Losing some hair in the shower is perfectly normal – but there are times you may need to see a doctor.
If you’ve ever run your hands through your locks in the shower and been left holding what appears to be a clump of hair, you’ll know how terrifying it can be. Your first instinct is often that something must be wrong and you’re experiencing major hair loss, and it can send many of us running to Google to find out what’s wrong.
But according to one dermatologist, we don’t need to worry – as shedding some hair in the shower is completely normal. We could all stand to learn more about our hair and when we should be concerned about it, so to mark National Hair Day today (October 1), we’re taking a look at what normal hair loss looks like, and when you should see a doctor.
A dermatologist on TikTok known as @Dermguru explained it’s actually perfectly normal to lose between 100-150 strands of hair every single day, as your locks goes through a “shedding phase” as new hairs grow and old ones fall out.
But if you don’t wash your locks every day, the hair loss can seem more dramatic when you do take a shower. This is because hairs that fell out a few days ago can get stuck in the rest of your tresses, so they don’t fully fall out until you wash.
Dermguru shared: “It’s actually totally normal that we lose between 100 and 150 strands of hair every single day, because at any given time our hair is naturally going through a shedding phase. When we’re showering or putting our hands in our hair, we’re naturally pulling those hairs out.
“No matter how long or how short your hair is, you’re still going to lose that same amount of hair every day. How often you wash your hair isn’t going to change that fact. Washing your hair less often could make it seem more obvious because those shedding hairs are going to build up in your hair, so if you prolong washing you may notice more hair shedding when you take a shower.”
She then shared a picture of what dramatic hair loss looks like, saying you should only be concerned if your hair loss looks to be “way more” than 100 to 200 strands per day. She explained hair loss can be caused by a variety of reasons, but one of the most common is a condition called telogen effluvium, which is when we “temporarily shed tons of our hair”.
According to the British Association of Dermatologists, telogen effluvium is caused by a disturbance to the normal hair cycle. Common triggers for this can include childbirth, severe trauma or illness, extreme dieting, and stress. The condition usually resolves itself within several months without any need for treatment.
There are other reasons for hair loss, such as it being a sign of an iron deficiency or as a result of cancer treatment. Hair loss can also be a sign of a type of alopecia, including alopecia areata – an autoimmune condition that causes hair to fall out.
The NHS states you should see a GP about your hair loss if you are “worried” about it. Your GP may be able to determine what’s causing your hair loss, and you should tell them if it’s affecting your well-being.
If you are experiencing hair loss and need to speak to somebody for emotional support, you can find a local support group on the Alopecia UK website, where you could also find more information on the different types of alopecia.