Does hair fall out more during seasonal changes?

These days, if I comb my hair before washing it, I get a big clump.

When I wash my hair, a lot of hair falls out, and even when I dry it...

So, I have a lot of tricks up my sleeve, but what is the reason why hair falls out a lot during seasonal changes?

Is it just me, or is it not only me?

They say animals shed their fur, but humans don't go through shedding, and lately, I feel like I'm losing a lot of hair.

However, upon reading the article below, it seems that it cannot be said that hair loss is significant just because it's the change of seasons.

It's just a vague feeling, you know...

Still, during seasonal changes, the humidity drops, and in many ways... it's the time when the skin struggles.

Tips for hair care during seasonal changes and understanding the difference between hair shedding and hair loss.

 

 

During seasonal changes, specifically in spring and fall, some patients visit the hospital claiming that they are losing more hair than usual. However, unlike other mammals that undergo a so-called 'shedding' process, human hair follicles have different growth cycles for each strand. It is also unclear whether the number of hairs lost per day and the proportion of resting-phase hairs that have stopped growing and are about to fall out are influenced by seasonal factors. There are few studies on this topic, and their results vary. Some research indicates an increase in hair loss during fall and winter, while other findings suggest that the proportion of resting-phase hairs is highest in summer. Therefore, it is difficult to draw a definitive conclusion about whether hair loss truly increases during seasonal transitions.

The good news is that it is rare for people to experience severe hair loss that clinically significantly reduces hair volume during seasonal changes. While the number of hairs shedding temporarily may increase, there is a high likelihood that new hair will naturally grow back from the hair follicles where hair has fallen out. There is no need to excessively stress if you notice more hair on the floor than usual. Especially in our country, since the humidity continuously drops from summer to winter, hair becomes dry and more prone to breaking when combed or styled. The increased breakage of hair during seasonal changes can be mistaken for hair loss.

 

Seasonal Hair Care Tips

To maintain healthy hair, it is necessary to keep indoor humidity above 50%. As outdoor temperatures drop and heating is used, humidity naturally decreases, so it is advisable to avoid excessive heating, use a humidifier, or hang wet laundry to increase indoor humidity.

Similarly, you should be cautious about washing your hair too frequently. If you continue the habit of washing your hair more than twice a day during the hot summer, your hair may become dry and your scalp may become irritated. Of course, the appropriate frequency of shampooing varies depending on factors such as sweat secretion, sebum production, activity level, and whether hair styling products are used, but generally, it is recommended to wash your hair once a day or every other day.

Brushing your hair excessively while it is wet after washing can cause physical damage to the hair, and leaving the scalp wet for a long time can lead to scalp inflammation. Repeatedly drying with hot air can cause the hair to become bleached or thin due to heat damage, so caution is necessary. Using a curling iron is also not good for hair health.

As the weather cools down, outdoor activities such as hiking and exercising naturally increase, and during this time, hair is more susceptible to damage from excessive ultraviolet rays. When spending long hours outdoors on clear days, it is advisable to wear a hat to protect your hair from UV damage.

Finally, maintaining a balanced diet. If nutrients such as iron, zinc, folate (vitamin B9), biotin (vitamin B7), and vitamin D, which are contained in foods that supply proteins, are deficient, hair loss is more likely to occur. These deficiencies often happen when people drastically restrict their diets for weight loss. However, there is no evidence that consuming more nutrients will lead to more hair growth.

 

How to distinguish between physiological hair loss and pathological hair loss

It is natural for hair to fall out according to the growth cycle. The number of hairs lost per day varies among individuals, but on average, it is known to be about 50 to 100. Losing more than 100 hairs for a few days does not necessarily indicate a serious problem, but if a large amount of hair continues to fall out for several weeks, hair loss disease should be suspected.

Diseases characterized by an increase in the number of hairs falling out per day include alopecia areata and telogen effluvium. Alopecia areata is characterized by smooth patches of hair loss, often called "patchy baldness," with one or more such patches appearing. Telogen effluvium does not have clear patches of baldness, but overall hair becomes thinner and the number of hairs falling out increases.

On the other hand, male pattern baldness, a typical form of hair loss, does not primarily involve an increase in the number of hairs falling out each day, but rather shows symptoms such as thinning hair on the forehead or crown and an inability for hair to grow long. Since it develops gradually over several years, it is recommended to monitor the hairline and crown hair density over an extended period to see if there are any changes. If there is a family history of hair loss, it is especially important to actively assess the progression of hair loss and initiate early treatment.

 

Source: Seoul Asan Medical Center