Is Excessive Hairfall Normal?
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Hair loss seems like a losing battle. You see multiple strands of hair on your hairbrush and after a certain point, you ask yourself the inevitable question, “Is this much hair fall considered normal?”
Well, we have some good news for you. First, you are not alone and second, yes, it is perfectly normal to shed some hair. Read on to know what experts have to say about hair fall:
Hair restoration specialist Dr. James C. Marotta says, “Hair loss is, to a certain extent, normal. The average woman loses between 50 and 100 strands per day, even up to 150 in some cases.The cause of excess hair loss can be as simple as too much stress or a lack of vitamins, so it’s important to take a look at your lifestyle when hair loss becomes an issue.”
Anabel Kingsley says that “the average person loses between 60 to 100 hairs a day. The good news is that as long as your system has recovered and you continue to take care of yourself, there’s no cause for concern.”
So, in a nutshell, hair fall to a certain extent is normal. Adriana Schmidt, M.D., a dermatologist at Santa Monica Dermatology Medical Group says that “When the loss exceeds 125 hairs per day, it’s no longer just considered shedding. It could be a condition called "telogen effluvium when something pushes more hairs into the resting phase.”
Now comes the next big question. How can you differentiate between hair shedding and hair fall? Dr. James C. Marotta says that “Take about 60 hairs between your fingers and pull, running your fingers through your hair. Usually between 5 and 8 hairs, which is normal. An excess of 15 hairs, however, is not as common and means you are losing more hair than you should be.”
Diving deeper, let’s talk about the factors that lead to excess hair fall.
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In many cases, hair fall is hereditary. It is passed on from generations to generations.
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Physical and mental stress like high fever, depression, major surgeries, pregnancy, etc.
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Use of certain dietary supplements can lead to hair thinning.
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In case of protein deficiency, your body tends to ration protein by shutting down hair growth.
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Excess blow drying and use of random hair products.
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Poor eating habits.
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Health conditions like thyroid, cancer, etc can lead to hair fall.
However, most of the above-mentioned causes can be tackled by making simple lifestyle changes like following a balanced diet, sleeping well, exercising regularly and minimizing the factors that cause stress but if things seem to go out of hand, it is always ideal to visit a trichologist/hair scalp expert.
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