Hair fall: Are you losing more hair than normal? Here’s what you need to know

Hair fall can be distressing, especially when you start noticing strands on your pillow or in the shower. While losing some hair daily is normal (usually around 50-100 strands), excessive hair loss can lead to thinning or even bald patches.

Hair fall is influenced by various factors, including genetics, lifestyle, and health conditions.
Hair fall can be very distressing as hair is often very deeply associated with one’s sense of identity, self-esteem, and social confidence. Thus, losing hair feels a part of losing oneself and creates a great sense of vulnerability and inadequacy. Many face anxiety and even depression with such hair loss, which often occurs prematurely or unpredictably, making it difficult to accept their changed body image.

Social influences and beauty requirements may amplify the stress. The emotional effects of hair fall eventually influence mental conditions, impacting an individual’s personal as well as professional life.

What causes hair fall?

Iron and vitamins D and biotin along with proteins are quite essential for the hair. Without these, roots will get affected and cause hair fall. Many Indians, especially women, are deficient in vitamin D and iron and do not even know it.
Physical or emotional stress will cause hair loss. Hair growth is disturbed and pushes follicles to a resting stage. Unhealthy sleep and irregular dietary habits along with stressful work are added problems for this problem.
Hormonal imbalances are a significant factor in hair fall among women, particularly due to conditions like pregnancy, thyroid dysfunction, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). During pregnancy, estrogen levels rise, prolonging the hair’s growth phase, which often results in thicker hair.

However, after childbirth, estrogen levels drop, pushing many hairs into the shedding phase at once. This post-pregnancy hair fall, known as telogen effluvium, usually peaks around three to six months postpartum but typically resolves within a year.
Thyroid disorders, whether hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), can disrupt the hair growth cycle, leading to thinning.

PCOS, a condition marked by excess androgens (male hormones), can also cause hair follicles to shrink, resulting in thinning hair and even bald patches. Managing these hormonal issues with medical guidance can help minimize hair fall and promote healthier hair growth over time.
Chemical-laden shampoos and harsh styling products are used so frequently that the hair loses its natural oils and becomes dry, brittle, and more prone to breakage.

Many commercial shampoos contain sulfates, parabens, and alcohols, which, when used repeatedly, cause irritation to the scalp and weaken the hair strands. Similarly, the hair cuticle gets damaged due to frequent use of heat styling tools like flat irons, curling wands, and blow dryers, causing split ends and hair fall. Overheating rips all the moisture from the hair, and it becomes frizzy and breaks easily.
Environmental factors also contribute to hair health.

Pollution exposes hair to harmful particles and toxins that accumulate on the scalp, clogging hair follicles and weakening hair roots. Water quality, particularly hard water with high mineral content, can also negatively affect hair. Minerals like calcium and magnesium can build up on hair, making it dry, difficult to manage, and more likely to break.
Hair loss can be hereditary. Androgenic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness) is common in both men and women, though it usually starts later in life.

Who is at more risk of hair fall?

One of the major risks for hair fall is genetics. Androgenetic alopecia is an inherited condition often known as male or female pattern baldness. Individuals who have a family history of baldness are more prone to hair loss at an early age and to a much more significant extent. This condition is usually progressive, beginning with the thinning of hair on the crown or receding hairlines.
Hair grows at a slow rate, and the follicles become smaller, giving out thinner and finer hair, when a person ages.

Hair loss is a common feature in aging, with a huge risk factor over the age of 50. In men and women, some level of hair thinning occurs with age.
Hormones play a crucial role in hair growth and shedding cycles, making individuals experiencing hormonal shifts more vulnerable to hair loss:
Women during pregnancy or menopause: Changes in estrogen levels can disrupt the hair cycle, leading to temporary hair shedding.
Thyroid imbalances: An underactive or overactive thyroid can disturb hormone levels, leading to thinning hair.
High levels of androgens (male hormones): Androgens can cause hair follicles to shrink, contributing to hair loss, especially in those genetically predisposed to androgenetic alopecia.
Psychological and physical stress may put hair follicles into resting phases, causing sudden hair loss, which is referred to as telogen effluvium. Major life stressors include a traumatic event, surgery, or chronic stress. Lifestyle stressors such as job pressure, relationship issues, and financial concerns can trigger this response.
Certain health conditions can lead to hair loss, including:
Autoimmune diseases like alopecia areata, where the immune system attacks hair follicles. Scalp infections, such as ringworm, can also damage hair roots.
Chronic illnesses like diabetes and lupus often cause hair thinning as a side effect of disease and treatment.
Smoking can restrict blood flow to the scalp, depriving hair follicles of necessary nutrients, while excessive alcohol intake can dehydrate and weaken hair.

Frequent use of harsh chemicals, heat treatments, and tight hairstyles can damage hair, leading to breakage and fall over time. Exposure to pollutants can weaken the hair shaft, causing it to break more easily. Individuals living in high-pollution areas are at a higher risk.
Some medications, including chemotherapy drugs, blood thinners, antidepressants, and medications for high blood pressure, have side effects that can lead to hair loss.

Chemotherapy, in particular, can cause complete hair loss due to its effect on rapidly dividing cells.