You notice more strands in the shower, on your pillow or while brushing.
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Seeing more hair on your pillow, in the shower or on your hairbrush? Increased shedding can feel alarming, but it does not always mean permanent hair loss.
Illness, childbirth, rapid weight loss, nutritional problems and other health changes may trigger it. At Skinology, we focus on finding the reason before recommending treatment.
What It Is
Hair naturally grows, rests and sheds. Losing around 50–100 scalp hairs daily is a commonly cited range, although washing and grooming routines affect what you notice.
A common cause of increased, widespread shedding is telogen effluvium. A health-related trigger shifts more follicles into their resting phase, and extra hair may start falling about two to three months later. Many cases improve after the trigger resolves, but visible fullness can take months to return.
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Recognising the Signs
These changes may appear before you notice a major difference in overall density.
01 · MORE FALLING HAIR
You notice more strands in the shower, on your pillow or while brushing.
02 · LESS VOLUME
Your ponytail feels smaller, or your hair looks less full than before.
03 · DIFFUSE THINNING
You see a general drop in density rather than one clearly defined bald patch.
04 · DELAYED ONSET
Hair fall starts weeks or months after illness, childbirth or another possible trigger.
Possible Causes
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May follow fever, infection, surgery, childbirth, major stress, rapid weight loss or medication changes. Shedding often starts later.
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Iron deficiency or too little protein and energy may contribute. Supplements should address a demonstrated need.
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Both underactive and overactive thyroid conditions can contribute to diffuse hair loss.
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Hormonal changes after delivery commonly cause temporary shedding. Persistent loss may need further assessment.
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Severe calorie restriction, inadequate nutrition or substantial weight reduction can disrupt the hair cycle.
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Some medicines and inflammatory scalp disorders may contribute. Never stop prescribed treatment without medical advice.
The Hair Cycle
Hair actively grows in this cycle.
Growth slows during a short transition.
The follicle rests while the hair remains in place.
Diagnosis
A hair and scalp assessment comes before any recommendation for injections or surgery.
When shedding started, recent illness, childbirth, diet, weight, medicines and family history.
Checks the distribution of thinning and signs of inflammation, breakage or scarring.
May help assess active shedding. Washing frequency and technique can affect the result.
A closer look at the hair and scalp to help distinguish shedding from other conditions.
CBC, ferritin or thyroid studies may be useful when your history suggests a need.
Baseline photographs can help track hair density and recovery over time.
When to seek help: Arrange an assessment for severe, persistent or recurrent shedding or visible thinning. Seek prompt evaluation for patchy loss, scalp pain, marked redness, scaling or possible scarring.
Treatment Options
Treatment should match the diagnosis. There’s no reliable instant fix for every cause, and many people don’t need a procedure.
Treat relevant medical problems, correct confirmed deficiencies, improve inadequate nutrition, review medicines with the prescriber and manage scalp inflammation.
Eat enough protein, handle hair gently, avoid tight hairstyles and address scalp irritation. Normal washing doesn’t cause telogen effluvium.
Minoxidil may be considered if pattern hair loss also exists, but it isn’t routinely needed for isolated telogen effluvium.
Not a routine first-line treatment for uncomplicated telogen effluvium. Considered only if another indication is diagnosed and you’re suitable.
Not a routine first-line treatment for uncomplicated telogen effluvium. Considered only if another indication is diagnosed and you’re suitable.
Generally not indicated for active uncomplicated telogen effluvium. It may be relevant to a separate diagnosed permanent hair loss condition.
Know The Difference
| Feature | Telogen Effluvium | Female Pattern Hair Loss | Alopecia Areata |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onset | Often relatively sudden | Usually gradual | May be sudden |
| Distribution | Diffuse shedding | Central part / crown thinning | Often patches; can be diffuse |
| Mechanism | Hair-cycle shift | Follicle miniaturization | Autoimmune condition |
| Course | Often improves after trigger resolves | Usually chronic | Variable |
| Care | Cause-directed | Long-term medical options | Disease-specific care |
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Skinology’s dermatologist-led approach focuses on distinguishing temporary shedding from progressive hair loss, checking relevant medical and nutritional contributors, choosing investigations selectively and monitoring recovery. PRP or transplantation shouldn’t be automatic recommendations for uncomplicated shedding.
FAQs
Our specialists are ready to answer your questions and guide you.
Around 50–100 hairs daily is commonly cited, but individual variation and wash frequency affect what you notice.
Telogen effluvium may follow illness, childbirth, rapid weight loss, major stress or a medication change, often with a delay of two to three months.
There’s no proven instant fix for every cause. Identifying and addressing the trigger is the most useful first step.
Yes. Men can develop telogen effluvium, and it can coexist with male pattern hair loss.
Not automatically. Minoxidil may suit coexisting pattern hair loss. Transplantation is generally not indicated for active uncomplicated telogen effluvium.
Consult a dermatologist at Skinology in Multan for severe, persistent, or recurrent hair shedding; visible thinning; patchy hair loss; scalp pain; significant redness or scaling; or signs of possible scarring.
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