Millions of people lose hair daily. Our hair growth rate slows as we age, resulting in an involutional condition known as an. Male and female pattern baldness can start as early as your late teens or early twenties. Your hair loss will worsen if you do not act quickly. The sooner you address your hair loss, however, the more options you will have. In other words, it has the potential to cause hair loss and even pain. It is time to act if you notice any signs of early hair loss. If you believe your hair is in poor condition, there’s a good chance it will deteriorate if you don’t follow nutritional advice or get an SMP procedure for men and women.
With this article, we are going to discuss how showering affects your hair.
Hair Shedding: What’s Normal
Your head contains hundreds of thousands of hairs, each of which is at a different stage of its two- to five-year lifespan. Hair grows and dies in stages, and nutrition, stress, hygiene, and daily styling all influence how much hair you lose each day.
The phase in which a hair strand grows is known as the “anagen” phase, and 90 percent of the hair strands you have are currently in that phase, according to Trusted Source. During the anagen phase, hair grows about 1 centimeter per month. Anagen effluvium occurs when something prevents your hair from growing. When most people think of “hair loss,” they think of anagen effluvium.
The catagen phase follows. At any given time, only about 1 to 2 percent of your hairs are in the catagen phase, according to Trusted Source. This stage lasts about two to three weeks. The hair strand stops growing during the catagen phase.
The telogen phase is the final stage of hair growth. Telogen phase hairs are also known as “club hairs” because they are at rest as they prepare to detach from your scalp. At any given time, approximately 8 to 9 percent of your hair is in this phase, according to Trusted Source.
Telogen effluvium is a condition in which more than 10% of your hair is in the telogen phase. Telogen effluvium is only temporary, but it causes more hair loss. Stress, surgery, or even a few days of fever can cause telogen effluvium, but your hair will most likely return to normal within six months.
According to estimates, we lose at least 85 hairs per day. But the average person loses 50 to 100 hairs a day. It depends on the length and thickness of the hair. These figures are hardly endorsed, but there are a few that have not been scientifically tested. A new formula based on calculating the time required to shed hair over the next 60 seconds is now available. This system was developed by scientists who randomly selected and asked 60 white males with no signs of bald spots to have a regular shampooing routine and combed their hair over a towel for a total of 60 seconds. Shampoo, condition, and brush your hair thoroughly; most hair will emerge during the shampoo stage; don’t count them. As soon as you take a clean bath, you may not notice any keratin scalings.
Comb test: Comb your hair from the back towards the forehead while leaning over a lightly colored bedsheet. If you can count more than 15-20 strands, it is abnormal hair fall. If you still feel your hair fall is abnormal, then consult your doctor. Talk with your doctor if you notice any of the following: your hair seems to be falling out at an increased rate you notice patches of hair coming out you can’t track your hair loss back to a possible cause.
What can cause excessive hair loss?
Hair shedding is a normal phase of your hair’s life cycle. Chronic or excessive hair loss, referred to as telogen effluvium, can point to clues that something isn’t quite right internally.
Bear in mind that some detached hairs can get stuck in your style, so when it comes to washing your hair, there will be a lot more hair on the shower floor than you can think.
Some things can cause excessive hair loss:
- It is best to let your hair air dry. If you do decide to blow dry your hair, be sure to use a leave-in product that protects your hair from the heat of the blow dryer and/or curling/flatiron. Allow your hair to air dry for the remainder of the time after blow drying it while it is still damp. Overblowdrying your hair is extremely damaging, especially if it is followed by a hot iron.
- Medication – Hair loss is a common adverse effect of several prescription and over-the-counter drugs. This can happen if the medicine causes actively growing hair follicles to enter a resting phase and shed (telogen effluvium) or prevents developing cells from dividing (proliferative apoptosis) (anagen effluvium)
- Dietary Habits – Low amounts of protein, iron, zinc, selenium, Vitamin D, and biotin, as well as dietary inadequacies, might cause your hair to thin and fall out. Micronutrients, which include vitamins and minerals, maintain hair healthy by facilitating cellular turnover and enhancing immune cell activity, according to a 2019 study published in Dermatology and Therapy. Hair loss caused by dietary deficiencies and a lack of certain nutrients, on the other hand, is frequently reversible.
- Genetic Hair Loss – Hair loss isn’t usually a sign of illness. It could also be a result of your ancestors’ genes. Male and female pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is known to occur in families, with genetic contributions from both the mother and father’s sides.
- Stress – According to a 2016 article in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology titled “Stress and the Hair Growth Cycle: Cortisol-Induced Hair Growth Disruption,” stressful situations cause spikes in the stress hormone cortisol, which can disrupt hair growth at the follicle level. A 2017 study in PLOS One suggests that stress can also cause temporary changes in the immune system, which can hinder hair growth.
- Many people who use a hairbrush to style their hair may be concerned when they see all of the leftover hairs in the brush. Brushing the hair, on the other hand, generally only removes and collects hairs that have already fallen from their follicles that day. Although seeing this all at once in the hairbrush can be unsettling, it is normal in small amounts. Excessive brushing may cause other problems with the hair, such as breaks, in some cases. Brushing too hard may cause the hairs to break or snap. If you notice shorter or broken hairs in your brush, consult a dermatologist about more natural hair care options or ways to strengthen your hair.
- Washing your hair also collects many of the hairs that have already fallen out of your head. Some shampoo ingredients can be harmful, causing breakage or increased hair loss. Anyone who notices an increase in the amount of hair they wash out in the shower may want to discontinue use and switch to a gentler formula. If the increase is significant, it is best to consult a doctor or dermatologist.
When should you worry about hair loss in the shower?
Everyone is susceptible to hair loss. Finding shaved hair all over your clothing may also indicate a hidden infection. If you continue to shed for an extended period of time after washing, you will face serious health issues. Noticing an excessive amount of hair loss or hair shedding is always worth a visit to your doctor.
Tips to help reduce hair loss in the shower
- It somehow became a debate that taking fewer showers could reduce hair shedding. Installing a water filter in your shower is a good idea. Chlorine, heavy metals, and germs that cause hair loss and breakage are all removed.
- When washing your hair, try to avoid washing the ends and only the scalp. The ends will clean themselves after rinsing off the shampoo. As a result, your hair will not become tangled, and you will not need to brush it as frequently.
- Avoid Rubber Hair Elastics- Elastics frequently cling to your hair and cause hair loss. Modify the rules and use hair ties that are gentle on the fiber or cotton. Elastic hairstyling has always been a necessity for you, but it can have a positive impact on the thickness of your hair.
- Natural oils rich in acids and vitamins, such as argan, coconut, macadamia, and almond, can help make dry, frizzy, unruly hair softer, shinier, and more manageable. It also helps to prevent hair breakage and promotes hair development. Warm any natural oil to a comfortable temperature, but not too hot. Allow it to cool before gently massaging it into your scalp. Place a shower cap over your head and let it on for an hour before shampooing.
- Heat weakens hair proteins, so use hairdryers, straighteners, flat iron, and curl irons sparingly or any styling products that produce heat. Constant heating and drying can cause hair to become brittle and fragile, which can lead to hair loss. It should be dried naturally rather than with heat.
- Use a wide-tooth comb to help tame your locks. Using a bristle brush or small toothed comb can cause breakage and pull out more hair.
What Is Normal Hair Loss in the Shower?
If you’ve always lost a lot of hair in the shower, don’t stress yourself. But if you start to see more and so much hair in the drain every time you shampoo, that’s an indication of abnormal hair loss. Realizing that you have a clump of hair sitting on top of your shower drain can be alarming. After all, no one likes the idea of hair falling out in the shower (or anywhere else). While this may be a common occurrence, you could have nothing to worry about. In most cases, hair loss returns to its regular rate within a few months. Anyone who notices that they are losing much more hair than normal should see their doctor to help determine the underlying cause. This may sometimes occur after a stressful event like giving birth or recovering from an illness such as a thyroid condition.
