Spring hair loss is concerning among individuals who haven’t been diagnosed with a formal hair loss condition, like hereditary androgenic alopecia or autoimmune-related alopecia areata. Healthy, functioning follicles shed anywhere between 50 to 100 strands per day. Excessive shedding – which initially might lead to a clogged shower drain and later, noticeable thinning on the scalp – is an emotional circumstance that may or may not be linked to a more serious condition.
However, seasonal and spring hair loss is relatively normal. More often, men and women notice increased hair loss in autumn, usually between September and November. The reason more hairs fall out in fall is because follicles frequently enter their resting (telogen) phase mid-summer. The telogen state lasts a few months before hairs eventually release to make way for new hair growth. This timeline is likely an effect of human evolution. Hair growth in the winter helps protect the body against cold weather, which was critical before indoor heating and protective clothing became extensively available. Similarly, hair growth is higher in the summer to protect the scalp from ultraviolet rays and heat.
What is Spring Hair Loss?
A smaller but considerable increase in hair loss also occurs during springtime. Research suggests that both fall and spring hair loss is still within the healthy range of 50 to 100 strands per day. But, you’re more likely to see closer to 100 strands per day fall out in autumn and spring, and closer to 50 strands fall out each day in winter and summer. While seasonal hair loss does exist, patients who notice cyclical shedding are usually within the normal range of healthy hair loss.
Unless you physically count the number of hairs shed per day, it’s not easy to figure out if your hair loss is simply seasonal or the beginning of something more serious. Consider the tell-tale signs of the most common hair loss conditions:
- Widespread thinning across the scalp (androgenic alopecia)
- Receding hair line (androgenic alopecia)
- Horseshoe-shaped pattern at the crown (androgenic alopecia)
- Sudden bald patches that appear almost overnight (alopecia areata)
- Complete loss of all bodily hair (alopecia totalis/universalis)
- Broken, damaged hairs (traction alopecia)
- Excessive shedding after weight loss, stress or drug treatment (telogen effluvium)
Visiting a hair loss doctor or specialist can put your concerns at ease and, if necessary, help you form a treatment plan to minimize further loss, reactivate follicles or restore areas of balding. For more information on South Florida hair restoration, contact the Hair Transplant Institute of Miami at 305-925-0222.