People shed hair throughout their lives, and the process is extremely normal. However, the situation becomes alarming when someone starts to lose more hair than usual, and they don’t understand the actual reason.
This is why it is important to know how much hair loss is normal, and when you should start getting concerned:
How Much Hair Do You Lose Every Day?
As part of the body’s renewal cycle, hair falls every day. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it is normal for a person to lose 50 – 100 hairs each day.
There are approximately 80,000 to 120,000 hairs on an average person’s head and each hair goes through a growth stage (anagen) and rest stage (telogen) before that specific hair eventually falls out.
A study conducted in 2017 showcased that in a normal hair cycle, 90% of the hair follicles are in the anagen phase and 1% in the telogen phase at any given time with the percentages varying disproportionately as you age. This means that hair loss is bound to happen within these percentages, despite whatever lifecycle you may be in and any quantity above that should raise concerns.
Hair Loss vs. Hair Shed
There is an invariable difference between hair loss and hair shedding. Hair loss occurs in the anagen phase of the growth cycle and arises when something stops the hair from growing further. Some of the most common causes include:
- Hereditary
- Weak immune system
- Certain drugs and treatments
- Harsh chemicals through products
On the other hand, hair shedding occurs in the telogen phase of the growth cycle and is the sign of shedding more hair than the aforementioned statistics. Some of the causes include:
- Losing significant weight
- Birth
- Immense stress
- Recovering from any illness
If you feel you fall on the extreme end of the spectrum, visiting a dermatologist is highly recommended.
Professionals can easily distinguish between usual vs. unusual hair loss and will be able to prescribe some effective treatments.
