A noticeable increase in shedding is often the first sign something is off — and you’re the best person to judge this, Alford says. “You would have to lose a lot of your hair for someone else to notice it,” she explains. “So if you feel like you’re losing hair and others say you’re not, feel confident that you’re not crazy.”
But don’t count hairs, as this can become a source of anxiety. Instead, Allen suggests looking at reference images online for 100 or 150 strands of hair to see where you fall on the spectrum.
If increased hair shedding lasts four to six weeks and doesn’t improve, seek help from a dermatologist or primary care provider, Alford says. In addition, watch for scalp symptoms like scaling or itching, which aren’t part of normal shedding, she says.
Here are some reasons why you might be shedding (or losing) more hair than normal in the shower.
- You’ve recently experienced childbirth, major surgery, malnutrition, or a severe infection. Increased shedding can occur two to three months after a physical stressor, such as childbirth, major surgery, malnutrition, or a severe infection. This is known as telogen effluvium, and it’s the most common reason people see an increase in hair shedding, Alford says. While telogen effluvium doesn’t cause permanent hair loss — and typically resolves within six to eight months without treatment once the underlying cause is addressed — it’s a good idea to see a physician to rule out other causes.
- You have a hormonal imbalance. Atypical hair shedding can also be caused by hormonal imbalances in people in perimenopause, Alford says.
- You take medications. Antidepressants and blood thinners can be linked to hair loss in some people, Allen says.
- You’ve experienced significant weight loss. Some people lose hair in addition to weight after bariatric surgery or when taking glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists for weight loss.
- You’re iron deficient. Iron is a mineral that plays an important role in hair growth. If you’re deficient in iron, excessive hair shedding may be an early sign.
If you have a diagnosis of alopecia areata (a form of nonscarring hair loss where your immune system harms hair follicles) or inflammatory hair loss (where inflammation destroys hair follicles and could lead to scarring) and notice an increase in shedding, don’t wait to see a dermatologist, Alford says. “The sooner we intervene in those situations, the better the chance of improvement,” she explains. “It’s easier to save hair than regrow hair.”
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