Are Hair Loss, Hair Shedding, and Baldness Interrelated?

Hair loss commonly refers to a loss of hair due to any underlying reason but the question of whether it is different from each other is surfacing in the minds of people for a long time. It is different but at the same time, it is interrelated. If you are worried about the hair that you see every day in your shower drain or comb you are not alone.

A lot of people are facing the same problem. But there is a significant difference between normal hair shedding and hair loss. There is just a thin line between both. But if you are seeing excessive hair loss, consult with a doctor. You can also consider hair transplant treatment if necessary. Good news, you will find a number of state of the art clinics for hair transplant in Kolkata.

The hair growth cycle:

Understanding the hair growth cycle will help you understand the interrelationship between hair shedding, hair loss, and balding. The hair has three phases of growth that is anagen, catagen, and telogen.

The anagen phase is the first phase of hair growth during which the hair strand grows and lasts for up to two to eight years based on each person.

The subsequent phase that follows the anagen phase is the catagen phase. This is the transitional phase during which the growth stops and lasts for about two to three weeks.

The last and final stage is the telogen phase. It is the resting phase that lasts for about two to three months. Hair fall occurs at the end of the telogen phase and is replaced with new hair by starting a new cycle. Only 10 percent of your hair will be in the telogen phase. At any given time, all three phases are happening on the scalp. As there are more than 100,000 hairs on the scalp this process is always happening.

Hair shedding:

As a part of the growth cycle around 50 to 100 hair strands that are at the end of the telogen phase fall which is known as hair shedding. Sometimes excessive hair shedding can be seen due to intense stress, weight loss, or a side effect of illness. This excessive hair loss is known as telogen effluvium. Excessive hair loss can be normal in most cases, once you are over a difficult period, it stops. While hair loss is different from hair shedding let’s see what it is.

Hair loss:

Hair loss occurs when some factors stop the growth of the hair. That is the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle is blocked. In medical terms, it is known as anagen effluvium. The common cause of hair loss includes hereditary hair loss, the overreaction of the immune system, drugs and treatment, harsh hair styling products, and more. In hair loss, all the hair will quickly enter the telogen phase and starts shedding and it won’t be followed by anagen phase.

Balding:

Balding is a type of hair loss caused mostly due to genetic factors that starts with hair shedding. Here the factor that stops the growth of hair is dihydrotestosterone hormone. It destroys the hair follicles and results in no growth of hair.

Bottom line:

Hair shedding is different from hair loss but it can be a symptom for hair loss. On the other hand, balding is a type of hair loss. If you are suffering from any of these, consult a doctor immediately and take up the necessary treatment.