It’s only when I’m cleaning that I realize how much hair I’ve lost—just look at the hair on the comb, the floor, the bathroom drain, and in the vacuum cleaner dustbin, all full of hair.

 

 

This might be your hair rebels, medically known as telogen effluvium.

 

The good news is, this type of hair loss is usually “temporary”, not a “permanent layoff”. As long as the cause is identified, the hair can mostly “get back to work”.

 

01

Does hair also have a “996” schedule?

Understanding the hair growth cycle

 

Our hair is not (like some workers) a “workaholic” that works year-round without rest; it has its own rhythm.

The vast majority of hair (about 80%) is in the active growth phase, lasting about three years. A small portion is in the “resting” phase, where hair naturally falls out after about three months. There is also a very small portion of hair that is in a transitional phase between the two states, preparing for retirement, which lasts about three weeks.

 

Source: Tencent Medical Dictionary

 

Under normal conditions, losing up to 100 strands of hair a day is considered “normal turnover”, because hair loss is usually accompanied by new hair growth.

 

However, if one day you suddenly notice that your hair is falling out wildly, like “everyone quitting at once”, it might be telogen effluvium at play. Telogen effluvium is usually temporary. In most cases, hair will recover on its own within 6-12 months, but the recovery time varies from person to person.

 

Source: Tencent Medical Dictionary

 

02

Why is hair “striking” in the first place?

The underlying causes are so tragic it stuns men and moves women to tears

 

Hair doesn’t just “run away” for no reason—it’s usually the result of various physical or psychological stress responses. Common triggers include hormonal withdrawal (like decreased estrogen levels postpartum), infections with fever, surgical trauma, malnutrition, anxiety, depression, stress, and certain medications, all of which may lead to telogen effluvium.

 

Major surgeries, severe physical or psychological trauma, prolonged high psychological stress, staying up late, anxiety, and depression can all affect the scalp’s microenvironment, disrupt the hair follicle growth cycle, and trigger telogen effluvium.

 

03

How to tell if it’s “real hair loss” or a “false alarm”?

 

First:

Information source: Dermatology and Venereology 10th Edition Textbook

Then pay attention to three key features:

 

1. Sudden hair loss surge: When washing hair, you grab handfuls, and combing feels like “shearing wool”.

2. Even hair loss: Overall thinning, not localized like alopecia areata or androgenic alopecia (which affects the front and crown).

3. Timing matches: Typically starts 2-3 months after the triggering factor occurs.

 

 

Lastly, consider three supplementary tests:

a) Hair pull test:

Do not wash hair for three days before the test. Choose a bundle of 50-60 hairs, pinch them near the root with your thumb, index, and middle fingers, and slowly slide toward the tips. Count the number of hairs pulled out.

If ≥6 hairs are pulled out, the result is positive; fewer than 6 hairs is negative. Telogen effluvium is often positive.

 

b) Wash test:

Wash hair for three consecutive days, with 24 hours between each wash. Collect all the hair shed during washing and drying and calculate the average.

Less than 40 hairs per wash is negative; 40-80 hairs is weak positive; more than 80 hairs per wash is positive. Telogen effluvium is usually positive.

 

c) Trichoscopy.

 

04

How to save the “striking” hair follicles?

Don’t stay up late, don’t over-diet, don’t stress, don’t be depressed, don’t overthink, and don’t “mess with” your hair... Of course, as people around you will say: “Alright, I get it, but I just can’t help it”.

 

If it’s difficult to eliminate the triggers, under a doctor’s evaluation and guidance, proper medication can improve telogen effluvium, such as amino acids, trace elements, etc. Non-medication treatments like low-energy lasers and microneedling can also help improve telogen effluvium.

Often, our hair is just “tired”—give it enough rest, and it will gradually recover. If hair loss is severe in a short period or accompanied by scalp itching, redness, or swelling, don’t overthink, don’t hesitate—visit a dermatologist and let a professional help you “solve the case”.