Hair Loss When Running Fingers Through Hair: Causes and What to Do

Hair shedding is a natural and continuous process. Discovering hair strands on your hands after running your fingers through your hair is usually not a cause for alarm. Every hair on your body follows its own life cycle. There are four stages, roughly taking two to five years to complete. The American Academy of Dematgolistis estimates that the average person loses between 50 to 100 hairs daily. However, noticing an unusual increase in hair shedding, bald patches, or significant thinning may indicate an underlying issue.

Expected Daily Hair Loss

On average, individuals can expect to lose between 50 and 150 hairs each day. While this may seem like a significant amount, considering the approximately 100,000 or more hair follicles on the scalp, it is a relatively small percentage. The length and thickness of hair can also influence the perceived amount of shedding. People with shorter or thinner hair may appear to shed less.

Dr. Wilma Bergfeld explains that hair goes through cycles of growth and shedding. This natural cycle consists of three main phases:

• Anagen phase: This is a period of rapid growth where cells divide to form brand-new hair. This growth phase lasts two to eight years. Hair grows slowly, on average, at about six inches per year. Thankfully, hair around your body is at different growth cycle stages, so losing strands each day should not be too noticeable. The phase in which a hair strand is growing is called the “anagen” phase, and 90 percent of the hair strands you have are currently in that phase. Hair grows about 1 centimeter per month during the anagen phase. When something stops your hair from growing, it’s called anagen effluvium. Anagen effluvium is what you would typically think of when you think of “hair loss.”
• Catagen phase: The catagen phase is a short transition phase lasting two to three weeks, where follicles begin to shrink and lasts about two to six weeks. Only about 1 to 2 percent of your hairs are in the catagen phase at any given time. During the catagen phase, the hair strand stops growing.
• Telogen phase: The telogen phase is also known as the resting phase. This resting phase leads to shedding and lasts about two to four months. Hairs in the telogen phase are also called “club hairs.” During this phase, a hair strand will be at rest as it prepares to detach from your scalp. About 8 to 9 percent of your hair is in this phase at any given time. Telogen effluvium describes having more than 10 percent of your hair in the telogen phase. Telogen effluvium is temporary, but more hair will fall out while you have it. The exogen phase is the last stage, where club hair is pushed out.

Hair Shedding in Men vs. Women

Studies indicate that men are generally more prone to hair loss compared to women. On the other hand, women often experience increased shedding during pregnancy and menopause. Approximately half of all women will experience noticeable hair loss over time.

A 2017 study revealed that women tend to shed more hair due to styling practices. This may be less related to sex and more to how hair is treated. Heavy styling or tight hairstyles can lead to increased shedding and potentially permanent hair loss if it becomes chronic.

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Women tend to lose more hair daily than men, owing to increased hairstyling, hair care products, dyes, and treatments, and growing their hair longer. Because you are actively washing, cleaning, drying, and pulling at your hair during a shower, you can expect to lose more hair. When looking at pictures of normal hair loss in shower you’ll find that you may lose as many as 150 to 200 strands. If you notice prolonged hair shedding after your hair, this may signal that you’re experiencing a hair loss condition.

Causes of Hair Shedding

It’s perfectly normal to lose a few stray strands when running your fingers, or a comb, through your hair. But if you notice increased hair being pulled out when you are being gentle, this can be a cause of concern that you should get checked over. Hair shedding differs from hair loss. Hair shedding is a normal part of the hair growth process, where "dead hair" falls out to allow new strands to grow. Hair loss, however, occurs when hair stops growing altogether. Excessive shedding can indicate potential problems that may be addressed through lifestyle adjustments, dietary changes, or improved grooming practices.

Several factors can contribute to excessive hair shedding:

Grooming Practices

Hair often falls out during washing or styling because these activities stimulate and move hair follicles. Strands already in or near the shedding phase are easily dislodged. Tight ponytails, braids, and other restrictive hairstyles can cause hair loss and damage the follicles that regulate hair growth. Opting for looser styles or changing hairstyles can help prevent thinning.

Stress

High stress levels can lead to increased hair shedding. When the body experiences stress, it releases cortisol, which can accelerate the hair cycle, causing more hair to enter the shedding phase prematurely. Fortunately, this type of shedding is usually temporary, and hair growth typically returns to normal within six to 12 months once the stress is relieved.

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Medical Therapies and Toxic Substances

Certain medications and therapies, such as chemotherapy, target rapidly dividing cells in the body, including hair follicles, which can result in rapid hair loss. Other medications like antidepressants or anticoagulants can disrupt the hair growth cycle or affect hormone levels, leading to hair loss as a side effect.

Some medications can directly affect the hair follicles, weakening them or causing them to shrink, making the hair more likely to fall out. In many cases, medication- or therapy-induced hair loss is temporary, and hair growth resumes within a few months after cessation. However, permanent hair loss may occur if the hair follicles are damaged, such as from high doses of radiation.

Examples of such meds include blood thinners, acne medications high in vitamin A, anabolic steroids, or medications for arthritis, depression, gout, heart problems, or high blood pressure.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Inadequate intake of essential nutrients can impact hair growth. Protein, iron, and certain vitamins like biotin and B12 are crucial for maintaining healthy and strong hair. Deficiencies in these nutrients can lead to increased shedding or weakening of hair follicles.

Here are the nutrients your body needs to help maintain healthy and strong hair:

Read also: Achieve Voluminous Hair

• Protein: Protein is essential for building and repairing tissues in your body, including your hair. If you’re not getting enough of it in your diet, your hair may become weak and brittle, leading to more shedding. A body low on protein finds a way to conserve where it can, and that includes halting hair growth. About 2 to 3 months after that, hair starts to fall out. Adding more meat, eggs, fish, nuts, seeds, and beans to your meals can pack more protein into your diet.
• Iron: This mineral is important for carrying oxygen to your cells, including those in your hair follicles. Without enough iron, your hair follicles may not get the oxygen they need to function properly, which can cause hair to fall out. Iron helps keep your hair healthy. When levels drop, so can your hair. You’ll likely have other clues that low iron is to blame for your hair loss, like brittle nails, yellow or pale skin, shortness of breath, weakness, and a fast heartbeat.
• Vitamin B12: Not having enough vitamin B12 in your diet can cause your hair to become brittle and prevent new hair from growing back as strong. Biotin, a type of vitamin B, is also known for its role in maintaining healthy hair. Not getting enough biotin may lead to brittle hair that’s more prone to breakage and shedding.

Hair loss resulting from nutritional deficiencies is usually temporary. Correcting the deficiencies through diet or supplements can improve hair health.

Other Factors

• Hormonal Changes: When you’re pregnant, your hormones keep your hair from falling out as often as it normally does. That makes it seem thicker and more luscious. After you give birth, you lose the extra hair you’ve been hanging onto as your hormones shift again. Everything should balance out about 3 to 6 months later. The shifting hormones of menopause can ramp up shedding. It should go away after about 6 months. But if you notice your part widening, or hair loss at the top and crown of your head, talk to your doctor. You may have female pattern hair loss, which can be treated. Hormonal birth control like oral contraceptives, implants, injections, vaginal rings, and patches can trigger hair loss if you have a history of it in your family. Your doctor might be able to recommend a non-hormonal option that may help you keep more of your locks. Not only can starting hormonal birth control kick off hair loss, so can quitting. You’ll probably notice a change several weeks or months after you stop.
• Surgery : Sometimes, large doses of stress can make your body’s immune system turn on itself and attack your hair follicles. Lots of worry and anxiety can also pause your hair growth, which makes hair more likely to fall out when you brush. You’re more likely to deal with this post-surgery symptom if your zinc levels are low, but it’s common to lose some locks after bariatric surgery. Your doctor may recommend a zinc and copper supplement to help halt your hair loss.
• Styling Routine: Sometimes it’s your styling routine that’s to blame when your hair starts to break or fall out. Using too much shampoo, brushing or combing your hair when it’s wet, rubbing hair dry with a towel, or brushing too hard or too often can all strain your strands and make them break. Two big causes of breakage include braids that are too tight and weaves that weigh down the hair. Daily use of blow-dryers, flat irons, and curling irons dries out your locks and makes it easier for them break and fall out. Bleach, dye, relaxers, and hair sprays can do the same thing.
• Underlying Diseases: Hair loss is a symptom of more than 30 diseases, including polycystic ovary syndrome, ringworm on your scalp, thyroid disorders, and autoimmune diseases. You can also lose hair when you have the flu, a high fever, or an infection.
• Smoking: Your hair isn’t immune to the damage smoking can cause. Toxins in cigarette smoke can mess with your hair follicles and keep hair from growing and staying on your head.
• Hair-pulling disorder: Hair-pulling disorder, or trichotillomania, is a mental health condition that makes you feel like pulling out your hair from your scalp. It can be hard to stop, even when you start to get bald patches. When you have it, you may want to pull out your eyelashes or eyebrows, too.
• Eating Disorders: Both anorexia (not eating enough) and bulimia (throwing up after you eat) can make your hair fall out, because your body isn’t getting the nutrients it needs to grow and maintain healthy hair. These are mental disorders.

Identifying Excessive Hair Loss

It can be challenging to determine whether hair loss is excessive. Consulting a doctor, particularly a dermatologist, is recommended if you suspect you are losing too much hair or notice thinning or bald areas.

Signs of excessive hair loss may include:

• Increased shedding
• Thinning or bald spots
• Changes in hairline
• Scalp sensitivity and irritation

A "pull test" can also help assess hair loss. Gently run your fingers through clean, dry hair, tugging lightly. If only a hair or two comes out, it is likely normal. However, if more hairs come out with each tug, it may indicate a problem.

How Much Hair Loss is Normal?

The average rate of hair loss is 50 to 100 strands per day. Any more than this can be a sign your hair is suffering. Normal hair loss per day in male and female individuals including brushing is 50-100 hairs.

When to Seek Medical Advice

Consulting a healthcare provider, preferably a dermatologist, is advisable if you are concerned about hair loss. Thinning or excessive shedding can often be reversed or treated.

Provide your doctor with a detailed hair history, including when the thinning began, its location and extent, and any associated symptoms. This information helps determine whether the hair loss is due to shedding, breakage, or growth cessation, which guides treatment decisions.

Alopecia

Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss. It can affect the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and other areas of the body, leading to patchy, partial, or complete hair loss. Hair follicles, tiny tube-like structures in the skin, control the growth cycle of hair. Dermatologists diagnose and treat hair, skin, and nail conditions and may work with other specialists, such as dermatopathologists, to confirm an alopecia diagnosis.

Types of alopecia

Alopecia is broadly classified as either nonscarring (hair can regrow) or scarring (hair loss is permanent). Nonscarring alopecia is the most common type. It doesn’t destroy the follicles, so hair loss may be temporary. Scarring alopecia happens when hair follicle damage is irreversible, so hair can’t grow back.

Alopecia symptoms

Losing around 100 hairs a day is normal as part of the hair growth cycle.

Getting a hair loss diagnosis

To diagnose alopecia, your provider will examine any affected areas for bald patches. They may gently pull a few hairs to check follicle strength. If the cause isn’t clear, a small scalp sample might be taken and examined under a microscope for signs of inflammation.

Hair loss treatment options

Treatment for alopecia depends on the type of hair loss. For conditions like male pattern baldness, treatment is optional. Other conditions may need oral or topical scalp medications, an antifungal shampoo, low-light therapy, or scalp micropigmentation to stimulate hair follicles into an active growth phase. A surgical hair transplant is also an option. A surgical hair transplant is also an option. For chemotherapy-related alopecia, the Paxman Scalp Cooling System may provide relief.

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