I often hear from people who are dealing with sudden or excessive shedding or want to know if this is anything to worry or be concerned about. People often ask me if the shedding will stop on it's own or if they need to have it checked out by a specialist. I'm certainly not an expert or doctor, but from my experience and research, there are instances when it is understandable to be concerned. There are also some instances where shedding can be normal and not cause for alarm. I will discuss this in more detail in the following article.
Temporary Shedding That Doesn't Necessarily Need To Cause Worry Or Concern: There are certain times in a person's life where shedding or hair loss can be normal. Examples are at certain time during the year when some of us have seasonal shedding that doesn't last for long enough to affect our appearance. This typically happens in the spring and in autumn but it varies from person to person. It's also common to shed a bit more when you start or stop medications, when you give birth, or during your menstrual cycle.
How Long The Shedding Has Been Happening And How Severe It Is Often Determines If It's A Cause For Alarm: Two things that go into whether people worry about their shedding is how long it has lasted and how severe it really is. It's not too difficult to ignore a little additional shedding which is over in a few days. But, if it goes on for too long and it begins to affect your hair's appearance or volume, then of course it becomes more difficult to ignore and easier to have some concerns.
Do You Notice Any Other Symptoms? Sometimes, with conditions where the shedding could be a concern, you will see other issues like a pink, burning or itchy scalp, skin conditions or rashes, or an oily face with oily hair. There are medical, metabolic, and autoimmune conditions which cause shedding or hair loss. Sometimes you'll see other symptoms or problems outside of the shedding. It's important to make note of any other issues as this will help your doctor or specialist in determining if the two are related.
Is The Shedding Affecting Your Appearance, Your Self Esteem, Or Your Sense Of Well Being?: I often tell people that if the hair loss is negatively affecting them in some way, then it's a cause of concern if only because of it's negative affects. Sure, admittedly, you may not be talking about a serious medical issue. But any one who has ever had "non serious" hair conditions like telogen effluvium (TE) or androgenic alopecia (AGA) will tell you that to them, the experience can feel quite dire even if they know that their health is not in jeopardy.
My rule of thumb (and this is only my opinion) is that if the shedding goes on for long enough and is severe enough for you to take notice and begin to question it, then it makes sense to follow up, learn more, or to get it checked out. It makes sense to eliminate any potential issues, especially since early treatment can make a big difference with some hair loss conditions.
How do I know all of this? Because I lived it. I was told not to worry or be concerned by my shedding for way too long. This costs me a lot of valuable time and it got to the point where I could no longer ignore it. It was a long, hard, frustrating journey but I finally found something that helped quite a bit. I wouldn't have found it if I had continued not to take it seriously. You can read a very personal story at http://stop-hair-loss-in-women.com/
Temporary Shedding That Doesn't Necessarily Need To Cause Worry Or Concern: There are certain times in a person's life where shedding or hair loss can be normal. Examples are at certain time during the year when some of us have seasonal shedding that doesn't last for long enough to affect our appearance. This typically happens in the spring and in autumn but it varies from person to person. It's also common to shed a bit more when you start or stop medications, when you give birth, or during your menstrual cycle.
How Long The Shedding Has Been Happening And How Severe It Is Often Determines If It's A Cause For Alarm: Two things that go into whether people worry about their shedding is how long it has lasted and how severe it really is. It's not too difficult to ignore a little additional shedding which is over in a few days. But, if it goes on for too long and it begins to affect your hair's appearance or volume, then of course it becomes more difficult to ignore and easier to have some concerns.
Do You Notice Any Other Symptoms? Sometimes, with conditions where the shedding could be a concern, you will see other issues like a pink, burning or itchy scalp, skin conditions or rashes, or an oily face with oily hair. There are medical, metabolic, and autoimmune conditions which cause shedding or hair loss. Sometimes you'll see other symptoms or problems outside of the shedding. It's important to make note of any other issues as this will help your doctor or specialist in determining if the two are related.
Is The Shedding Affecting Your Appearance, Your Self Esteem, Or Your Sense Of Well Being?: I often tell people that if the hair loss is negatively affecting them in some way, then it's a cause of concern if only because of it's negative affects. Sure, admittedly, you may not be talking about a serious medical issue. But any one who has ever had "non serious" hair conditions like telogen effluvium (TE) or androgenic alopecia (AGA) will tell you that to them, the experience can feel quite dire even if they know that their health is not in jeopardy.
My rule of thumb (and this is only my opinion) is that if the shedding goes on for long enough and is severe enough for you to take notice and begin to question it, then it makes sense to follow up, learn more, or to get it checked out. It makes sense to eliminate any potential issues, especially since early treatment can make a big difference with some hair loss conditions.
How do I know all of this? Because I lived it. I was told not to worry or be concerned by my shedding for way too long. This costs me a lot of valuable time and it got to the point where I could no longer ignore it. It was a long, hard, frustrating journey but I finally found something that helped quite a bit. I wouldn't have found it if I had continued not to take it seriously. You can read a very personal story at http://stop-hair-loss-in-women.com/