Hair Loss: Causes, Treatments and Prevention Options

Table Of Content

• Excessive hair shedding
• Some Medical Conditions
• What other common types of hair loss are there?
• How much hair loss is normal? How many hairs do you lose a day?
• If you have alopecia, can your hair grow back?
• What questions should I ask my doctor?

Men who have hereditary hair loss tend to develop a receding hairline or bald patch that begins in the center of the scalp. 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. If you have damaged or brittle hair, you are more likely to experience hair breaking off and shedding as it is more porous.

Excessive hair shedding

If you can’t live without these styling tools, use a thermal spray to coat the fibers in the hair to help protect it. Sun can also damage hair so opt for a hat when it’s sunny and you’ll be outdoors. Dr. Bergfeld also recommends using a wide tooth comb to help tame your locks.

Some Medical Conditions

While hair loss isn’t itself dangerous, losing your hair is an emotional experience. Unwanted changes to your appearance can influence your self-esteem and social life. Some people find comfort in talking with a mental health professional if their hair loss causes discomfort. Others may find relief in changing their hairstyle or wearing a wig. It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider before starting any form of treatment for hair loss. Some types of treatment aren’t safe to use if you’re pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant or going through menopause.

What other common types of hair loss are there?

Effective treatments options are available for many types of hair loss. To clear up any confusion, we have some information that you should know about normal hair loss, as well as some product suggestions to help you with your hair growth journey. The difference is that in hair shedding, each hair you lose is quickly replaced by another. Pregnancy and stress can affect the rate at which individual hairs mature and grow, but you’ll still grow more hair after those are lost.

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Approximately 40 percent of women lose extra hair every day because of the way they style it. Women are also more likely than men to experience periods of increased hair shedding due to life events like pregnancy and menopause. “Increased shedding in the shower” could also be a sign of significant hair loss, says Fox. Of course, it’s normal to regularly find some hairs on the shower floor, but an increased amount on a consistent basis may warrant a call to your doctor. This is a sign where attention to detail is important, because you need to be aware of your baseline before you can determine whether or not you’re losing more hair than normal. If you’re experiencing hair loss that seems more excessive than usual, including clumps falling out, patchiness or bald spots, talk to your primary care physician about using hair stimulating hair products, such as Revita.

If you lose significant hair, it’s important to protect your scalp. Wear a hat, scarf or other head covering when you’re in the sun, and apply sunscreen daily. Some chemical ingredients in shampoos can be harmful and cause breakage or increased hair loss. Anyone who notices an increase in how much hair they wash out in the shower may wish to stop using the product and opt for a gentler formula.

If you have alopecia, can your hair grow back?

"However, if you were only losing 45 hairs per day [at one point], 90 is twice your normal average. This could mean that you have excessive hair loss." The takeaway? Compare your own hair fall with your history—not with someone else's, says Kingsley. ‍Hair loss, however, is when something interrupts this healthy hair growth cycle, and hair does not regrow after it has shed or, the shedding is accelerated. Hair with plenty of volume, movement, and shine is what most people consider healthy.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

Learn more about traction alopecia, which is hair loss due to tight hairstyles, in this article. Anyone experiencing a significant change in the amount of hair that they shed may wish to see a doctor or dermatologist to help identify any issues. During the test, a small bundle of hair (usually hairs) is grasped close to the scalp, and gentle traction is applied to pull the hair away from the scalp. The number of hairs that are extracted during the test is counted. Hair loss can also be a sign of trauma – like pulling and yanking a brush through it or constantly wearing a tight ponytail.

These are three of the most common circumstances that can throw off how much hair you're losing daily. In addition, a healthcare provider might recommend forms of light therapy like using the HairMax Lasercomb®. Another FDA-approved laser product is the Theradome LH80 PRO® helmet and low-light laser helmets and caps. Hair grows on almost all of your skin surfaces — not the palms of your hands, soles of your feet, lips or eyelids. In addition, Dr. Mirmirani adds, there can be age-related, seasonal and hormonal variations in the rate of hair that you lose. "In some situations, you can expect ups and downs in the amount of hair you're shedding," she says.

Chemical dyes, heated curlers and straighteners, and excessive hair brushing can all lead to extra hair shedding or breaks in the hair. Hair falls out every day as part of the body’s natural renewal cycle. The American Academy of Dermatology note that it is normal for a person to lose about 50–100 hairs each day.

Your head is covered in hundreds of thousands of hairs, and at any given time, every single one of them is at various stages of their two- to five-year lifespan. Though hair grows and dies in phases, outside factors such as hygiene, stress, nutrition and daily styling all play a role in how quickly your strands die. If you are losing more than 15 hairs per pull, it likely means more than 10 percent of the hair on your head is in the ‘resting’ phase. It can be alarming to look at your comb or the shower drain cover and see a clump of hair. Not only could it clog your pipes, it can cause you to worry that it’s a sign of serious hair loss. But chances are what you’re seeing isn’t anything to be concerned about—and if you want to be sure, there are easy ways to check for abnormal hair loss without visiting a doctor.

"If you think about your hair like you would a piece of clothing, you can't go far wrong," Sallis said. You probably aren't going to count each hair you lose individually, but if you think you have reason to be concerned, there are some general numbers to keep in mind. INSIDER spoke to trichologist Iain Sallis to learn everything you need to know about hair loss. Sign up to our newsletter and get exclusive hair care tips and tricks from the experts at All Things Hair. Send your Q to for a chance to have it featured in a future installment of Hair Health Hotline. How much shedding is considered normal, and what are the actual signs of a problem?

The good news is that everyone with long enough hair is bound to spot some strands in those common catchall spots, but there is a point when shedding can become abnormal. Ahead, dermatologists explain hair loss causes, prevention, and treatments. The hair growth cycle consists of three main phases—anagen, catagen, and telogen—and each follicle on your head could be going through any one of these at any given time. Talk to your healthcare provider about what may be causing your hair loss. In many cases, effective treatments exist that can slow hair loss and help spur new hair growth. And many people find ways to thrive and feel great, no matter how much — or how little — hair they have.