Hair Shedding vs. Hair Loss: How to Tell the Difference and What You Can Do About It
Doctors also share the ways to treat shedding or hair loss
We all have had those moments where you look at your shower drain or hair brush and notice there seems to be a lot more hair there than usual. This is often followed by immediate panic , causing you to immediately think, “Am I starting to go bald?!” The good news is, there’s a very good chance that your hair is just simply going through its hair shedding phase, a.k.a. there is no reason to fret. However, there are, of course, cases where this extra hair could be a sign of hair loss. That’s why we spoke with dermatologists and hair experts to break down hair shedding vs hair loss, and how you can identify the differences between the two.
What is hair shedding?
You may have heard of the hair growth cycle, the natural phases your strands go through to maintain a healthy head of hair. “Hair goes through a natural cycle that includes a growth phase, a resting phase and a shedding phase,” says Kristin M. Baird, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist. “So when we talk about shedding, we are referring to the part of the cycle where the hair naturally falls out to make room for new hair growth.”
How much hair shedding is normal?
You lose hair every day, even when you may not realize it. In fact, our experts all tell us that it’s pretty typical to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day—this is very normal and even healthy, and a natural part of the hair cycle.
What is hair loss?
Hair shedding is typically very temporary and hair easily grows back, while hair loss can be more permanent. “Hair loss happens when the hair follicle itself starts to shrink, becomes inactive, or is permanently damaged—so the hair that’s lost may not grow back without treatment,” explains Ross Kopelman, DO, a hair restoration surgeon.
Additionally, with hair loss, your hair has trouble growing back as fast as it’s falling out. “Hair loss is technically considered when the rate of hair shedding cannot keep up with the rate of hair growth, and this leads to a net deficit,” says Caleb Backe, a hair care expert for Maple Holistics.
The differences between hair shedding vs hair loss
As mentioned above, hair shedding and hair loss, while both involving hair falling out, are very different. It’s important to identify which you may have before you and your doctor can determine the best treatment.
“The main differences between hair loss and hair shedding come down to the cause, the outcome, and whether the hair grows back,” explains Dr. Baird.
Determine if hair thinning is happening all over or in specific spots
One of the main ways to tell if your hair is shedding or going through hair loss is by where you are losing hair. “If your hair is coming out in all directions and you’re not noticing bald spots, chances are you’re shedding,” says David Johnson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and Co-Founder of RedliteX. “But if you’re losing hair in clumps or you’re spotting areas that appear to be thinning, those can be signs of hair loss.”
Look at your hair follicle health
If hair follicles are damaged, you likely are experiencing hair loss. Damaged hair follicles make it harder for hair to grow back. “With shedding, the hair falls out, but the follicle remains intact and will eventually start producing new hair again. With true hair loss, especially conditions like male or female pattern baldness, the follicle is miniaturizing or shutting down altogether,” explains Dr. Kopelman. “I always tell patients: shedding is like your hair taking a nap; hair loss is more like the follicle going offline.”
Try to uncover the cause of the shedding
Another highly important difference between the two and a factor to consider is the cause of your hair thinning. Hair shedding is typically more temporary and, aside from just your hair going through the natural hair growth cycle, can be caused by temporary conditions like hormone fluctuations, weight loss, childbirth, stress, starting or stopping birth control, seasonal changes or medication, says Dr. Baird.
When it comes to hair loss, there’s typically a more severe and permanent underlying issue, like genetics a.k.a. androgenetic alopecia, autoimmune conditions (this can cause alopecia areata), scarring diseases, menopause and PCOS, Dr. Baird tells us.
Search for signs of hair growth
Again, hair shedding is typically very temporary, whereas hair loss can be more permanent. If you’re experiencing hair shedding, you should see your hair starting to grow back in two to three months, our experts tell us. However, it can take longer for a full comeback of your hair: “Full recovery—where the hair feels like it used to—can take up to a year, depending on your health, age and how aggressive the shedding was,” explains Dr. Kopelman.
If you aren’t noticing any new hair growth after a few months or are seeing bald spots, this is likely hair loss. While it may require more time and effort, you can oftentimes treat hair loss and see eventual hair growth.
How to treat hair shedding vs hair loss
Treatment options vary greatly between hair shedding and hair loss, but the first step should be seeing a doctor. “Firstly, I would recommend seeing a healthcare professional to understand the underlying cause of the hair shedding. Hair shedding itself is not the diagnosis and may require some workup by a physician to determine what is contributing to it,” advises Christina Han, MD, a board-certified dermatologist.
When it comes to hair shedding, maintaining overall scalp and hair health is huge. “When someone’s going through a shedding phase, I recommend keeping their scalp healthy, minimizing heat and tight hairstyles, and making sure their nutrition is solid—especially iron, vitamin D, zinc, and biotin,” suggests Dr. Kopelman. Product-wise, Dr. Baird recommends using gentle and nourishing silicone-free formulas made with “ingredients like biotin, keratin and niacinamide to strengthen and protect the follicles.”
For hair loss, some common treatments include topical or oral minoxidil, platelet-rich plasma therapy, nutritional support, LED hair growth treatment and avoiding harsh chemicals and dyes.
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