Hair shedding is different than hair loss, which is when hair stops growing. Reasons for hair loss include male or female pattern baldness, certain medications, stress, and harsh chemical hair products. Depending on the cause, hair loss may or may not be temporary.Catherine McQueen / Getty ImagesReasons Your Hair Might Be Falling OutPhysical, mental, or emotional stress, along withcertain medications, can cause larger-than-normal amounts of hair follicles to push into the resting phase of the hair cycle. When this occurs, as much as 70% of scalp hair can fall out, often in handfuls, around two months after the trigger.1. ConditionsMedical events and conditions that can lead to hair falling out include:Thyroid imbalancesIllness, especially with a high feverCOVID-19 infectionInflammatory conditions affecting the scalp, such aseczemaorpsoriasisVitamin or mineral deficiency, especiallyiron deficiencyin womenPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)HIV infectionHair shedding due to an illness such as COVID-19 typically improves three to six months after recovery.However, in the case of hormonal or nutritional imbalances, deficiencies, or medical conditions affecting the scalp, hair shedding is likely to continue if the underlying condition is not treated.2. Body ChangesAs with medical conditions, physical changes that stress the body, especially if they cause hormonal changes, can lead to excessive hair shedding. This usually happens a few months after the stressor occurs and stops when the body’s hormone levels have readjusted.Bodily changes that can cause hair to fall out include:ChildbirthLosing more than 20 poundsHormonal changes from stopping or startingbirth control pillsPerimenopause and menopauseExcessive hair shedding after childbirth is very common due to the hormonal changes a woman undergoes. It usually starts two months after giving birth, peaks four months after that, and stops when the body’s hormones readjust, with the hair regaining its normal fullness in six to nine months.3. Psychological ChangesEvents that cause greatemotional stresscan cause hair to shed excessively, usually a few months after the stressful event. Examples include:Going through a divorce or breakupLosing a loved oneLosing a job or homeRecent surgeryRecent severe injuryExcessive hair shedding can become long-term if you continue to experience high levels of stress for an extended period.The Hair Growth CycleThehair growth cyclehas three phases:Theanagen (growth) phase, which can last for yearsThe catagen phase, which lasts for about 10 days and occurs when hair stops growing and separates from the follicleThetelogen (resting) phaseof two to three months, after the hair falls outTelogen effluvium occurs when large numbers of hair follicles push into the resting phase.4. MedicationExcessive hair shedding is a side effect of some medications. Medications that may cause hair to fall out include:Oral retinoids(prescribed for acne)Warfarinand other blood thinnersBirth control pillsBeta-blockersStatinsDepression medicationsAnti-thyroid drugsCGRP medicationsfor migraineAnti-seizure drugsNever stop taking medications on your own. Always talk to a healthcare provider before discontinuing any medication.Excessive hair fallout from taking medication is usually temporary. Hair may stop shedding when you stop taking the medication. If you believe medications are causing your hair to fall out, talk to your healthcare provider about changing dosages or finding an alternative medication.What’s Considered Abnormal?Losing around 50–100 hairs daily through combing, brushing, washing, and styling is normal. When excessive hair shedding occurs, it’s known astelogen effluvium. Someone with telogen effluvium can lose 300–500 hairs daily.Telogen effluvium is common, seen more frequently in women, and usually happens two to three months after a triggering event. It typically doesn’t last more than six months, but if it does, it’s considered chronic.Although telogen effluvium doesn’t typically lead to baldness, it may lead to hair appearing thin, especially around the temples and crown of the head.Steps to Take to Initiate TreatmentTalk to your healthcare provider if an abnormal amount of your hair is falling out. You may need to see adermatologist(a doctor specializing in skin, hair, and nails) who can tell you whether you are experiencing hair shedding, hair loss, or both.If your hair is falling out more than normal, it’s important to determine the cause; in some cases, you may need a blood test or other tests. Most of the time, no treatment is necessary, and your hair will return to its normal growth cycle.SummaryAn excessive amount of hair fallout is known as telogen effluvium. This can have many causes, including medical conditions, physical and psychological causes, and certain medications. In most cases, telogen effluvium is temporary and resolves without treatment. However, you may need to work with your healthcare provider to find and treat any underlying conditions that are causing your hair to fall out.
Hair shedding is different than hair loss, which is when hair stops growing. Reasons for hair loss include male or female pattern baldness, certain medications, stress, and harsh chemical hair products. Depending on the cause, hair loss may or may not be temporary.
Catherine McQueen / Getty Images
Reasons Your Hair Might Be Falling Out
Physical, mental, or emotional stress, along withcertain medications, can cause larger-than-normal amounts of hair follicles to push into the resting phase of the hair cycle. When this occurs, as much as 70% of scalp hair can fall out, often in handfuls, around two months after the trigger.
1. Conditions
Medical events and conditions that can lead to hair falling out include:
Hair shedding due to an illness such as COVID-19 typically improves three to six months after recovery.However, in the case of hormonal or nutritional imbalances, deficiencies, or medical conditions affecting the scalp, hair shedding is likely to continue if the underlying condition is not treated.
2. Body Changes
As with medical conditions, physical changes that stress the body, especially if they cause hormonal changes, can lead to excessive hair shedding. This usually happens a few months after the stressor occurs and stops when the body’s hormone levels have readjusted.
Bodily changes that can cause hair to fall out include:
Excessive hair shedding after childbirth is very common due to the hormonal changes a woman undergoes. It usually starts two months after giving birth, peaks four months after that, and stops when the body’s hormones readjust, with the hair regaining its normal fullness in six to nine months.
3. Psychological Changes
Events that cause greatemotional stresscan cause hair to shed excessively, usually a few months after the stressful event. Examples include:
Excessive hair shedding can become long-term if you continue to experience high levels of stress for an extended period.
The Hair Growth CycleThehair growth cyclehas three phases:Theanagen (growth) phase, which can last for yearsThe catagen phase, which lasts for about 10 days and occurs when hair stops growing and separates from the follicleThetelogen (resting) phaseof two to three months, after the hair falls outTelogen effluvium occurs when large numbers of hair follicles push into the resting phase.
The Hair Growth Cycle
Thehair growth cyclehas three phases:Theanagen (growth) phase, which can last for yearsThe catagen phase, which lasts for about 10 days and occurs when hair stops growing and separates from the follicleThetelogen (resting) phaseof two to three months, after the hair falls outTelogen effluvium occurs when large numbers of hair follicles push into the resting phase.
Thehair growth cyclehas three phases:
Telogen effluvium occurs when large numbers of hair follicles push into the resting phase.
4. Medication
Excessive hair shedding is a side effect of some medications. Medications that may cause hair to fall out include:
Never stop taking medications on your own. Always talk to a healthcare provider before discontinuing any medication.
Excessive hair fallout from taking medication is usually temporary. Hair may stop shedding when you stop taking the medication. If you believe medications are causing your hair to fall out, talk to your healthcare provider about changing dosages or finding an alternative medication.
What’s Considered Abnormal?
Losing around 50–100 hairs daily through combing, brushing, washing, and styling is normal. When excessive hair shedding occurs, it’s known astelogen effluvium. Someone with telogen effluvium can lose 300–500 hairs daily.
Telogen effluvium is common, seen more frequently in women, and usually happens two to three months after a triggering event. It typically doesn’t last more than six months, but if it does, it’s considered chronic.
Although telogen effluvium doesn’t typically lead to baldness, it may lead to hair appearing thin, especially around the temples and crown of the head.
Steps to Take to Initiate Treatment
Talk to your healthcare provider if an abnormal amount of your hair is falling out. You may need to see adermatologist(a doctor specializing in skin, hair, and nails) who can tell you whether you are experiencing hair shedding, hair loss, or both.
If your hair is falling out more than normal, it’s important to determine the cause; in some cases, you may need a blood test or other tests. Most of the time, no treatment is necessary, and your hair will return to its normal growth cycle.
Summary
An excessive amount of hair fallout is known as telogen effluvium. This can have many causes, including medical conditions, physical and psychological causes, and certain medications. In most cases, telogen effluvium is temporary and resolves without treatment. However, you may need to work with your healthcare provider to find and treat any underlying conditions that are causing your hair to fall out.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Do you have hair loss or hair shedding?
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Telogen effluvium hair loss.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss: who gets and causes.
Nebraska Medicine.7 strange symptoms of COVID-19 including rashes, COVID toes and hair loss.
Harvard Health Publishing.Thinning hair in women: why it happens and what helps.
NYU Langone Health.Types of hair loss.
MHR Clinic.How to reverse hair loss from medications – blood pressure.
Malkud S.Telogen effluvium: A review.J Clin Diagn Res. 2015 Sep;9(9):WE01-3. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/15219.6492
Robbins Headache Clinic.CGRP questions/answers.
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