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Am I losing my hair or just shedding?

This topic comes up so much when clients are in the chair. And most people actually don't know the difference between actually loosing your hair and shedding.


And it can be shocking sometimes to to see the amount of hair between your fingers in the shower, or when you brush your hair. Sometimes you wake up with hair all over your pillow. We've all been there and even when we know the facts, the reality of seeing your hair....not on your head, send us flying into an anxious frenzy.

But not to worry......There is a difference between hair loss and shedding. Let's break it down.




Hair shedding often stops on its own....

It’s normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day. Feel a little better already?


However, When the body sheds significantly more hairs every day, a person has excessive hair shedding. The medical term for this condition is telogen effluvium.

Excessive hair shedding is common in people who have experienced one the following stressors:

* Lost 20 pounds or more

* Given birth

* Experiencing lots of stress (caring for a loved one who is sick, going through a divorce, losing a job)

* Had high fever

* Undergone an operation

* Recovering from an illness, especially if it included high fever

* Stopped taking birth-control pills


Most people notice the excessive hair shedding a few months after the stressful event. For example, a new mom can see excessive hair shedding about two months after giving birth. The shedding usually peaks about four months after giving birth. This shedding is normal and temporary.


As your body readjusts, the excessive shedding stops. Within six to nine months, the hair tends to regains its normal fullness.

If the stressor stays with you, however, hair shedding can be long lived. People who are constantly under a lot of stress can have long-term excessive hair shedding.

Hair loss differs from hair shedding


Hair loss occurs when something stops the hair from growing.

The medical term for this condition is anagen effluvium. The most common causes of hair loss include:

* Hereditary hair loss

* Immune system overreacts

* Some drugs and treatments

* Hairstyles that pull on the hair

* Harsh hair-care products

* Compulsion to pull out one’s hair


If you have hair loss, your hair will not grow until the cause stops. For example, people who undergo chemotherapy or radiation treatments often lose a lot of hair. When the treatment stops, their hair tends to regrow.

If you suspect that a treatment or drug is causing your hair loss, talk with your doctor. Serious side effects can occur if you immediately stop a treatment or drug.


Other causes of hair loss may require treatment. Many people who have hereditary hair loss continue to lose hair without treatment. A woman who inherits the genes for hereditary hair loss may notice gradual thinning. Men who have hereditary hair loss tend to develop a receding hairline or bald patch that begins in the center of the scalp.

Treatment helps many people who have hair loss, but not everyone. A dermatologist can tell you what to expect.



Who do I talk to if I think I may be experience hair loss?

If you are concerned by the amount of hair falling out, you don’t need to suffer in silence. You can turn to a dermatologist for help. These doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating the skin, hair, and nails. A dermatologist can tell you whether you have hair loss or excessive hair shedding. Or neither at all.


A dermatologist also can find the cause or causes and tell you what you can expect. Effective treatments options are available for many types of hair loss. The sooner treatment begins, the better the prognosis.



Your Hairstylist will be able to help you out with products and routines to help with shedding.

It's starts with a general understanding of the phases of hair growth and shedding. All of which are totally normal. Then you can move on to how to manage your hair in particular.

Fine hair is going to be more fragile and need more care. You may want to limit certain kinds of chemical services to preserve strength and so on.


Hope this has eased your mind a bit. When you think about how normal it is to shed 100 hairs a day (give or take) that little ball of hair in the shower might not seem so intimidating.


 

Salon Bilancio

1414 Fourth Street

San Rafael, CA


Sources:

Cheng AS, Bayliss SJ, “The genetics of hair shaft disorders.” / American Academy of Dermatology Article

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