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Tuesday May 07, 2024

How much hair loss is normal?

Everyone experiences hair loss at different rate, but certain factors determine its normalcy

By Web Desk
February 07, 2024
A person massaging their head. — Medical News Today/File
A person massaging their head. — Medical News Today/File

While some of us ball up the stray hair in our hands and let it wash down the drain which eventually clogs the pipes, others place it on the shower wall to be removed at the end signifying that we're all a little worried about losing hair.

Fortunately, there's good news, as board-certified dermatologist Julia Schwartz, MD, FAAD, who serves as Ro's dermatology advisor, says that it's unlikely that you're losing as much hair as you believe you are, and that it's common for a woman to lose up to 100 strands of hair every day, according to Health.

However, some conditions such as alopecia areata, cancer therapy, or vitamin deficiencies can result in increased concerns that can lead to more hair loss than is expected.

Aging naturally also causes hair loss. As people age, almost everyone has some degree of hair loss because certain hair follicles stop creating new hair and hair development slows down. This condition is known as androgenetic alopecia, or baldness with both a male and female pattern. In men, the loss of hair typically occurs around the temples or crown of the head; in women, the hair becomes less thick, exposing more of the scalp.

Everyone experiences hair loss at a different rate, so determining what is "normal" for you will depend on how you normally lose hair. For example, if you appear to be losing a lot of hair but aren't showing much more of your scalp, you're most likely just going through your regular cycle of hair growth and shedding.

Unfortunately, hair loss cannot be totally prevented. Furthermore, no one is aware of any mystical tactics that will assist you in maintaining your gorgeous locks atop your head.

Since every person is different and hair loss can be caused by a range of uncontrollable variables such as aging, hereditary, and medical disorders, we frequently have to accept the hand we're dealt.