There comes a point in your life when you ask yourself: Why am I losing so much hair? It’s normal—even expected—to lose some of your hair every day. But when more hair than usual starts collecting in your comb or clogging your shower drain, it becomes much harder to stay cool. Is it stress? Your shampoo? Are genetics and Father Time finally taking their toll?
Good news: Not all hair loss is complete hair loss. And finding out what you’re dealing with is the first step toward treating it.
hair loss vs hair loss
Most people think that hair fall and loss are the same thing. In fact, they are two different animals.
According to James Kilgore, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder and CEO of KilgourMDHair loss refers to the normal release of hair that has reached the end of its growth cycle. “This becomes more noticeable when a greater number of follicles than normal enter the resting phase at the same time, resulting in a condition called telogen effluvium,” he says.
Hair loss works in different ways. In case of androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss), the hair does not fall out easily. The follicles themselves begin to shrink and eventually close completely, producing thin, weak hair.
Simply put, you see driftwood on your bathroom floor. Meanwhile, hair loss is what you see in the mirror — like a widening part, a receding hairline, or gradual thinning.
What causes hair fall?
It is normal to lose 50 to 150 hairs in a day. according to Carson Kirkpatrick, MDMontefiore Einstein Advanced Care Dermatologists There are approximately 100,000 follicles on our scalp, making this number quite negligible. But red flags are raised when you lose more than 200 hairs per day, or you suddenly notice clumps in the drain or on your brush.
Reverse? Telogen effluvium, or excessive shedding, is usually temporary. The difficult thing is that hair loss does not start immediately. “Suddenly, two to four months after a major stressor: illness, surgery, or major weight loss,” Dr. Kirkpatrick says, GLP-1 use begins to increase, including GLP-1. Additional culprits include chronic stress, overly restrictive diets, certain medications, and significant hormonal changes, says Dr. Kilgour.
Unlike pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium usually resolves on its own – often within six to nine months – once the trigger passes or is addressed.
What causes hair fall?
Overall, androgenic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss in men. According to Dr. Kirkpatrick, the condition affects at least half of men and 80% of men by age 80. “It’s powered by dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is converted from testosterone and binds to receptors on genetically weakened follicles, shrinking them over time,” he says. You can blame your genetics for this, as a strong family history of it increases the chances for you to do the same.
But genetics are only part of the equation. Hair loss is multifactorial, and certain other factors can accelerate the process.
According to Dr. Kilgour, deficiencies in iron, zinc, vitamin D—as well as inadequate protein intake (assuming you’ve somehow avoided the high-protein craze)—can impair healthy hair growth. Similar to telogen effluvium, chronic stress is a common culprit, as it disrupts the hair cycle and exacerbates the underlying pattern of hair loss. Additional lifestyle triggers include smoking and excessive UV exposure (which is not having any beneficial effects on your skin).
Dr. Kirkpatrick says your grooming routine can also do real damage. “Chronic stress from tight braiding or styling causes traction alopecia, while excessive brushing, heat and chemical treatments weaken the hair,” he says. The health of your scalp also matters. Chronic low-grade inflammation and an unhealthy scalp environment “can increase genetic susceptibility and worsen the progression of hair loss,” says Dr. Kilgore.
