Healthy Hair
My husband likes to joke that I shed more than our dog. When I find clumps of hair in the shower drain or scattered all over my bathroom floor, I sometimes wonder if he’s right. According to Board Certified Dermatologist, Dr. Sam Ellis, it’s normal to lose 50-200 hairs per day. Hair is constantly cycling through different stages of growth and shed. Ellis says, “It would be abnormal if you didn’t lose any hair every day. The concern is when the amount of shedding differs vastly from the baseline.” There are plenty of completely normal reasons for hair shedding. It isn’t until you start noticing a wider part on your scalp—or your hair comes out easily with just gentle pressure—that you should be really concerned. In most cases, we can take care of it ourselves by making some changes at home. Listed below are 5 simple ways you can stop shedding and hair loss.
What Causes Hair Shedding?
There can be a number of reasons for hair shed. The most common causes in women are genetics, metabolic and hormonal changes, environmental factors, and autoimmune conditions. Many women commonly experience hair shedding, thanks to stress and lack of nutrients like vitamins B, D, and zinc. According to Dr. Ellis, hormonal changes due to menopause can affect the way hair grows by shortening the growth part of the hair cycle, leading to increased fall. Another cause is excess pulling on hair follicles thanks to hairstyles like ponytails, buns, hair extensions, braids, and weaves. Your hair dryer, flat iron, or curling iron could be putting your hair at risk due to the excessive heat. So, basically, it’s important to protect your hair while styling. If your hair shedding is severe, you may want to visit a dermatologist to assess—no pun intended—the root cause.
For 10 life-changing secrets for thicker hair, check out this video where Erin discusses everything from root touch-up spray to supplements to collagen. She also shares some chic, simple and quick hairstyles here. Plus, she shares 30+ beauty tips (including hair tips) in this post.
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Women with thinning hair should also check their ferritin levels. Low iron without anemia can cause lots of issues including losing hair and because of blood loss over the years and not enough iron in our diets, we are very susceptible.
Thank you, Michelle, for your insight! It’s good to be aware of different possible causes. As mentioned in my post, we encourage anyone with a serious shedding problem to consult with their physician.
Thanks for the tip, Michelle! ~Erin xo