Losing hair -what is a normal and what is excessive
Hair loss -All you need to know about what is a normal amount of loss and what is excessive.
How do you know if the hair you are losing is the right amount for you and how do you know if you are losing too much? Losing hair is a natural process and everyone sheds hair daily. This is because hair grows in a cycle and cyclically hairs enter a resting stage to allow for them to be replaced. This cycle of resting and falling affects approximately 5-15% of the hairs on the scalp at any one time. The typical daily amounts to lose range from 50-100 hairs. So what is right for you?
Provided that new hairs are produced at the same rate as those being shed, there will be no effect to the hair volume. However, if the quantity of shedding exceeds production, the consequence of this is hair loss. So how do you know if the amount of hair you are shedding is normal? For example if a person has been losing 50 hairs per day and the loss increases to 100, then twice as many hairs would be noticed when grooming. Now whilst this is still within the normal amounts, for this person it signifies a 100% increase in loss of hair. Subsequently to them the hair may begin to feel much thinner than usual.
For the most part hair fall is noticed in the washing and grooming process, largely because the hair is smoother and allows the hairs slide out easily. If you wash your hair on a daily basis then a minimal amount of hair will be noticed in the wash but, if washing is only weekly for example expect to see more hairs. If you are washing regularly and the hair blocks the drain hole it is likely this is an excessive shed.
An experience of excessive shedding of this type could indicate a hair loss problem known as Diffuse Alopecia, also identified as Telogen Effluvium. The most commonly recognised experience of this hair loss is post pregnancy. Typically at around 4 months after child birth it may be noticed that more hair appears in the washing and grooming process, this should subside after 6 months. However, if it continues beyond this, advice should be sort in case of other underlying causes.
Another frequent cause of this type of hair shedding is low Iron stores. Studies have revealed this type of Iron deficiency can affect the growing phase of the hair cycle, which in turn can cause more hairs to enter the resting phase than normal. This Iron condition seems to be more widespread in women. This hair growth change can also happen with crash diets too so it is best to seek professional advice for blood analysis. Either way the hair loss will subside, supplementation can also remedy any nutritional deficiencies.
Medication can also have an effect on hair growth and consequently the amount of shedding. The quality of hair growth can also be impaired; this is a particular occurrence for the over sixty age group. Severe illness may also be a cause especially if a high fever has occurred.
What then can be done if you think you are suffering from this type of hair fall? Due to the fact that the cause of this type of hair loss can be so wide and varied- unless you fall into one of the suggested categories such as post pregnancy- then you would be best to seek advice from a health care professional such as your Medical Practitioner or a Registered Trichologist. Blood analysis can be a helpful diagnostic tool in the search for a cause. It may also be advisable to check any medication for the side effects. It is not a good idea to stop prescribed medication but check with the prescriber as to the possibility of an alternative.
It is also worth noting that this type of hair loss, whatever the cause, does in most cases subside and very rarely leads to extensive hair loss.
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