When experiencing hair loss over many years, visiting a Trichologist to find out why is my hair falling out, is an important step towards hair regrowth.
This case had various cause of hair loss:
- Seizure medication, starting/stopping/changing to find one that worked
- Low vitamin D
- Low iron stores (ferritin)
- Low vitamin B12
Sudden hair loss – telogen effluvium
Sudden hair loss is caused 3 months earlier. Any one of the various causes of hair loss can trigger telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium is a diffuse type of hair loss that should be temporary. Telogen effluvium should only last for 3 months.
When telogen effluvium hair loss continues for more than 3 months or recurs time and time again, there are most likely other contributing factors, not one single cause of hair loss.
Normal hair loss in shower – how much hair loss is normal
Every hair on the head in the hair cycle. The hair cycle consists of the growing phase, resting phase and falling phase. Normal daily hair fall from the telogen falling phase of the hair cycle is 70-160 hairs.
- Normal hair loss is 70-160 each day
- Diffuse hair loss is up to 300 hairs falling each day
- Hairs lost are mainly collected on wash day
- Could see over 600 hairs on wash day
When experiencing diffuse hair loss, telogen effluvium, you could lose up to 300 hairs per day. Normal hair loss in shower is not usually noticed.
If you have diffuse hair loss and wash your hair every second day, you could collect 600 hairs. If washing every third day 900 hairs. Avoiding washing your hair won’t stop the hair loss.
Low iron hair loss -which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss
Low iron hair loss is common in women. We should get iron from what we eat. Women loose iron through menstruation which can lead to low iron stores, low ferritin. Both low iron and low ferritin can cause diffuse hair loss.
Iron is so important for oxygen and energy, when there is not enough it will disturb the hair cycle and cause diffuse hair loss. Other common vitamins and minerals that can cause hair loss are: zinc, vitamin B12 and vitamin D
Hair, skin, nails are considered non-essential. When there are lows and deficiencies, they will miss out on the nutrients. The lack of nutrients can disturb the hair cycle resulting in the diffuse hair loss.
Hair fall reasons in female – hair thinning out
Low iron related hair fall reasons in female is different to female pattern hair thinning. Female pattern hair thinning can cause hair thinning at the front and recessions but is not hair loss.
There is a distinct difference that should not be confused. Diffuse hair loss will affect hair volume over the entire head. Female pattern hair thinning is only the front and recessions and not physical hair loss.
Low levels of iron, ferritin and vitamins that cause diffuse hair loss can also be responsible for hair thinning out. This is again diffuse, all over the scalp.
Telogen effluvium treatment – hair loss clinic
Telogen effluvium treatment will address all the underlying causes. Raising iron, ferritin, and vitamin levels to sufficiency to stop the hair loss and enable hair growth is essential.
Topical treatment can also be used to promote hair growth and bring the hair back into the normal hair cycle. Most cases of recurring diffuse hair loss need combination therapy. Combining nutritional treatment and topical hair loss treatment delivers the best results.
Absolique are a hair loss clinic with Trichologist. Trichologist is a hair and scalp specialist to help identify your underlying causes and help get hair growth back on track.
Any questions or hair and scalp concerns? contact us or book your initial consultation today. Check out our other blog stories here.