Hair Loss – What’s Normal and When to be Concerned

Every millennial suffers from hair loss. If the hair loss is not excessive, it can be usually treated with a hair loss treatment. However, in severe cases, hair transplant remains the only option. While some hair loss is average on a daily basis, excessive hair loss can be problematic. But the real question is, how do we know what’s normal and when to be worried? To understand this, we need to know the reason behind the hair loss. Only by knowing the cause, we can treat it appropriately.

This article has shared information about hair loss and when we need to visit a doctor.

Is my hair loss normal?

Depending on the size of the hair, everyone has a different usual standard for hair loss.

Some people have naturally strong hair, so they lose lesser hair. On the other hand, people with thin and weak hair, lose more. So, depending on our hair type, diet, and hair care routines, we can determine whether our hair loss is healthy or not.

Everyone loses hair during hair washes and showers. So, if you’re in the shower and you look down at the drain, you will see hair clumps. It is normal as we shed the hair strands that are already loose from the scalp. Moreover, if we are not gentle in shampooing our hair, we’ll lose more. Similarly, we lose more hair when we brush in wet hair. So, it’s not something to be concerned about.

While these conditions are not worrying, others are. If you are only experiencing hair loss, it can be treated with any hair loss treatment. However, hair loss can be accompanied by other conditions, like the patchy scalp, bald spots, and hair clumps falling out every few hours. So, if you have these conditions along with excessive hair loss, that’s when you should worry and consult a dermatologist.

What is the average amount of hair loss in one day?

The American Academy of Dermatologists says that every individual loses about 50 to 100 hair strands every day. This amount of hair loss is reasonable and shouldn’t cause concern.

Every individual has around 100,000 hair follicles on their scalps. So, even if they lose 50 or 100 hair strands every day, it doesn’t matter. However, this hair loss seems more noticeable in people with longer hair strands. Otherwise, everyone loses the same amount every day.

On average, a hair strand has a life span of two to five years. It has three phases in which it is born, grows, and dies. However, different factors play a vital role in the life cycle of hair. These include:

• nutrition
• stress
• hygiene
• daily styling

How will I know if I’m losing more than usual hair?

Knowing whether our hair loss is normal or excessive can be tricky. But, to find out, we can perform a Pull Test. It is a simple test that can be performed by anyone at home.

For the Pull Test, run your fingers through clean and dry hair. Then, gently tug when you reach the end of the hair strands. Do it twice or thrice. If you have 2-3 hair after each tug, you may have excessive hair loss. According to experts, by tugging at 100 hair strands, only up to 10 hairs should come out. So, if it’s more than that, you could have a condition called telogen or anagen effluvium.

Who loses more hair – men or women?

On average, hair loss in women is more prominent than in men. One reason is that hair loss is more noticeable in longer hair. Moreover, hairstyling and hair care routine also plays a huge role in hair loss. According to studies, 40% of women lose hair due to hairstyling and heat styling. They also have more hair shedding episodes than men due to pregnancy and menopause, etc.

So, it is impossible to have an objective picture of the average hair loss in men and women. But, apparently, women lose more hair than men.

Reasons for Hair Loss

Several reasons can cause hair loss. Fortunately, hair loss treatments are available for most hair loss problems. If nothing else works, there is always the option of a hair transplant.

But, before deciding a hair loss treatment, knowing the underlying cause is essential. Some common causes of hair loss that require treatment are:

• alopecia
• female pattern hair loss
• thyroid conditions
• lupus
• nutritional deficiencies

Apart from these, hair loss can result from stress, hormonal imbalance, excessive hair washing, heat styling, etc. Moreover, tight hairstyles also cause hair loss. So, to prevent hair loss, we need to have a gentle haircare routine. Furthermore, getting a hair transplant right away is not advised. You should consult with your dermatologist, and he/she will guide you about a suitable hair loss treatment.

Do I need a doctor for hair loss treatment?

Running to the doctor only because you saw a clump of hair in the shower drain is not recommended. In most hair loss cases, we don’t even need a doctor. Some lifestyle adjustments and natural haircare remedies can do the trick. However, sometimes we need an expert to solve our hair-related problems. So, see a doctor if you:

• experience a gradual hair thinning on the top of your scalp
• find bald patches or bald spots on the scalp
• have full body hair loss

All of these conditions are symptoms of an underlying health problem. So, in this case, it becomes inevitable to visit a dermatologist.

Conclusion

Hair loss is a severe problem. However, a hair transplant is not always the right hair loss treatment. Sometimes, a health problem is not responsible for hair loss. Our hairstyling choices, dietary conditions, hormonal issues, and other reasons can also cause hair loss. Moreover, losing about 50-100 hair strands every day is typical in average men and women. So, instead of worrying and rushing to a dermatologist, try to identify the root cause. However, if you have a severe hair loss problem, visit an expert dermatologist who will guide you further.

Hair Transplant Dubai Clinic has a panel of board-certified dermatologists. You can schedule a free consultation session with one of our experienced doctors. Please fill the form given below or give us a call, TODAY!