I get a lot of questions from people who want to know if their hair shedding is the result of the changing seasons or if they have TE (Telogen Effluvium) or some other hair disorder that can occur at any time during the year. I’ll try to address these concerns to help you tell the difference in the following article.
It Is Normal To Shed More During The Autumn And Spring Seasons: All mammals shed slightly more during the fall and spring. In general, the fall or autumn hair loss is the more noticeable of the two. Some people feel this is sort of a natural process where mammals replace their summer coats with winter ones.
In any event, research does indicate that although most people lose more hair during these times, what they lose is generally still within normal levels and doesn’t give rise to the amount of hair shed during TE. For example, the autumn and summer sheds may get closer to the 100 hairs shed per day that defines TE, but it doesn’t move past this by much. It’s not the type of loss that clogs the shower drain or over taxes the vacuum. You’ll likely just notice a few more hairs on your clothing and not think much of it.
And, in the summer and winter, most people will be closer to a 50 spent hairs per day loss. Again, what is normal is going to vary by person. Some people are what are called “heavy shedders” but these folks are usually also heavy and fast growers which means that they easily and quickly replace what is lost so that they have no loss in volume and this process is not at all noticeable.
How Do I Know If My Hair Loss Is Seasonal Or If I Have A Bigger Problem?: This is the question that most people want to know. The answer lies in how much you’re really losing, what your regrowth is like, and if you’re noticing any pattern. In general, if you’re losing tons of hair (more than 100 per day) for an extended period of time, TE or loss due to scalp issues is the most likely scenario. Again, you could fall into the “heavy shedder” category, but if you do you’ll likely already know this, as this type of loss would be normal for you and would not bring about concern.
People with AGA (genetic thinning or androgen related loss) can also have quite aggressive and quick loss, but it sometimes happens in a pattern (at the top, temples, bangs, or crown) and you may be having difficulty with your regrowth. The hairs may be slow to come in, may come in sparsely, or may be miniaturized and baby fine. This is because the DHT and androgens are effecting your ability to regrowth the healthy hair that is needed to provide satisfactory coverage.
Generally speaking, seasonal loss comes and goes pretty quickly. You may notice more spent hairs but it generally doesn’t reach a level that causes concern and it usually doesn’t change the appearance or volume of what’s on your head. If you’re seeing this, you should take a look at the other possibilities just to be sure.