Helping You Answer the Question of Excessive Hair Loss
A specific amount of hair loss is to be expected in everyone and is in fact a normal part of the hair growth cycle. But when does it become a problem? How do you know if you are losing more hair than is part of the normal process? In this article we will discuss the hair growth process, how much hair you can expect to lose normally and when and how the hair loss becomes excessive (both for women and men) and may be a problem.
The Evolution of a Growing Hair – The Hair Growth Cycle
The average person can expect to lose approximately 75 to 100 hairs per day as part of the normal hair growth cycle. This amount of shedding just shows that your scalp is healthy and your hair and scalp are doing what they are supposed to do.
Hairs go through three stages during the growth cycle…
The first stage is the anagen phase. It is also known as the growth stage as this is the period where the hair follicle is growing. It takes from 2 to 6 years or so for each hair follicle to go through this part of the cycle and each year each one can grow up to 10 centimeters. Up to 85% of the hairs on your head will be going through this part of the process at the same time.
The second stage of the cycle is the catagen phase. It is also known as the transitional stage as this is the point in the cycle where the hair follicle will shrink to about 1/6th of its original size. The lower part of the hair follicle is destroyed and the dermal papilla (which is what provides nourishment to the hair follicle) will break away. This stage lasts about 1 to 2 weeks.
The third and last stage is the telogen phase. It is thought of as the resting phase, as the hair follicle remains attached to the scalp, but no longer grows. This stage lasts for around 5 to 6 weeks and approximately 10% to 15% of all your hairs are going through this stage at this time.
As the telogen phase ends, the hair follicle re-enters the anagen phase, where a new hair begins to grow after the base of the follicle and dermal papilla join together again. The new hair will push the old one out if it hasn’t already fallen out on its own and the whole cycle repeats itself.
When Normal Hair Loss Becomes Excessive
It is definitely time for a visit with your doctor or dermatologist if there are more than just a few strands of hair falling out while brushing your hair, when shampooing or if you are losing large clumps of hair. If you have long hair it may seem that you are shedding more than you actually are.
If you are still worried you may be losing too much hair you can also do the “hair-pull test”. Take approximately 20 to 40 hairs and hold them with your thumb and forefinger about an inch from your scalp. Pull on the hair hard enough to pull up your scalp and then slowly slide your fingers towards the tips of your hair, keeping en even pressure all the way down to the end. Count how many hairs come out. You should have no more than about 6 hairs or less in your hand. If more than that have come out, then it is possible your hair loss could be excessive and you should talk to a hair specialist.
Why does excessive hair loss happen?
There are many different reasons for excessive hair loss, some temporary and some permanent. Some can be avoided with preventative care, some can’t. High stress, vitamin deficiencies or excesses, dietary factors, environmental causes, physical stressors, medical conditions and medication, early signs of alopecia, and hereditary hair loss (known as androgenetic alopecia) are the most common. It can also be a warning sign that something more serious is going on in your body. It is different for each person with different factors and circumstances contributing to the hair loss. This is why it is important to speak with a hair loss specialist about excessive hair loss.
Some things that can help you to avoid excessive hair loss are to reduce as much stress as you can, exercise regularly and eat a nutritionally balanced diet. Doing all of these things will help to eliminate many of the contributing factors of excessive hair loss and thinning hair.
