Do you panic when you see your beautiful long tresses on your pillow and brushes and wonder how you still have hair left on your head? Well, let's clear the hair, oops! We mean clearing the air on the difference between hair fall and hair shedding.
Let us understand when to worry and take action towards treating the signs of early hair loss.
Hair Shedding:
While it's normal to lose between 50 to 100 hair strands every day, losing more hair in clumps means you are suffering from excessive hair shedding. The medical term for this condition is known as telogen effluvium. This usually occurs due to a shock to the body due to any physically or emotionally stressful event. This can include:
- Childbirth and pregnancy complications
- Sudden weight loss or crash diets
- Major life events ( divorce, dealing with the loss of a loved one)
- Hormonal changes in women
- Chronic illness
Treatment:
- Firstly, it's essential to consult a doctor and get blood work done to identify the root cause of the hair shedding.
- In many cases of TE, hair grows back on its own 6 months after the stressful event, but if it doesn't, seek professional help.
- It is important to eat a balanced diet to ensure the flow of essential nutrients to the scalp.
Regular scalp massage with hair growth oil can help improve blood circulation, nourish hair follicles, and promote healthier regrowth.
Excessive heat styling and tight hairstyles:
- Using too many hair products like creams, serums, sprays, etc., can cause product buildup on hair and scalp.
- Heat tools such as straighteners, curlers, etc., can tug onto the roots, severely damaging and frying out your hair and causing it to shed.
- Tight hairstyles like the model bun, tight high ponytails, etc., tug onto the hair roots, causing Traction Alopecia due to the constant pulling. This can lead to balding on the temples and a receding hairline.
Side effects of medication :
Certain medications like chemotherapy drugs, thyroid and birth control pills, antidepressants, etc., can indirectly affect the hair follicles in some cases.
The Natural Cycle:
Our hair growth cycle comprises of 3 phases-
- Anagen is the phase where a follicle produces a new hair shaft that can last for many years.
- Catagen: This is a transitional phase where miniaturization of the follicles occurs, detaching it from its nutrient source. This lasts about 2 to 4 weeks.
- Telogen: The resting phase is when the hair strand remains in its follicle but is not actively growing. This phase can last for several months.
Hair might be shedding to make place for new, healthier hair growth. The appearance of hair during shedding is still significantly healthy despite occurring all over the scalp.
Hairfall:
Hair fall occurs when you lose more than 100 strands a day, and the growth rate doesn't keep up with the loss rate. This can be triggered by medical, hormonal, or genetic issues and, unlike hair shedding, can be progressive and chronic. If no regrowth of hair is noticed, hair fall control treatments might be seriously required.
Symptoms:
- You may notice a specific pattern of hair fall. For example, bald patches, spots, thinning in temples or widening parts, etc.
- Unlike the temporary nature of shedding, hairfall can sometimes be progressive and chronic.
- Redness, flakiness, and scaliness could be signs of an inflamed scalp.
- Hair is more prone to breakage and falls off quickly while washing, brushing, or gently tugging.
Treatment:
- The over-the-counter Minoxidil is the most commonly prescribed topical treatment for patterned hair fall. Although very potent, it has a significant dependency level. It also comes with a spectrum of side effects, such as increased heart rate and hair growth in unwanted areas; it has to be used for extended periods.
- DHT blockers are prescribed to control hair fall internally.
- Cortisol and stress can always double up hair fall; that's why stress management practices such as yoga and meditation are recommended.
- Using chemical & toxin-free products is a must when dealing with chronic hair fall conditions
When should you worry?:
Knowing when to worry about hair shedding or hair fall can be tricky, but fear not; we've got you covered. Here are some alerts to be aware of:
1. Shedding Becomes Excessive:
If you're losing more hair than you can count daily, and your brush, shower drain, and pillows are starting to resemble a hair salon floor, it might be time to seek treatment.
2. No Signs of Regrowth:
If your hair seems to be playing a disappearing act for more than 6 months without any signs of regrowth, it's cause for concern.
3. Accompanied by Other Symptoms:
Thinning hair, scalp irritation, and systemic symptoms like fatigue or weight changes are like the cherry on top of the hair loss sundae - a clear sign that something's wrong.
4. Triggered by Unexplained Factors:
If your hair is making a run for it without any apparent reason, like stress or hormonal changes, it might be time to call the professionals for a closer look.
When it comes to hair fall, things can get even more sc-hairy!:
1. Hair Loss Is Patchy or Localized:
If you're noticing sudden bald spots or thinning in specific areas, or your hairline is walking backward, it's time to address the situation head-on.
2. Rapid and Significant Hair Loss:
When clumps of hair start making a break for it during your daily routine, or your hair fall is progressing at lightning speed, it's time to take action.
3. Scalp Abnormalities:
Redness, scaling, itching, or scarring on your scalp, along with pain or tenderness in areas of hair fall, are all signs that your scalp is trying to tell you something.
4. No Regrowth After 3-6 Months:
If your hair has taken a permanent vacation without any signs of returning, it might be time to investigate further.
To conclude, today, hair fall and shedding have become such a common phenomenon that about 35 million men and 21 million women worldwide experience hair loss. Without proper care, nourishment, and treatment, we can lose the appearance and health of our crowning glories. If you suffer from any of these symptoms, seek professional help, focus on eating a hearty diet, and choose clean products with no have 0 side effects.
