How to Reduce Hair Shedding: Effective Strategies and Treatments

Hair shedding is a common concern, affecting both men and women. It's normal to lose some hair every day, but excessive shedding can be distressing. Understanding the causes and available treatments is crucial for managing and potentially reducing hair loss.

Understanding Hair Loss

Excessive hair shedding is a condition known as telogen effluvium. This form of alopecia - the general term for hair loss - occurs when you shed more hair than expected in the normal hair loss and growth cycle. It’s normal to lose about 100 hairs a day. But with telogen effluvium, you may lose 300 strands of hair daily, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Telogen effluvium is a common type of alopecia and is temporary. The individual hairs on someone with this condition are healthy, but the person has less hair than they used to. Androgenetic alopecia is a different type of hair loss known as male pattern baldness in men and female pattern hair loss in women. This occurs when the individual hairs are unhealthy and thinner than they used to be. Telogen effluvium occurs as “heavy shedding and rapid loss” of hair, while androgenetic alopecia occurs as “slow thinning,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Causes of Hair Shedding

Telogen effluvium occurs after a severe stressor or a change to the body. Examples include psychological stress, hormones, diet and medications. This type of hair loss tends to start two to three months after exposure to a trigger, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Thinning hair may be caused by lifestyle habits, genetics, or both. Certain medical conditions may also lead to thinning hair.

Read also: Treatments for Thinning Hair During Menopause

Lifestyle habits may include:

• Overtreating your hair: This includes color treatments, perms, and relaxers.
• Using harsh hair products: These hair products include extreme-hold hair sprays and gels.
• Wearing tight hairstyles: Whether you’re wearing an updo or pulling your hair up in a ponytail while working out, this can tug on your hair and break it from the follicles, causing thin spots over time.
• Not getting enough of certain nutrients in your diet: Iron, folic acid, and other minerals all help follicles produce hair naturally.
• Experiencing chronic stress: Stress is related to an uptick in hormones like cortisol. Too many stress hormones can trigger a condition like telogen effluvium, in which your hair can fall out, and the hair follicles enter a long “resting” phase where new hair doesn’t grow.

Thinning hair may also be hereditary or from underlying medical conditions. You might have thinning hair if you:

• Recently had a baby
• Recently stopped taking birth control pills
• Are going through hormonal changes
• Lost a significant amount of weight in a short amount of time
• Are receiving treatment for an autoimmune disease
• Have immune system deficiencies
• Have a skin disorder or infection
• Have a vitamin D deficiency
• Are deficient in other vitamins and minerals like riboflavin, selenium, and zinc

Less commonly, thinning hair may be caused by:

• Pulling at your own hair
• Eating disorders
• A high fever

When to See a Dermatologist

Hooper recommends waiting three to six months for the stress-induced hair loss to resolve on its own. If the hair loss is still an issue after this period, then you should see a board-certified dermatologist, she explains. They can also tell you if there is a different issue going on. Sometimes it takes several months to get an appointment, so it might not hurt to schedule one as soon as you notice the issue.

Although it’s common to lose hair throughout the day, it’s a good idea to speak with a doctor if you’re losing more than 100 hairs per day. You should also speak with a doctor if you’re worried about persistent hair loss or a receding hairline, or if you notice sudden patchy hair loss. Patches of hair loss could signify an underlying medical condition. If you’re experiencing new hair loss or hair thinning, it’s best to consult your doctor. Some medical conditions have an association with thinning hair.

Read also: Hair Thinning Solutions

A dermatologist usually treats hair loss in women. You can search by location, condition, and procedure to find the dermatologist that’s right for you. A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating the skin, hair, and nails.

Diagnosis of Hair Loss

Before making a diagnosis, your doctor will likely give you a physical exam and ask about your diet, your hair care routine, and your medical and family history.

• Blood test.
• Pull test. Your doctor gently pulls several dozen hairs to see how many come out.
• Scalp biopsy. Your doctor scrapes samples from the skin or from a few hairs plucked from the scalp to examine the hair roots under a microscope.
• Light microscopy. Your doctor uses a special instrument to examine hairs trimmed at their bases.

Treatment Options

Effective treatments for some types of hair loss are available. You might be able to reverse hair loss, or at least slow it. With some conditions, such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), hair may regrow without treatment within a year. The methods for addressing thinning hair can vary by its cause. If the reason is an illness or vitamin deficiency, treating that underlying cause may support hair health and promote regrowth. Other causes, such as giving birth, extreme weight loss, and stress, may cause temporary hair thinning that resolves as the body recovers.

Medications:

If your hair loss is caused by an underlying disease, treatment for that disease will be necessary. Medications are available to treat pattern (hereditary) baldness.

• Minoxidil (Rogaine). Over-the-counter (nonprescription) minoxidil comes in liquid, foam and shampoo forms. To be most effective, apply the product to the scalp skin once daily for women and twice daily for men. Products with minoxidil help many people regrow their hair or slow the rate of hair loss or both. It'll take at least six months of treatment to prevent further hair loss and to start hair regrowth. It may take a few more months to tell whether the treatment is working for you. Minoxidil may irritate your scalp and cause dryness, scaling, itching and/or redness. See your dermatologist if this happens. With minoxidil, you might also see hair growing in places other than your scalp (cheeks and forehead, for example). Wash your face after you apply minoxidil and make sure you avoid other areas when you apply it.
• Finasteride (Propecia). This is a prescription drug for men. You take it daily as a pill. Many men taking finasteride experience a slowing of hair loss, and some may show new hair growth. It may take a few months to tell whether it's working for you. You'll need to keep taking it to retain any benefits. Rare side effects of finasteride include diminished sex drive and sexual function and an increased risk of prostate cancer. People who are planning to become pregnant or are at an age where they may become pregnant should avoid this medication due to possible serious side effects during pregnancy. However, for postmenopausal females, studies have shown that it may be an effective treatment that doctors frequently prescribe.
• Other medications. Other medications that treat hair loss in women may include:
  • Spironolactone and other anti-androgens. Spironolactone may treat thinning hair caused by excess aldosterone hormones. Medical professionals sometimes prescribe spironolactone (Aldactone) for people with thinning hair related to aldosterone production (hyperaldosteronism). While technically a diuretic that doctors may prescribe for high blood pressure or edema, it’s also an anti-androgen. In females, this medication may help treat thinning hair and subsequent hair loss related to hormonal fluctuations.
  • Finasteride and other alpha-reductase enzyme inhibitors.
  • Estrogens.
  • Prostaglandin analogs.
  • Steroids.

Other Treatments:

• Hair transplant surgery. In the most common type of permanent hair loss, only the top of the head is affected. During a hair transplant procedure, a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon removes hair from a part of the head that has hair and transplants it to a bald spot. Each patch of hair has one to several hairs (micrografts and minigrafts). Sometimes a larger strip of skin containing multiple hair groupings is taken. This procedure doesn't require hospitalization, but it is painful so you'll be given a sedation medicine to ease any discomfort. Possible risks include bleeding, bruising, swelling and infection. You may need more than one surgery to get the effect you want.
• Laser therapy. The Food and Drug Administration has approved a low-level laser device as a treatment for hereditary hair loss in men and women. A few small studies have shown that it improves hair density. FDA approved laser products include the HairMax Lasercomb® and the Theradome LH80 PRO® helmet and low-light laser helmets and caps. At-home laser therapy for hair may help regrow your hair while also making it thicker. The results can take several months to take effect. The biggest drawback of at-home laser therapy is the cost. Some machines cost for hundreds of dollars, and they may not work. Speak with a doctor before making a large investment.
• Microneedling. Microneedling of the scalp with and without the application of minoxidil can be done.
• PRP Injections. Injections of protein-rich plasma (PRP) to encourage hair growth can be done.
• Corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are prescription treatments used for conditions linked to underlying inflammation. Sometimes, inflammatory conditions can cause a variety of symptoms, including hair loss. One example is alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune disorder where your immune system attacks hair follicles, causing thinning hair and sudden hair loss. Depending on the severity, hair loss may be mild, patchy, or more significant. Prescription corticosteroids may help in these instances by controlling inflammation directly at the source: your hair follicles. Depending on the severity of hair loss, you may get corticosteroids applied topically or injected directly into the scalp by a dermatologist every 4 to 6 weeks.

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Some cases of thinning hair may be treatable at home. Consider the following options, but be sure to speak with a doctor first.

Read also: The Science of Gray Hair

• Scalp massage. Perhaps the cheapest method of trying to get thicker hair is scalp massage. It doesn’t cost anything, and if done correctly, it isn’t harmful. When you wash your hair, gently apply pressure with your fingertips around your scalp to encourage blood flow. For even more benefits, you can try a handheld scalp massager to also remove dead skin cells. However, there’s not much evidence it can prevent thinning hair.
• Essential oils. Some people with pattern baldness have found success using lavender oil. Animal research from 2016 supports this, though human studies are necessary to confirm its effects. Some people combine lavender with other oils, such as those made from rosemary and thyme. Still, there’s not enough evidence that essential oils can treat baldness or thinning hair. If you do decide to try this treatment, make sure you dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil like coconut oil or jojoba. Test a small amount of the oil on your arm and wait 24 hours to see if any reaction develops. Redness or other discoloration, irritation, hives, or a rash could indicate an allergic reaction.
• Anti-thinning shampoo. Anti-thinning shampoo works in two ways. First, it provides volume for your hair, so it looks thicker. This can be helpful for people with thinning or naturally fine hair. Shampoos for thinning hair or hair loss also contain vitamins and amino acids to promote a healthier scalp. To get the best results, use these products as directed. You can also ask a doctor about a prescription-strength shampoo. Some companies offer these prescriptions online. Swap your standard shampoo for a brand with 1 percent ketoconazole, such as Nizoral, or ask your doctor to prescribe the 2 percent version. It’s marketed as an anti-dandruff ingredient, but there’s solid research ketoconazole is an anti-androgen. Anti-androgens block the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, that hormone byproduct that shrinks hair follicles. Massage the shampoo into your scalp, step out of the shower stream, wait two to three minutes, and rinse.
• Multivitamins. Healthy hair is dependent on your overall good health. In cases of malnourishment or with certain eating disorders, a person’s follicles may fail to generate new hair. A blood test can help determine if you have a nutrient deficiency. If you’re low in several key areas, a doctor might recommend a daily multivitamin. Healthy hair needs iron, folic acid, and zinc to keep growing thick and strong. Look for daily supplements for males and females that meet these criteria. However, you should avoid taking any extra vitamins if you’re already getting the nutrients you need. There isn’t any evidence that doing so will reverse thinning hair, and getting too much of certain nutrients may actually do more harm than good.
• Folic acid supplements. Folic acid is a type of vitamin B that’s important for new cell generation. A few studies have suggested that folate deficiency may be associated with some types of hair loss. But, as with multivitamins, there isn’t enough evidence that folic acid will help make your hair thicker.
• Biotin. Biotin, or vitamin B7, is a water-soluble nutrient that’s naturally present in foods, such as nuts, lentils, and liver. If you eat a balanced diet, it’s unlikely that you’re low in biotin. However, supplemental forms of biotin have been on the rise in recent years, thanks in part to marketers promising more energy and better hair growth with such products. While biotin helps break down enzymes in your body, there’s little evidence that it can help with thinning hair. You shouldn’t take biotin if you take vitamin B5 supplements. When taken together, they can reduce the effectiveness of one another.
• Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are called essential fatty acids. This is because the human body can’t make them. Omega-3 helps your body fight inflammation, an underlying cause of numerous conditions. There may be a link between premature hair loss and inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids are present in fish and some seeds. However, according to a 2022 study, omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil may link to some types of hair loss. Omega-6 is important for overall skin health, which might benefit the scalp. Plant-based oils are primary sources of omega-6. However, newer research has shown that taking supplements that contain omega-6 may pose potential health risks. Always speak with a doctor before trying any new supplements.
• Vitamin D. Some cases of hair loss have been linked to low levels of vitamin D. While every guy needs healthy vitamin D levels, this vitamin isn't generally linked to the more common form of hair loss. But there is research that suggests a lack of D can be associated with alopecia areata. Vitamin D plays a role in stimulating hair follicles, so when levels are low, new hair growth can be stunted. A British Journal of Dermatology study reported that people with alopecia areata were three times as likely to be D deficient as those with healthy hair. Vitamin D helps hair reset its growth phase.
• Iron. An iron deficiency may be the cause of thinning hairline for some people who follow a plant-based diet. That's because the type of iron found in animal products, like shrimp and eggs, is better absorbed in the body. People who eat iron from plants, like lentils and spinach, may need to eat more of the nutrient overall. The National Institute of Health recommends that adult males get about eight milligrams of iron per day. Generally, your hair will grow back once iron levels are restored, but it may take a few months.

Lifestyle Adjustments:

• Reducing Stress: Reducing your stress, like talking with a mental health professional can help. If you’re shedding more hair than normal or if you notice large bald patches, you may want to evaluate your stress levels. The reason? Stress essentially puts hair follicles in a resting stage, so they no longer grow-that's what happens with telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium typically does not lead to baldness because by definition, only the hairs in the telogen, or resting, phase are affected. Only 15 to 20 percent of the total hair is in the telogen phase at any given time, so theoretically it is not possible to go bald from telogen effluvium. However, there are exceptions to every rule and while I have never seen a case of baldness solely due to TE, there are patients that experience chronic TE that can cause more significant hair loss. Telogen effluvium or not, it's helpful to get your stress levels down. Classic ways to manage stress include meditation and workouts.
• Gentle Hair Care: Not using hair products (like chemical treatments) that damage your hair and changing your hairstyling routine to avoid damaging your hair follicles is important. Consider gentle hair products when available. Try to comb and brush your hair only when needed. You can also place less stress on your hair by limiting the use of heated styling tools as well as tight hairstyles. You might want to try various hair care methods to find one that makes you feel better about how you look. For example, use styling products that add volume, color your hair, choose a hairstyle that makes a widening part less noticeable. Use wigs or extensions, or shave your head. Talk with a hair stylist for ideas.
• Balanced Diet: There may be an association between hair loss and a lack of micronutrients like iron or macronutrients like protein. If you need help with meal planning, consider speaking with a doctor or dietitian. It’s also a good idea to speak with a doctor about any supplements you’re considering before you take them, especially multivitamins that have a combination of micronutrients or fat-soluble vitamins. Iron, folic acid, and zinc help hair grow thick and strong. Having a deficiency in these vitamins may affect your hair growth. Most people can get the amounts of these vitamins they need by following a balanced diet, but in some cases, a doctor may recommend dietary supplements.
• Quit Smoking: If you smoke, consider quitting smoking. While you may have heard of the negative effects of smoking throughout the entire body (including your skin), smoking also has a connection to hair loss. Overall, smoking may worsen hair loss because of its inflammatory effects in the body. Researchers from a 2021 review also believe that smoking can disrupt the growth cycle of your hair and even lead to color loss.

Products to Avoid

• Harsh Hair Products: Avoid using harsh hair products. These hair products include extreme-hold hair sprays and gels.

The Role of Stress

Stress is related to an uptick in hormones like cortisol. Too many stress hormones can trigger a condition like telogen effluvium, in which your hair can fall out, and the hair follicles enter a long “resting” phase where new hair doesn’t grow.

What to Expect From Your Doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. You're likely to first bring your concerns to the attention of your family doctor. Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. Is my hair loss permanent or will it grow back? How long will it take? Should I see a specialist?

tags: #how #to #reduce #hair #shedding

---

---