If there is something common in dermatology consultations during the fall, the palm goes to the increase in appointments for one reason: the increase in hair loss.
But Why does your hair fall out more during this time of year? Should we worry? Tranquillity.
Hair loss in autumn is a normal process called “telogen effluvium”, as explained by the doctor Sergio Vanocoordinator of the Trichology Group of the .
The hair is renewed every day. Around 100 hairs are shed daily from our scalp. and they are replaced by the same amount of hairs that begin to be born. What happens in autumn is that, simply, the process speeds up and more hair falls out… but more hair is also born.
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“Hair has a cyclical growth: a hair comes out that lasts between two and six years and then a new hair appears that pushes it. However, this cycle is not constant throughout the year,” he explains. Eduardo NagoreAEDV dermatologist.
And it is that the rhythms of growth and development of each follicle -we have between 130,000 and 150,000-, have their own characteristics and duration.
And although there is no way to prevent or avoid it (although they help), in principle it should not cause us any concern. We say in principle, because sometimes it is not so simple. And to detect if we are facing a natural process or a major hair problem, there are several symptoms that can give us a clue.
If the fall is very abundant, if it does not stop over time and if we observe that it begins to affect our hair density or that it “lightens” our scalp, it is best to go to the dermatologist. Because it’s probably not because of the fall.
And in this case, alopecia, abnormal hair loss, can have various causes. There are genetic and hormonal causes, but also certain diseases, drugs or nutritional deficits can cause abnormal hair loss.
Why does hair fall out in autumn?
A healthy person can be fall between 80 and 100 hairs a day without this being alarming.
In autumn, hair loss can increase up to 400 units. In any case, it is hair that is going to recover.
“There is a phase of the hair cycle in which the hair that has to fall out falls more and it usually coincides with autumn,” explains Dr. Nagore.
This seasonal fall -known as telogen effluvium- affects women more intensely, and this hair grows back without problems afterwards.
Thus, the capillary cycle follows three phases:
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In the anagen phase or growth phase the root cells are active and the new hair is formed.
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During the transition period or catagen phase growth stops and the follicle changes shape.
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In the telogen stage or at rest the follicle rests and the hair begins to fall. Once this last phase is finished, the cycle starts again.
factors like genetics, diet, stress or pregnancy determine the different phases, but these usually focus on specific periods.
So, for example, the Telogen seasons are autumn and springwhile the anagen phase takes place in summer and winter.
When should we go to the doctor?
Although you should not be scared if your hair falls more in autumn, when in doubt you should consult a dermatologist, who will be able to determine if the fall is normal or pathological.
“If the hair it is beginning to lighten, it is thinner and weaker or the fall is prolonging a lot over time, it’s best to visit a specialist,” says Nagore.
There is also other signs that can give us more clues about the need to put yourself in the hands of an expert:
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Loss of hair on the eyebrows or eyelashes.
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Circular bald spots in different areas of the scalp.
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Itching in the area where less density is noted.
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If in the area where hair is being lost there is redness or inflammation around the follicles.
“Currently, this pathology can be treated effectively: from drugs very advanced until transplants“, reassures the dermatologist.
How to check the amount of hair falling out?
Sometimes we don’t realize when our hair falls out, especially if we have it short, because we don’t see it in the brush or in the shower.
There are some methods to count the number of hairs. One of them consists of passing the hand through the hair to collect the hair that has fallen on a white background.
Shedding of more than 15 hairs would be considered abnormal, but other factors may be involved that make this test inconclusive.
Also, keep in mind that not all the hair that falls in one day corresponds to the hair that should fall that day.
Part of the hair recorded may correspond to previous days in which the hair has not been washed or combed and hairs have remained anchored to the scalp.
So, in general, we could say that seasonal hair loss occurs mainly at the time of washing or brushing the hair, at a very specific time of the year.
When it comes to other types of pathological falls, these occur slowly but constantly and continuously.
How to stop the fall?
As the doctor states, seasonal hair loss is a totally normal process and “You don’t have to give it relevance because it will recover on its own.”
In any case, the expert provides us with a series of recommendations to follow so that this loss affect our hair as little as possible:
- Brush your hair before washing it. With this gesture you remove dirt and tangles before washing your hair and you will prevent it from breaking.
- Always go to bed with dry hair to avoid moisture that reduces vitality in the hair and creates tangles and breakage.
- massage your scalp. This improves blood flow and, consequently, oxygenation and nutrition in the epithelial sheath.
- Avoid tight ponytails, braids and up-dos. These types of hairstyles destructure the hair fiber.
- Wash your hair as many times as you need: Washing your hair will not make it fall more. Even if you play sports, you can wash it twice a day without any problem.
- and drugs: Although it is advisable to wait for the hair to recover on its own, sometimes vitamin supplements are necessary.
Dr. Nagore recommends supplements with high iron content For those women with abundant menstruation whose loss is not correctly replaced in the month.
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