Q: Every time I get out of the shower, I’m shocked at how much hair I lose. Is this normal or should I be concerned?
A: You are not alone. I don’t know a woman (myself included) who hasn’t thought about exactly this after taking a shower at some point in her life.
Some of us keep it on the shower wall to remove loose hair at the end. Others roll it up in their hands and flush it down the drain (ultimately just clogging the pipe). But the common denominator here is that they’re losing their hair and are a little freaked out.
Fortunately, there is good news. According to Julia Schwartz, MD, FAAD, it’s unlikely that you’re losing as much hair as you think, and it’s considered normal for women to lose up to 100 hairs each day. Board certified dermatologist and dermatology advisor to Ro.
However, some situations, such as alopecia areata, undergoing cancer treatment, and certain vitamin deficiencies, can lead to more hair loss than expected. Here’s how to tell if your hair loss is typical, if it’s time to seek a dermatologist’s advice, and how to make sure you’re taking care of your hair.
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Again, hair loss is not normal, but to be expected. That’s because your body needs to shed old hair in order to grow new hair.
Hair loss is also a natural phenomenon of aging. As we age, nearly everyone experiences some type of hair loss. Hair growth slows down and some hair follicles stop producing new hair. This is called androgenetic alopecia (better known as male and female pattern baldness). In men, this hair loss often occurs at the temples and crown of the head. In women, the hair becomes less dense and the scalp becomes more visible.
The speed at which this hair loss occurs varies from person to person. Therefore, what is “normal” or not depends on the person’s typical condition. If you seem to be losing a lot of hair, but you can’t see much of your scalp, that’s you. You’re probably just witnessing your normal hair growth and hair loss cycle.
Regarding hair loss that can indicate an underlying health problem, Schwartz said the following signs suggest it’s time to see a dermatologist or other health care provider. .
Baldness appears early or expands, ponytails become thinner, or clumps of hair fall out all at once.
If you’re shedding more hair in the shower and want to rethink your laundry schedule, it’s understandable. (If you don’t wash your hair frequently, you’ll lose less hair, right?)
But as it turns out, your shower habits likely don’t have much of an impact on your hair loss.
“You’re more likely to notice hair loss when you wash your hair, because moving your hands through your hair can cause hair that’s already falling out of your scalp to fall out,” says Schwartz. However, “people generally don’t lose more hair in the shower.”
But that doesn’t mean you have to handle your hair on wash day.
“If you comb or brush your wet hair after a shower, you’re more likely to shed more hair than usual,” says Schwartz. (Note to self: Don’t stubbornly brush your knots after shampooing or conditioning.)
If you want to avoid hair loss as much as humanly possible, it is important to be gentle with your hair care. That means not scrubbing your scalp, pulling a comb through tangled hair, or vigorously drying your hair with a towel. .
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely prevent hair loss. And if there’s a magic strategy out there to help keep your luscious hair on top of your head, no one knows about it.
Because each human being is unique and various factors beyond our control (ageing, genetics, medical conditions) contribute to hair loss, on some level we have to accept the hand we are dealt. is common.
But no matter what your body is preparing for, Schwartz says, there are certain steps you can take to prioritize hair health (and hopefully reduce hair loss in the process). They include:
Eat a nutritious, balanced diet (think Mediterranean diet) that includes enough protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fruits and vegetables to get essential vitamins and minerals. Consider supplements that support hair health, such as vitamin A, vitamin D, and iron. Add products containing essential oils like rosemary oil and tea tree oil to your hair health routine. Always pay attention to the health of your scalp (redness, itching, dandruff), which is directly linked to the health of your hair.
If your hair loss continues and you decide to see a dermatologist or other health care provider, they may recommend minoxidil, an FDA-approved over-the-counter medication known to stimulate hair growth.
