Hair Shedding vs Hair Loss: How to Tell the Difference
08 / 27 / 21

Hair Shedding vs Hair Loss: How to Tell the Difference

It can be alarming when you comb out your hair, only to see just how much hair has actually made it in the sink. As you clean out your brush from the latest collection, you may wonder if you’re experiencing hair loss, or if this amount of hair falling out of your head is actually normal.

Some amount of natural hair shedding is, of course, normal. Each hair follicle on your head goes through a regular cycle of shedding out so a new hair can grow in. The average person will shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day, so if you clogged the bathroom drain recently or are concerned that you can see the hairs in your brush, it may be nothing to be alarmed about.

If, however, you’re sure that you’re shedding more than 100 hairs per day, this may be something to be concerned about and is more likely to be hair loss.

Notice More Hair in Your Brush or on Your Pillow Than Usual?

If you’ve noticed an increase in hair fall recently, you should contact your dermatologist and set up an appointment. A hair loss specialist is the best person out there who can determine whether what you are experiencing is just the top end of average for hair shedding, or if it really is hair loss.

If what you are experiencing is hair loss, getting treatment as early as possible is your best chance of reversing the hair loss. At its earliest stages, it’s often possible to do so naturally, especially if the hair loss specialist is also able to pinpoint the cause of the hair loss.

Causes of Excess Hair Shedding

Experiencing more hair shedding than usual can come from a variety of sources. The most common of these sources include heat treating your hair, stress, and hormone imbalances. You can help reduce your hair shedding by pinpointing which of these is the likely cause, and taking steps to correct it.

If your problem is heat treatment, avoiding this in the future and providing your scalp with nourishing treatments can help. If you are stressed, stress reduction exercises such as yoga, spending time in a green space, and other relaxing activities may be as good for your hair as it is for your wellbeing.

If it’s hormonal, your primary care physician can help you find ways to get your body back in balance, as well as your hair.

What to Do if It’s Hair Loss

If it’s determined that you are experiencing hair loss rather than hair shedding, you may need to take additional steps to help preserve your hair. If the underlying cause is a health issue, hair loss often reverses with the treatment of the health problem.

If it ends up being genetic, you may want to visit a hair loss clinic as early as possible to see if they can provide a treatment plan for you that will preserve your scalp.

Hair shedding is normal, but hair loss is not. It’s important to follow up with a professional if you’re concerned about the amount of hair falling out, so that if it ends up being something of concern, you can get treatment before you experience significant hair loss.

For more information, or to make an appointment with our licensed trichologist about your hair or scalp, contact Hair Replacement Clinic in Dayton, Ohio today.