A head full of shiny, voluminous hair—now, that’s a sight for sore eyes. Healthy hair can help you make a good first impression, contributes to your confidence, and can make you feel good about yourself.

It’s all well and good until you start to shed conspicuous amounts of hair.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it is perfectly normal to lose between 50 to 100 hair strands per day. Anything more than that, and you have a potential hair shedding problem on your hands.

Let’s explore why you may be shedding more hair than you should.

Hair goes through four phases:

• Growth (anagen phase): 90% of your hair is currently in this phase.
• End of the growth cycle (catagen phase): This is when your hair strands stop growing. About 1% to 2% of your hair is in this phase at any given time. This phase lasts about 2 to 3 weeks.
• Dormancy (telogen phase): Approximately 8% to 9% of your hair is in this phase. Also called “club hairs,” this is the phase where your hair strands prepare to detach from your scalp.
• Shedding (exogen phase)

Every follicle goes through this four-phase process at a different stage of its 2 to 5-year lifespan. This explains why we keep losing several hair strands every day rather than losing them all in one go.  

Hair shedding is also significantly affected by nutrition, stress, hygiene, and other factors.

If more than 10% of your hair is in the telogen phase, you have a hair condition called telogen effluvium. Fortunately, this is a largely temporary condition. Your hair should go back to normal within six months. If it doesn't, it’s best to explore the reasons why you’re shedding.

If you are shedding more than the usual amount of hair, it is a clear indication that your hair cycle has been disrupted.

You may see more hair fall out daily on your brush, bedroom floor, shower, or on your pillows. You may notice stark patches of thinner or missing hair on your head, or your scalp may become more and more visible.

When you experience any of these symptoms, it's time to explore the reasons why you’re shedding. Your hair loss could potentially be due to:

• Lifestyle changes: Rapid weight loss, a restrictive diet, and chronic stress can cause temporary hair loss.
• Hair style and maintenance: Frequent brushing, using heating products, tight hairstyles, bleaching, and other procedures can lead to patchy hair loss.
• Toxic substances: Chemotherapy, radiation, and some medications can damage your hair follicles, leading to sudden hair loss, which may or may not be permanent.
• Nutritional deficiencies: Protein, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and vitamins B and C are crucial for hair health.
• Female pattern hair loss: Aging, genetics, hormonal changes caused by pregnancy, taking or stopping birth control pills, or going through menopause can lead to shedding.
• Alopecia: This is an autoimmune disease that causes hair to fall out in patches. It is usually temporary.
• Abnormal thyroid: Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can lead to hair loss.
• Stressors: Having a baby, going through surgery, the death of a loved one, or even trauma can affect your hair.

If you’re losing more hair than ever, it is best to visit your healthcare provider to determine the root cause. They will help you develop a treatment plan for targeted healing and hair growth.

To encourage hair follicle function, you can explore the following treatment options:

Supplements

Revita tablets are 100% drug-free nutraceuticals that improve hair growth and quality, and they target root causes of thinning, such as poor nutrition, stress, and hormones. They also limit the formation of DHT, which is a hormone that causes hair loss in women.

Here’s a sneak peek into the unique blend of clinically effective ingredients used in its composition:

• Zin - Promotes protein synthesis and helps protect against oxidative damage.
• Biotin - Converts nutrients to energy and aids hair maintenance.
• Keratin - Provides strength and hair flexibility.
• Iron - Delivers oxygen to the hair root and helps reduce hair fall.

Specifically Formulated Hair Care Products

Haircare products specifically formulated to address your needs can help limit hair loss. Here’s a brand you can never go wrong with: Revita.

Revita’s shampoo and conditioner revives hair follicles, improves the vitality of your scalp, enhances the quality, look, and feel of your hair, boosts hair growth, offers deep scalp conditioning and nourishment, and promotes optimal hair health while reducing the effects of DHT.

With Revita, healthy, thicker, fuller-looking hair will be within reach.

Alternate Treatment Options

In-patient treatments: PRP (platelet-rich plasma treatment) uses the patient's own blood to accelerate hair growth and healing in a specific area. It leads to zero downtime and minimal to no side effects. You will, of course, have to return every 6 to 12 months for long-term treatment.

Over-the-counter treatments: Easy-to-apply formulations like Minoxidil can improve circulation to the scalp to stimulate hair growth.

At-home laser therapy: Laser caps utilize low-level laser therapy technology to boost the blood supply to the scalp and stimulate and renew cells within the hair follicle to support hair growth. Daily use is recommended.

In some cases, hair shedding can be treated by adjusting your diet, changing your hair products, and minimizing the use of heat-styling tools. These simple habitual changes should be your first course of action.

If they don't work as well as you hoped, consider exploring other options to prevent hair loss.

Shedding 50 or so hair strands every day is standard fare for humans. However, if you’re worried about how much hair you’re losing, consulting your dermatologist can be the first step of an effective action plan. They will overrule any possible underlying health conditions and offer targeted treatment plans for hair growth.

And remember, set realistic goals. Understand that your thinning hair won’t grow to a full lion’s mane immediately. A little bit of patience and determination will do wonders for your continued physical and mental wellbeing.