Often the first signs of hair loss are when we wash, comb or brush. Also, by simply running our hands through our hair. As a result, seeing hairs falling out. This can initially be a minor irritation. Not thought much of. But subconsciously it sinks in. We start to pay more attention to the hair numbers more and more. So, how many hairs falling out a day is too many?
How Hairs Come and Grow
Hair follicles are genetically programmed from birth, the genetic coding determines the behavior of the hair follicles through life. All hair follicles go through phases of growth and falling out to then regrow again.
Anagen is the growth phase of hair and it lasts about two to three years. Telogen is the resting phase of hair growth and it lasts only three to four months.
During the growth phase, your hair can grow up to three cms per month. At the end of the resting phase, the hair strands in this pattern fall out. New hair enters the growth phase. With the average person shedding from 50 to 100 hairs each day.
Not all hair grows at the same time. According to the American Academy of Dermatology. At any given time 90% of your hair is in a hair growth phase. As a result, 10% is in a resting phase.
On average there are 100,000 – 150,000 follicles on the scalp. If there are fewer than 90,000 hairs on the scalp, the hair density is considered thin.
The Difference Between Shedding Hair And Hair Loss
With the average person shedding from 50 to 100 hairs each day naturally. This can be considered natural shedding of the hair. Not as such a change in the hair cycle or hair loss.
Some people have interruptions in their normal phases of hair growth that result in either temporary or permanent hair loss. Hair loss can be caused by hormonal problems, disease, medication, medical treatments, heredity, infection, and nutritional deficiency.
How many hairs falling out a day is too many? Interruptions in the normal phases of hair growth cause more hairs to shed daily. But they are not replaced. As a result, the balance of shedding and regrowth is changed. There is less hair over the head than usual. At this stage actual hair loss may have begun.
So, if we shed 150 hairs but only 75 regrow and multiply that by every day, every, week and month and over time hair loss becomes obvious and visible. So, how many hairs falling out a day is too many depends on the regrowth of hair also.
Common Hair Shedding Hair Loss Conditions
Male-Pattern Baldness
Female Pattern Baldness
Telogen effluvium
Male and Female Pattern Baldness is a result of a gene in the body that converts large quantities of testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone). Hair loss occurs to some extent in 60-70% of all men, and 4-8% of women. This balding process is caused by hereditary factors.
Telogen effluvium is when some stress causes the hair follicle to be pushed prematurely into the resting state. Telogen effluvium can be acute or chronic. If there is some “shock to the system”, as many as 70% of the scalp hairs are then shed in large numbers about 2 months after the “shock”. It normally only lasts for a period of a few months.
What Hair Loss Category Are You
Hair loss stages are categorised in useful guide help diagnose the extent of the hair loss, for both men and women. The Norwood Scale is a classification of MPB for men, from remedial thinning to progressive hair loss. The female version is known as The Ludwig Scale and works in a very similar way to categorise a stage of thinning. The pattern of loss is generally different but again gives a broad overview as to the condition of a person‟s situation.
Is a Hair Transplant the first, or best option to Turn to
Learn how many hairs falling out a day is too many. Before deciding to undergo any hair loss treatment, surgical or non-surgical option it is important to research and become educated as to your hair loss condition, your hair loss stage now, and the potential for future hair loss.
A hair transplant is not a miracle cure, only the redistribution of hair, and in some cases, not all people are suitable for a hair transplant procedure. A hair transplant and medications can complement each other in providing the best result. It is important to understand that surgical hair replacement without medical therapy may not provide a suitable result.
With three FDA approved medicated treatments and other medical therapies to treat hair loss such as meso and PRP therapy it is important to assess the hair loss condition and stage whether any treatment is going to have a positive outcome as there are so many causes for hair loss, some systemic, traumatic, chemical it is important before any treatment is administered a proper assessment is required.
Does A Hair Transplant Work For Everyone
A hair transplant works because on the right candidate the hair around the sides and back of the head is genetically strong (donor hair), we can remove some of this hair to replace lost hair over the top of the scalp (recipient area).
If the hair loss condition has caused the donor hair to become weak or unsafe then a hair transplant should not be considered to be an option. hair loss conditions such as traction alopecia, Alopecia areata, and Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia or “DUPA to name three.
Other considerations that need to be considered are age, current hair loss pattern, family hair loss history, general health, and hair characteristics, all will be factors in a person´s suitability for a hair transplant and whether they are a good or poor hair transplant candidate.
The Hair Transplant Illusion
As hair follicles don´t multiple to make more and more there is a finite number that can be used. As it is impossible to replace like for like hair lost the trick is to make less hair look like more hair with a hair transplant.
The new hairs close enough together to create the necessary density and then aspects such as hair characteristics play a role. Also, keeping the hair long enough so each hair overlays the next adds to blocking the scalp. It should be noted scalp hair has a different growth cycle to beard hair and we need to ensure not only the two characteristics have a close match but you need to groom your new beard to ensure a balanced and even growth is maintained.
Hair transplant techniques
There are two techniques, FUT and FUE, they differ in how the hair is removed, the rest of the procedure is basically the same.
With both techniques, Follicular Unit Transplant and Follicular Unit Extraction, it has been medically recognised that hair from the donor can be moved to an area of hair loss and this hair will continue to grow after being moved to the new area, displaying the same traits and characteristics as it had prior to being moved.
Planning is important and understanding what can realistically be achieved to ensure you are happy with the result. The number of grafts required is dictated by the surface area to cover and the quality of your hair characteristics. The number of grafts that can safely be extracted in one procedure will be largely dictated by the quality and density of your hair around the sides and back of your head.
It is important to consider that a hair transplant is not a cure for hair loss, and fixing a low hairline is permanent, so if hair loss continues that low hairline may not appear natural in the future. Treatment can help to maintain your existing hair and add to a hair transplant result when used together.
