As autumn turns to winter, the change in the seasons can also lead to changes in how our hair grows – or falls out. All of us lose hair on a regular basis throughout the year; our scalps shed anywhere from 50 to 100 strands per day. While increased hair loss in autumn is very common due to the seasonal timeline of hair growth and loss we inherited through the course of human evolution, winter hair shedding can also be a problem. The reasons behind winter hair loss, however, are very different. Luckily, those reasons make winter hair shedding easier to address.
As opposed to autumn hair loss which we can blame on our evolutionary ancestors’ response to changing weather, winter hair shedding is often the result of our own responses to the very modern stressors of the holiday season.
Here are three big culprits behind winter hair shedding along with ways you can combat them:
Holiday Stress
Shopping and family and parties and planning and less sleep and being pulled in a thousand different directions now seem as much a part of the holiday season as Santa and jingle bells. All that stress can be a huge contributor to hair loss. Stress-induced hair loss, or telogen effluvium (TE), usually appears a few months following a highly stressful period or event.
Finding – and practicing – effective ways to combat stress is important throughout the year for a whole range of health reasons beyond just hair loss. It takes more of an effort to make time for stress relief during the busyness of the holidays, but try to make sure you take regular breaks from the madness to take care of yourself. Keeping your regular exercise regimen, setting aside short periods for meditation, quiet time, or reading, and turning off your gadgets can all help lower your holiday stress levels and combat TE.
Holiday Eating
What we eat and drink impacts our health in scores of ways, including the strength or our hair follicles. During the holidays, our diets change, not only in terms of overindulging but also in the kinds of foods we eat or beverages (alcoholic or not) we drink.
When you lack the nutrients necessary to keep your body performing properly, certain functions shut down, including hair growth and regeneration. As you stuff yourself with turkey or nibble on those holiday cookies, try to make sure your body is getting enough of these nutrients, vitamins and minerals necessary for hair growth and overall good health.
Dryness
Even here in South Florida, winter can bring drier air, both outside as well as indoors. To keep your hair clean as well as provide it with the moisture it requires, wash your hair with a gentle shampoo that exfoliates and cleanses the scalp and follow that with an ultra-light moisturizing conditioner which can nourish and soften the brittleness that often accompanies dry hair.
Winter is A Great Time to Schedule an Appointment for a Hair Loss Evaluation
Hair loss can be a problem no matter what the season. If you are ready to do something about your thinning hair, there is no time like the present. At the Hair Transplant Institute of Miami, our skilled physicians diagnose and treat hair loss cases through advanced hair restoration surgery techniques and alternative non-invasive treatments.
To receive a personalized evaluation and treatment plan, contact us online or call or office directly at 305-925-0222.