New hair falling out, often called telogen effluvium, is a common concern. It's usually temporary and often triggered by a recent significant event or change in your body.
Common Causes of New Hair Shedding
Several factors can cause increased hair shedding, especially affecting new hair growth:
-
Stress: Major life events, chronic stress, or intense psychological stress can disrupt the hair growth cycle, leading to more hairs falling out. This is because stress hormones can impact the hair follicles.
-
Illness: High fevers, severe infections, major surgeries, and serious chronic illnesses can all temporarily shock the system, resulting in increased hair shedding a few weeks or months later.
-
Medical Conditions: An overactive or underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism) significantly impacts various bodily functions, including hair growth.
-
Nutritional Deficiencies: Crash diets, especially those lacking sufficient protein, can deprive hair follicles of essential nutrients, hindering growth and leading to increased shedding.
-
Medications: Certain medications can have hair loss as a side effect. This is often temporary and resolves once the medication is stopped.
-
Childbirth: Postpartum shedding is quite common due to hormonal changes after delivery.
Understanding the Hair Growth Cycle
Hair grows in cycles. A period of growth (anagen), followed by a resting phase (telogen), and then shedding (exogen). Events that disrupt these cycles can cause more hair than usual to enter the telogen phase simultaneously, resulting in noticeable shedding once they begin to shed.
What to Do
If you are experiencing significant hair loss, it's best to consult a doctor or dermatologist. They can help determine the underlying cause and recommend appropriate treatment. This might include addressing an underlying medical condition, adjusting medication, or suggesting nutritional changes.
