Hair shedding, vs. hair loss: what’s the difference? It’s an important distinction, especially when you’re starting to worry about androgenic alopecia (AKA male pattern baldness).
Hair loss is a disorder where your hair falls out and doesn’t come back. Common causes of hair loss like male pattern baldness and alopecia areata tend to worsen over time.
Hair shedding, on the other hand, is often a temporary condition where hair regrowth eventually catches up. Shedding a certain amount of hair every day is totally normal. It all boils down to the amount of hair you’re losing.
Read on to understand the difference between hair shedding and hair loss and how to spot them.
Thinning Hair vs Normal Hair Shedding
Hair shedding is a part of life. Even with hair loss conditions like telogen effluvium or anagen effluvium, new hair comes in when the hair growth cycle restarts.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), it’s normal to lose 50-100 hairs a day.
Your hair goes through three phases:
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Anagen phase (growth phase)
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Catagen phase (transition phase)
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Telogen phase (resting phase)
During the telogen phase, your hair naturally sheds to make room for new growth. This phase of the hair cycle lasts about three months.
Curious about the whole process? Check out our article on the hair growth cycle.
When should you worry about shedding? If you’re losing more than 100 hairs daily, you may be dealing with hair loss.
Hair Shedding vs Balding
Figuring out whether you’re dealing with hair shedding or hair loss can be tricky, especially in the early stages of hair loss.
Rather than waiting to see if your hair grows back, it’s a good idea to consult a dermatology expert or other healthcare professional.
“I’ve seen patients who came in for what they thought was male pattern hair loss who actually had a scarring alopecia,” says Knox Beasley, MD.
But we get it, you’re anxious and want answers now. Below, we break down what might be happening with your hair.
Hair Shedding
Hair shedding happens when your scalp hair falls out at a pace that doesn’t match its usual growth cycle. Whether you’re finding extra strands on your pillow or circling the shower drain, it’s often due to something throwing your body off balance.
The most common culprit for sudden shedding, known as telogen effluvium, is recent physical or psychological stress.
Stress can come from many sources. For women, it might be postpartum hormone shifts or menopause-related hormonal changes (note: this is different from hormonal imbalances that cause androgenic alopecia).
Other possible stressors include:
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Major surgery
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Weight loss
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Work or life stress
It’s also common for temporary hair shedding to happen after a hair transplant. In most cases, once your stress levels balance out, your overall health will bounce back, and so will your hair.
While stress-induced hair shed can be a bit worrisome, it’s often temporary.
Hair Loss
Hair loss refers to conditions where hair falls out and doesn’t grow back.
While male and female pattern hair loss are the most common type of hair loss, they’re not the only ones.
Possible signs of hair loss include:
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A widening part
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A receding hairline that becomes more visible and falls further back each year
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Gradual diffuse hair thinning, causing scalp to peek through
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Bald spots that grow slowly
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Hair that takes longer to grow
A few common types of hair loss include:
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Traction alopecia: Tight hairstyles can pull on the hair follicle, causing a form of hair loss known as traction alopecia. Tugging can cause hair breakage and make hair more likely to shed.
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Androgenetic alopecia. This form of hereditary hair loss (AKA male pattern baldness), results from a genetic sensitivity to androgens, or male sex hormones. Research shows that up to 50 percent of males and females experience this form of hair loss at some point in their lives.
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Alopecia areata: This type of hair loss causes baldness in patches, typically on the top of the head. It can also be a genetic form of hair loss, specifically an autoimmune condition where the body attacks its own hair follicles, causing patchy hair loss.
Treatments for Hair Shedding and Hair Loss
Noticing a few hairs on your pillow? That’s perfectly normal. But if you think it’s more than just a few strays, it might be time to rethink your hair care routine.
If you suspect hair loss, we’ve got you covered with some effective treatment options.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil, often known by the brand name Rogaine®, is a topical or oral treatment that promotes hair growth.
Though its exact mechanism of action is still a bit of a mystery, it likely works by boosting oxygen, blood, and nutrient flow to hair follicles.
Science also backs up its use. Researchers of a 2014 placebo-controlled trial found that minoxidil is an effective solution for hair thinning.
It’s available in a few different formats:
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Minoxidil foam
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Minoxidil solution
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Minoxidil & finasteride spray
Learn more about minoxidil in our guide to minoxidil dosages for hair loss.
Finasteride
Finasteride, also sold under the brand names Propecia® and Proscar®, is an oral tablet for hair loss in men. It works by stopping your body from converting testosterone into the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT plays a major role in male pattern baldness.
Studies show that, for most men, oral finasteride works well to slow or even completely stop hair loss.
You can learn more about finasteride, including how it works and its side effects, in our guide to finasteride for hair loss.
Lifestyle Changes
Stress management, a nutritious diet (with a balanced supplement routine), and a gentle hair care routine are essential for healthy hair growth.
Feeling stressed or anxious? Noticing some hair loss? It might be time to chat with a mental health professional about what’s happening.
Plus, don’t forget to check with your healthcare provider. They can help rule out any nutritional issues like anemia that might be contributing to excess shedding.
Learn more about the best hair loss treatments for men in our detailed guide.
Hair Shedding vs Hair Loss: Takeaways
Your scalp is home to nearly 100,000 hair follicles, each going through the hair growth cycle, which naturally includes a shedding phase known as the exogen cycle.
Seeing some hair fall out is completely normal. But if you notice more hair shedding than usual, it might be a sign of a medical condition or potential hair loss.
So what’s the difference between hair shedding and hair loss? Let’s recap:
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There is a difference between hair loss and hair shedding. They’re similar but one is temporary, while the other is permanent.
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Light shedding is typical, excessive hair shedding may be something you want to look into. Shedding too much may signal underlying health conditions. It could also be the start of a hair loss condition like male pattern baldness.
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Treatment options are available. Thankfully, you have proven options like minoxidil and finasteride to help with hair loss.
This article originally appeared on hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
Featured Image Credit: AndreyPopov / iStock.
