Hair Loss

If you’ve been noticing more hairs on your pillow or hairbrush than normal, you may worry that you have hair loss. You could actually just be shedding more hairs than normal. Yes, there is a difference.

Hair shedding often stops on its own

It’s normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day. 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.

Dermatologists can distinguish between hair loss and hair shedding

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. Some people have both.

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.

Alopecia Areata Self-Care

Alopecia areata can affect many areas of your life. These self-care tips from dermatologists may help you feel better:

1. Consult a board-certified dermatologist. Dermatologists specialize in diagnosing and treating the areas of the body that alopecia areata can affect — the hair, skin, and nails.
   
   A board-certified dermatologist can tell you if you have alopecia areata and provide treatment to slow the hair loss and help regrow your hair.
   
   Your dermatologist can also help you select the right hair and skin care products for your sensitive skin.

   • Use a soft-bristled brush and wide-tooth comb to gently style your hair. These styling tools are less likely to pull on your hair.
   • Avoid hair and skin care products with harsh chemicals. On your scalp and any area where you’ve lost hair, harsh chemicals can do more harm than good. Products to avoid include hair dyes and hair care products that contain fragrance or alcohol. Look for fragrance-free products.
   • Let your hair dry naturally instead of using a blow dryer or other dryer that uses heat.
   • Wear loose hairstyles. Tight hairstyles like ponytails and cornrows can pull on your scalp, causing further hair loss.

     Be gentle with your hair and your scalp. Gentle hair and scalp care are essential. Dermatologists recommend the following for their patients who have alopecia areata:

2. Protect bald or thinning areas from the sun. Dermatologists recommend that everyone protect their skin from the sun, regardless of skin tone.
   
   When it comes to sun protection, dermatologists also recommend that anyone with alopecia areata pay close attention to areas with hair loss. Balding or thinning hair on your scalp increases your risk of sunburn.
   
   To protect your scalp, dermatologists recommend that you do one of the following:

   • Wear a wide-brimmed hat or wig when outdoors.
   • If you don’t cover your head, apply sunscreen to your scalp. Use a sunscreen that offers SPF 30 or higher, broad-spectrum protection, and water resistance. Don’t forget to reapply every two hours and after sweating or any time your head gets wet.
   You also want to apply sunscreen to all skin that won’t be covered by clothing while you’re outdoors, paying close attention to areas with hair loss.

3. Learn how to manage stress. People with alopecia areata often experience unexpected hair loss and regrowth. Many people say that before a cycle of hair loss starts, they often feel stressed out.
   
   Learning how to manage your stress with a technique that works for you, such as meditation or yoga, may help reduce cycles of hair loss.

4. Get emotional support. Alopecia areata can be stressful and cause some people to feel lonely, sad, or anxious. If you have these feelings, help is available.
   
   A good place to look for support is the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF). According to NAAF’s website, this organization “was established in 1981 with one clear goal: To offer support to individuals affected by alopecia areata.”

5. Keep appointments with your primary care doctor. People with alopecia areata have a higher risk of developing some diseases like thyroid disease, atopic dermatitis, or lupus erythematosus. Seeing your primary care doctor can help your doctor diagnose a disease earlier. The sooner a disease is diagnosed, the easier it is to manage.

This information and additional resources are availble to the public at AAD.org.