So, you’ve spent half the morning trying to figure out why your hair is suddenly falling out in batches, haven’t you? And, unless this is the first article you stumbled upon, you’re probably rather panicked. There’s a lot of scary information about hair loss available online, isn’t there?
If your hair loss started the other day – even if it’s quite disturbing – we might have some good news for you.
It may not be permanent.
Of course, it might be, but there’s no need to panic yet. Sometimes dramatic hair loss is only temporary. And, you may not need to do anything about it. Your hair growth could right itself without your help.
Telogen Effluvium Is Temporary… and Usually Normal
You probably never took much note of the lifecycle of your hair before it started falling out in clumps. But, the hairs on your head don’t grow at the same time or the same speed as the follicles next to them. There is a cycle of growth and dormancy, and that includes some hair loss.
When you and your scalp are perfectly healthy, you will lose between 100 and 150 hairs a day.
This normal loss occurs after a dormancy period of six to eight weeks. This resting phase is known as Telogen. The resulting loss is Effluvium.
Don’t Panic Yet
Telogen occurs at the end of a growth period – or because something interrupted that growth cycle. If your hair is falling out now, you should ask yourself if something happened to you six to eight weeks ago. That something could be:
- Significant hormone changes, such as the birth of a child and post-partum hormone adjustments
- A severe illness, usually accompanied by high fevers or hospital stays
- An extreme shock or injury, such as a car accident or a home break-in
- Major changes in diet or medication, especially adjustments to anti-depressant prescriptions
- Extreme stress, including the loss of a loved one or heavy financial burdens
If you experienced any of these disruptions less than two months ago, you can give it another couple of weeks before you panic.
Yes, that’s right, you shouldn’t panic now. But, if you really can’t stop worrying about your hair loss, then you should pay us a visit sooner rather than later. Stress might just transform your hair loss from a temporary state to a permanent one. And that’s the last thing you want.
