This article will teach you about the normal growth cycle of your hair and about what is normal hair loss. Your hair goes through a normal progression of loss and re-growth each year. This is the same principle as shedding old skin cells for new ones.
Hair has a growth cycle. Normally, a hair growth cycle will last for two to six years. This growth stage is called the anagen stage. Each hair grows at a rate of approximately one half inch per month. Ninety percent of all the hair on your head is in the anagen or growth stage at one time.
The other ten percent of your hair is in the telogen or resting phase. This phase will last for two to three months and then that hair is shed. New hair will start to grow from the same hair follicle to replace the shed hair. This cycle repeats itself over and over, year after year.
This is why you may notice hair in your hairbrush or in your sink or shower. Your body is naturally shedding the dead hair to make room for the new hair. It is normal to shed anywhere from 100 to 300 hairs per day.
But what is not normal for hair loss? When you start shedding more hair than you are reproducing, you will start to notice thinning patches or bald spots. However, for men that are genetically prone to get male pattern baldness, this may actually be normal in terms of their genetic makeup.
Temporary hair loss can be normal in certain situations. For example, it is completely normal to loose a large amount of hair after surgery or a major illness. This is a reaction to the stress that your body endured during this time.
It is normal to lose a large amount of hair about three months after childbirth. Being pregnant caused a lot of hormone imbalances in your body. After childbirth, the hormones return to normal which could result in hair loss.
You also have to remember that certain types of hairstyles and styling products may cause hair loss. If you wear a style that causes a lot of pulling traction on the root of the hair, it may result in hair loss. Some chemicals that are found in dyes and perms can make the hair brittle so that it breaks off easily. While this is not normal hair loss, it is easy to rectify.
If you have noticed an excessive amount of hair in the sink or shower lately, and it is not caused by one of the above conditions, see your doctor. Let him know about your sudden, excessive hair loss. He may want to run a series of tests to investigate the cause. It may be a problem that is temporary and easily fixed or your hair loss can be an indicator of an underlying disease or health problem.
Once you know what is normal hair loss and what isn't, you will be able to tell when something is wrong and when you need to see your doctor.
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