Treatment
Incorporating scalp care into your normal haircare routine is one of the finest preventative steps you can take against hair shedding. Regular use of pre-shower scalp treatments that promote follicular health can go a long way toward preserving your hair’s strength and vibrancy between washes.
When to See a Professional
If you find that the aforementioned techniques are not effective for you. Or if you believe that you are suffering an unusually large amount of hair loss. You may wish to consult your physician in order to rule out the possibility of other health concerns. A medical condition such as hypo or hyperthyroidism might bring on telogen effluvium in the hair.
As was just discussed, this condition can also be brought on by things like stress. Bad nutrition, or even certain medications. Your medical history of shedding hair, the pattern of hair loss on your scalp. The results of blood tests, and a pull test to examine the bulbs of shed hairs. Trichoscopy, and other diagnostic procedures can all be examined by a qualified medical professional. To assist in arriving at an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan for you.
It’s possible that you’ll need a scalp biopsy in certain situations. In order to manage your hair loss, a dermatologist may prescribe medication for you or suggest in-office therapies such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections or vitamin B complex injections.
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