Yes, everyone sheds hair every day. But how much is considered normal and when should we start panicking?
About 50 to 100 strands of hair daily is normal, said Dr Ben Yim, an aesthetic doctor with IDS Clinic. “We shed the hair as all the follicles in our scalp go through the stages of the hair cycle. It is a turnover process, just like how we shed the dead skin on the surface for the new skin below to replace it.”
However, some people might shed more than this amount due to various reasons. “The amount of hair shed daily also correlates with your health condition, stress levels, sleeping habits and haircare routines,” said Anita Wong, group CEO and founder of PHS Hairscience.
Some common reasons behind an increased hair fall can be due to stress, medical conditions, hormonal change, unbalanced diet as well as improper use of scalp and haircare products.
HOW MUCH HAIR FALL IS TOO MUCH?
And if you’re losing more than 100 strands a day, Dr Yim strongly advised to seek medical help to address the situation before it becomes worse. “If you start to lose more than the above numbers then, I would consider it abnormal and a cause for concern and would recommend visiting your doctor,” he added.
Fortunately, it’s not all doom and gloom. With the exception of male or female-pattern baldness, most medical conditions are treatable and the hair loss can be reversed, said Dr Yim. For instance, if the hair loss is caused by a significant stressful period in your life, once that period is over, the increased hair fall should stop.
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THINNING HAIR CAN BE THE BEGINNINGS OF HAIR LOSS
Did you know that your scalp ages six times faster than the skin on your face? This was shown in a study done by L’Oreal Professional Academy.
In short, ageing does contribute to an increased hair fall you see as you get older. According to Wong, this is due to thinning of the epidermis, loss of elasticity, hormonal changes and slower blood circulation that results in less nutrients being supplied to the hair follicles.
Dr Yim also added that ageing is also associated with an increase incidence of hair loss from male-pattern or female-pattern baldness as well. For example, 30 per cent of men will have male pattern baldness by the age of 30 years old and 50 per cent will be affected by the age of 50 years old. For women, this condition usually affects them around the menopausal age and can increase to over 50 per cent by the age of 70 years old, he shared.
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5 THINGS TO DO TO PREVENT EXCESS HAIR SHEDDING
With its cocktail of plant stem cells and botanical extracts, this daily tonic not only enriches the hair at the roots but also improves scalp health to build a strong foundation. The result: Hair grows healthier and stronger.
Available at www.phshairscience.com
2. Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Shampoo, S$71
Healthy scalp equals healthy hair. This scalp tonic uses a blend of actives like bergamot oil, organic aloe vera, larix wood, salicylic acid and willow bark extract to restore balance to the scalp. In addition, aromatic essential oils of lemongrass and kaffir lime also help invigorate the senses for a fresh start every day.
Available at www.thann.com.sg
4. Aveda Invati Advanced Intensive Hair & Scalp Masque, S$87
Ideal for fine and thinning hair, this volume enhancer foam contains a proprietary BioPeptin Complex that adds volume to the locks while improving hair’s elasticity to prevent breakage. Plus, it also conditions the scalp so hair grows stronger and healthier.
Available at www.sephora.sg