Hair Shedding vs Hair Loss: Concerned about how many hairs you are losing? According to the American Academy of dermatology, its normal to shed about 50 to 100 strands per day, so losing a few strands daily is nothing to worry about. However, excessive hair loss could be a sign of hair loss. Hair loss is alarming and requires medical treatment, as opposed to hair shedding. To help you distinguish between the two, we have put together a through information on hair shedding vs hair loss.
Hair Shedding Vs Hair Loss – Are They Same?
The scientific name of hair shedding is telogen effluvium. When hair shed more than usual it is hair shedding. On the other hand, when something stops the hair from growing, this condition is known as hair loss.
Hair shedding and hair loss may be used interchangeably, but they are two different hair conditions. It is often difficult to distinguish between hair loss and hair shedding, but if you notice more strands on your pillowcase, in towel or comb, you must consult the certified dermatologists.
What Is Hair Shedding?
As we have mentioned above, losing 50 to 100 hairs daily in a normal shedding. So there is no need to worry, if you grab a few hair while you are brushing or when you rinse your hair.
If you begin to lose more hair it is called excessive hair shedding. Excessive hair shedding can be caused by physical, emotional, and physiological stressors on the body.
Typically, hair shedding occurs for six to twelve months after a distressing event or time period. Each person has around 100,000 hair follicles on their head. On an average, an individual loses around 100 hairs per day depending on the growth cycle of hair follicles. This is a healthy hair loss that does not indicate any serious problem.
Causes of Hair Shedding
Here we have mentioned three main factors that contribute to the process of hair shedding.
Stress: stress is the major contributor to the excessive hair shedding. Excessive stress raises the amount of androgen in the body. This can also turn the hair grey and make them fall out.
Age factor: If you are near to menopause, you may experience excessive hair shedding. In. this case, you will experience due to hormonal change in the body. Or as you age, your hair become weak and thin, and hence you may become susceptible to hair shedding.
Imbalanced Hormone: Imbalanced hormone disrupt your hair growth cycle and causes excessive hair shedding. Increase in the androgen in your body makes you hair cycle shorter and hence shedding occurs.
Other causes of hair shedding include:
- Iron deficiency
- Weight loss
- General illness
- Emotional stress such as divorce.
- Seasonal hair shedding.
- Emotional shock or trauma.
- Pills side effects.
What Do You Mean by Hair Loss?
Hair loss is far severe than hair shedding. Unfortunately, because there are so many different types of hair loss, and so many contributing variables determining what is causing hair loss can be challenging. A few major types of hair loss are listed below.
Androgen alopecia: This is a type of hereditary (predetermined) hair loss. It is caused by the overproduction of androgen, a male sex hormone. According to the hair expert, this type of hair loss may also be related with normal hormonal changes. This type of hair loss effects up to 50% males and females at varied degrees.
Alopecia areata: It is a type of baldness that appears in patches on the top of the head. This can also be linked to hereditary patterns, except that this form of hair loss isn’t always passed down to through the genes every time.
Traction alopecia: this type of hair loss is tight hairstyles (ponytails, buns and braids) that pulls the hair and cases the targeted hair loss over the time. Swept back buns and ponytails not only cause hair loss but it damages the hair strands due to pulling back tightly.
Reasons of hair Loss?
As we can see that there is not a one type of hair loss, there are different type of hair caused due to various factor. To prevent hair loss, it’s extremely important to figure out the main causes of hair loss. We have mentioned the common causes of hair loss in right below.
Nutritional deficiency: A bad diet if frequently to blame for nutritional imbalance. A lack of key vitamins such as Vitamin B3, Iron, D, protein and fat can cause significant hair loss. Eat Fresh fruits, vegetables every day to fill the nutritional deficiency. You should also include nuts and seeds in diet to help with hair growth. Also avoid eating too much processed and unhealthy foods (junk foods).
Hereditary hair loss: Some individuals have genetic hair loss. If you cannot find any visible cause of hair loss, your genetic background could be to blame.
Reaction of pills and hair treatment: Some medications can distort your hair development cycle and impede hair growth. However, some treatment or hair treatment Like chemotherapy can also cause hair loss.
A few other causes of hair loss: Childbirth, deficiency of biotin, scalp infection, dying or coloring, age factor, illness, exposure of chemical, etc.
How to Reduce Hair Shedding and Hair Loss?
If you are suffering from hair shedding or hair loss, you can try utilize following of the methods to reduce the problem.
Do topical hair care: Regular scalp care is an important for encouraging hair growth and reducing the hair shedding or hair loss. As the rule of thumb, treat your scalp as you would your face. Exfoliate regularly and always replenish hydration. You can also incorporate good quality hair serum into your topical hair care.
Massage scalp: Scalp massage may appear to be purely luxury, but many studies shown that hair massage is one of the best techniques to improve the health of scalp and as a result the appearance of your hair. A recent study shows that 70% people reported improved hair health after doing scalp massage.
Supplements: As we have previously mentioned, insufficiency of nutrients for example biotin can trigger scalp issues like hair loss among other hair problems. In the market several biotin supplements available for hair. However, there are several combination supplements for hair, nails and skin can be more advantageous and make your investment worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is losing hair is a sign of baldness?
If you notice a few strands on your towel, or clothes does not indicate that you are suffering from permanent hair loss. In fact, losing some strands is normal and it is a healthy hair growth cycle. A healthy person typically shed 50- 100 strands daily, which is okay.
What can stop hair shedding?
There are a few things that you should incorporate to stop hair shedding. Consume protein, take vitamin supplement, avoid harsh chemicals, protect your hair from environmental damage, etc.
How long is hair shedding season?
Luckily, normal hair shedding last 2-3 months and mostly during fall season.
Does hair grow back after shedding?
As your body readjust after excessive shedding, the hairs tend to regain full thickness within six to nine months. However, if the stressors do not go away, the hair shedding can take long to readjust.
Hair Shedding vs Hair loss – Takeaway
In this Hair shedding vs hair loss, we have seen that they two are different from each other. Regular mild shedding is normal, but a spike in shedding may be cause for concern because it can swiftly lead to hair loss. Hair loss is another condition with a broad range of causes and treatments. If you’re unsure whether you’re suffering hair loss, see a dermatologist or trichologist for a checkup. Whatever is going on with your hair, taking care of your scalp is always a good idea.
