How To Tell The Difference Between Hair Loss vs Normal Shedding

Both hair loss and shedding can cause people to worry. While hair shedding is normal and happens to everyone, what’s the difference between the two?. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you will be able to tell between hair shedding and hair loss and be able to seek help from a healthcare professional.

What is normal hair shedding?

Hair goes through a cycle that includes growth, rest, then shedding. This cycle varies from person to person and can even vary depending on factors like stress, sleep, nutrition, and overall health. Every single strand of hair on your body has its own follicle that operates independently from the others. This ensures that not all of your hair sheds at the same time. 

The growth phase of hair on your scalp generally lasts from 2 to 7 years. Those with longer growth phases are generally able to grow their hair longer than those with shorter growth phases. Once growth has finished, there are usually a few weeks to months of rest before shedding happens. Most people shed about 50-100 hairs per day. 

What is hair loss?

When something disrupts the hair cycle, there can be noticeable hair thinning or even baldness. This can be caused by hormones (like male pattern baldness, aka, Androgenic alopecia), stress (telogen effluvium), autoimmune disease (like alopecia areata), or physical trauma (like traction alopecia). 

With hair loss, there is usually a noticeable thinning of the hair and you will see significantly more than 50-100 hairs being shed per day. 

Difference between normal hair shedding and hair loss

Being able to recognize active hair loss is helpful in finding a cause and seeking a treatment for it. Here are some ways to tell which one you have going on:

Normal hair shedding: 

• Visible signs of hair regrowing

• No bald spots or thinning areas

Hair loss:

• Visible thinning or bald spots

• Hair is not regrowing or is regrowing much thinner

Other signs of hair loss:

• Clumps or patches of hair falling out

• Itching, redness, scaling of the scalp in thinning areas

• Receding hairline

If you’re still not sure, it is helpful to take photos and compare them each week or month to monitor for any changes. 

When to seek medical help

If you have noticed signs of hair loss that concern you, then it’s time to seek some professional advice. Depending on the type of hair loss, you will want to seek different kinds of care. 

Hormonal (androgenic) hair loss

For the most common causes of hair loss (aging hormonal hair loss, male pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia), you can speak to your primary care doctor about prescription medications or simply start with some over the counter topical treatments from your local pharmacy. That being said, many people are ok with losing their hair with age and that is also ok! 

Telogen effluvium

Stress, illness, or trauma can cause excessive hair shedding. Occasionally, nutritional deficiencies, medications, and hormonal changes can also cause hair loss. If you have noticeable hair thinning, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor to find the cause. This could be your primary care doctor, or a dermatologist. 

Traction alopecia

Pulling the hair into tight hairstyles like ponytails or braids can lead to traction alopecia. This is where the hairs are pulled too tight for too long and the follicle is damaged from the traction. If this is the case for you, the solution is to stop using tight hairstyles and go very gentle on your scalp to allow it to heal and regrow. A doctor can help you to determine if any hair regrowth treatments might speed up the process. 

Autoimmune diseases or hormonal imbalances

There are several diseases of the immune system and endocrine system that can cause significant hair loss. In these cases, your best bet is to reach out to your doctor or dermatologist asap to figure out what is going on and how you can treat it. They may do blood tests or even biopsy your scalp to help diagnose the cause of your hair loss. 

Habits for healthy hair

In general, there are some lifestyle factors you can tweak to maximize the health of your hair and scalp. Eating a balanced and nutritious diet rich in vitamins, minerals, protein, and fats can help keep your hair healthy. 

Being gentle to your hair and scalp is also key. Stay away from high heat, harsh chemicals, and hairstyles that pull on the hair. Managing stress levels also goes a long way, so practice relaxation techniques, exercise, or start meeting with a therapist to help you relieve the stress. 

All of these things can work together to build a good foundation for healthy hair, but if something more is going on then you may want to seek medical attention or try a hair growth treatment like minoxidil if your hair loss is androgenic.

Hair loss is a very common condition affecting millions 

It can be scary to see your hair thinning or experience hair loss, but you are not alone! It is one of the most common conditions experienced by people worldwide. Depending on the type of hair loss, there are various treatments and procedures available to you.

Your primary care doctor or healthcare professional will be able to guide you in the right direction and offer suggestions. Additionally, there are a lot of online support groups that can help you navigate the emotional and mental toll hair loss can have. You got this!