There are certain times of the year when our bodies are affected by changes in temperature, stress, and seasonal transitions. During these periods, our natural defences may be affected and our nutritional needs can change. These seasonal factors can also influence hair health, which is why many people notice increased hair shedding during autumn.

Consultations for hair loss are particularly common after the summer months. Changes in the weather, increased stress after returning to work, or children going back to school after the holidays can all have a negative impact on hair health. As a result, it is common to notice more hairs than usual on your pillow or in the shower.

However, this is usually not a cause for concern. The hair that sheds is not permanently lost. This phenomenon is known as telogen effluvium.

Hair follows a natural growth cycle consisting of three phases:

• Anagen: the active growth phase, during which the hair grows continuously.
• Catagen: a short transitional phase in which hair growth stops.
• Telogen: the resting phase, during which the hair eventually sheds before a new hair begins to grow.

Telogen effluvium occurs when a larger number of hair follicles enter the telogen phase simultaneously, resulting in a temporary increase in hair shedding.

How to recover from seasonal hair loss

On average, it is normal to lose around 40 to 50 hairs per day, which may total up to 15,000 hairs per year. As mentioned above, hair shedding often becomes more noticeable at the end of summer and throughout autumn, when the number of hairs lost each day may temporarily double.

Hair loss should only become a concern if it persists for an extended period. If excessive shedding continues for more than three months, it is advisable to consult a hair restoration specialist. Following a clinical assessment, the doctor will be able to determine the underlying cause and recommend the most appropriate treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there anything I can do to maintain healthy hair?

Yes. Healthy hair, like overall health, benefits from a balanced lifestyle. Eating a nutritious diet low in processed sugars and unhealthy fats, managing stress effectively, and engaging in regular physical activity can all contribute to maintaining healthy hair and scalp conditions.

What treatments are available to reduce hair loss?

Hair restoration medicine offers several treatments that can help slow or reduce hair loss. These include oral medications, as well as intradermal treatments such as Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy and hair mesotherapy.

However, these treatments are designed primarily to slow the progression of hair loss. They do not replace hair that has already been permanently lost due to conditions such as androgenetic alopecia. In such cases, the only way to restore lost hair is through a hair transplant.

Dr. Espinosa Custodio works at the Instituto Médico del Prado, his hair clinic in Madrid or in Mexico City. If you wish to schedule an appointment, you can contact us at the phone number +34 912 468 664, on WhatsApp +34 627 396 322, or through the contact page on our website. If you are contacting us from Mexico, our phone number is +52 55 4590 9909.