Taula de Continguts
- Why it seems that more hair falls out in autumn
- Normal shedding or hair loss: how to tell them apart
- Warning signs: when not to wait for it to pass
- What you can do while you keep an eye on the shedding
- What the medical hair consultation looks at
- Hair options at Santé Madrid and when they make sense
- How we work at Santé Madrid
- Frequently asked questions
Noticing more hair in your brush, on your pillow or in the drain when autumn arrives is common and, in many cases, is part of a temporary shedding phase that settles on its own. It is worth booking a consultation if you see bald patches, itching or burning on the scalp, if the shedding is sudden and heavy or if it goes on for months. Here we explain what is known about seasonal shedding, how to tell it apart from other hair loss and which options we have at Santé Madrid when action is needed.
Key points
- Losing between 50 and 100 hairs a day is normal; when the number is clearly higher, it is called telogen effluvium, an excessive shedding that is usually temporary.
- Some studies have observed more cases of telogen effluvium between July and October, but the cause of this autumn shedding has not been proven.
- Shedding is usually noticed a few months after the trigger, so it is worth looking back before you worry.
- Round bald patches, scalp symptoms, hair coming out in handfuls or shedding that lasts more than six months are reasons to seek medical advice.
- Not every case needs treatment. If it does, the medical team decides after assessing the cause, and results vary from person to person.
Why it seems that more hair falls out in autumn
Each hair follows its own cycle with three phases: a growth phase (anagen), a short transition phase (catagen) and a resting phase (telogen), at the end of which the hair is shed. According to a review published in Cureus, around 90 % of scalp hair is in the growth phase and around 10 % is resting, a phase that lasts about three to five months; when the proportion of resting follicles rises, shedding increases (Asghar and colleagues, 2020).
The same review reports that some researchers found a higher frequency of telogen effluvium between July and October, and suggested that summer sun exposure might show up as shedding in autumn. The authors themselves point out that this mechanism has not yet been scientifically proven.
Another review of telogen effluvium speaks directly of an alleged seasonal hair loss and acknowledges that the autumn shedding many people complain about is difficult to explain (Rebora, 2019). The sensible approach is to treat autumn shedding as something that can happen, without blaming it for any kind of hair loss. After a long, sunny summer, as is often the case in central Spain, it is understandable to pay more attention to your brush in autumn, but that alone does not explain what is happening to your hair.
Normal shedding or hair loss: how to tell them apart
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) distinguishes two situations. The first is shedding: it is normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day, and when the body sheds many more, it is called telogen effluvium. It usually appears a few months after a period of stress, an illness with high fever, an operation, giving birth, significant weight loss or stopping the birth-control pill. As the body readjusts, the shedding stops and the hair tends to regain its usual fullness within about six to nine months (AAD, hair shedding or hair loss).
The second is hair loss in the strict sense, when something stops the hair from growing. Among its causes, the AAD lists hereditary hair loss, an overreacting immune system, some drugs and treatments, hairstyles that pull on the hair and harsh hair-care products. The hair does not grow back until the cause stops, and some people have both situations at once.
| What you notice | Usually fits temporary shedding | Worth booking a consultation |
|---|---|---|
| Where the hair falls from | Diffusely, all over the head | In round or oval bald patches, or in one specific area |
| Scalp | No visible changes | Itching, burning, scaling, redness or pain |
| How long it lasts | A few weeks or a few months | More than six months, or episodes that keep coming back |
| How it started | A few months after an identifiable trigger | Suddenly, in handfuls, with no apparent cause |
| Overall appearance | Density looks much the same | A wider parting, a receding hairline or eyebrows and eyelashes falling out |
The table is a rough guide and does not replace an assessment: only an examination can tell what kind of shedding you have.
Warning signs: when not to wait for it to pass
Telogen effluvium is described as excessive shedding that does not create bald areas (Rebora, 2019), and seasonal shedding, if it exists, follows that diffuse pattern. That is why a round or oval patch of smooth, bald skin should not be put down to autumn. The AAD describes this sign as the usual way alopecia areata begins, which may come with itching, tingling or burning in the area, and notes that cold may act as a trigger: in one study, diagnoses were most frequent in November, October and January (AAD, alopecia areata symptoms). Happening in autumn does not mean it is normal shedding.
Scalp symptoms matter too. The AAD explains that a scalp infection can cause scaly, inflamed areas, that scalp psoriasis can lead to hair loss and that, in scarring alopecia, inflammation destroys the follicles, so catching it early helps prevent further loss (AAD, causes of hair loss). It also notes that thyroid problems can thin the hair.
As for duration, the Cureus review defines telogen effluvium lasting more than six months as chronic. If you recognise yourself in any of these signs, ask for a medical assessment; if the condition needs a dermatologist, we will tell you.
What you can do while you keep an eye on the shedding
If the shedding is diffuse, your scalp is calm and you see no bald areas, it makes sense to watch it for a few weeks with a bit of method. These simple steps can help you arrive at a consultation, if you end up needing one, with useful information:
- Write down the approximate date when you started noticing the shedding.
- Think about the previous months: a stressful period, an illness with fever, a change of medication, giving birth or a restrictive diet.
- Take photos of your parting and crown in the same light every few weeks to compare.
- Avoid hairstyles that pull on the hair constantly and space out dyeing, perms or harsh straightening.
- Do not start supplements on your own.
Looking back has a reason: according to the AAD, most people notice the shedding a few months after the event that triggered it. If the shedding is linked to a very tense period, our article on hair loss and stress explains it in more detail.
On supplements, the AAD notes that a lack of biotin, iron, protein or zinc can cause hair loss, but also that taking large amounts of vitamin A or selenium is toxic and can cause it. That is why it is better for a doctor to assess whether anything needs checking before you take anything.
What the medical hair consultation looks at
The medical consultation aims to answer one question: whether you have temporary shedding, hair loss with another cause or both, and whether anything needs to be done.
To do so, the doctor usually starts with your history: when the shedding began, how it has evolved, what happened in the previous months, what medication you take, whether there is a family history and whether you notice scalp symptoms. The doctor then examines the hair and scalp and looks at the pattern of the shedding. The literature on telogen effluvium describes tools such as the pull test, trichoscopy and the wash test to measure shedding and tell it apart from hereditary hair loss (Rebora, 2019); the doctor decides which of them make sense in your case.
Rebora's review also stresses something worth remembering: hair shedding can weigh heavily on your mood and deserves attention and time, not a quick answer. If any additional test is needed, the doctor will explain it. And if the picture points to a scalp disease or to a cause outside aesthetic medicine, the right step is to refer you to the appropriate specialist.
Hair options at Santé Madrid and when they make sense
The first thing to know is that seasonal shedding or a temporary effluvium does not always need treatment: according to the AAD, when the trigger goes away, the shedding stops on its own. Treatments make more sense when, after the assessment, there is hair thinning that is worth supporting or when the shedding adds to another hair problem.
For hair and scalp, at Santé Madrid we work with these four options, in addition to the hair consultation itself:
- Hair mesotherapy. Micro-injections into the scalp; you can read how we approach it on the hair mesotherapy page.
- Hair PRP. Platelet-rich plasma obtained from your own blood; the details are on the hair PRP page.
- Hair exosomes. Another regenerative option in the catalogue, which the medical team assesses case by case.
- HydraFacial Keravive. A non-invasive scalp treatment that, according to the manufacturer, combines gentle suction and exfoliation, an infusion of peptides and hydration, and a daily take-home spray (HydraFacial Keravive).
In this article we do not give medication guidance for hair loss: if a medicine is considered in your case, it is an individual medical decision made in consultation. All treatments are carried out by the medical team after an assessment, and results vary from person to person.
How we work at Santé Madrid
Santé Clinics Madrid is at C. de Amador de los Ríos, 1, Chamberí, 28010 Madrid. We are open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 21:00 and Saturdays from 10:00 to 15:00; the clinic is closed on Sundays.
If your question is aesthetic or you would like some guidance first, you can start with a free aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach. When your concern is hair loss, the right step is the hair consultation with the Santé Madrid medical team, which is a medical consultation priced at €50. In it we review your history, examine your scalp and explain whether what you see fits temporary shedding or whether it is worth going further.
If the conclusion is that the shedding will settle on its own, we will tell you so and explain what to watch for. If there is a reason to treat, we suggest the option that fits your case, explain what you can expect and how follow-up is organised. We make no promises about results: every head of hair and every scalp responds differently.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to lose more hair in autumn?
Many people notice it, and some studies have observed more cases of telogen effluvium between July and October, although the cause has not been proven. Diffuse shedding, with no bald patches or scalp symptoms, is usually temporary.
How long does seasonal shedding last?
It is usually temporary. According to the AAD, when the trigger for shedding goes away, the shedding stops and the hair tends to regain its fullness within about six to nine months. If heavy shedding lasts more than six months, it is worth seeking medical advice.
When should I book a consultation for hair loss?
If you see round or oval bald patches, have itching, burning or flaking on the scalp, your hair suddenly comes out in handfuls, your parting widens or the shedding goes on for more than six months.
What happens in the hair consultation?
The doctor reviews your history and what happened in the previous months, examines your hair and scalp and assesses whether it is temporary shedding or another type of hair loss. If any test is needed, the doctor explains it.
How much does the hair consultation cost at Santé Madrid?
It is a medical consultation and is priced at €50. The aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach is free.
Do I need treatment if the shedding is seasonal?
Not always. Temporary shedding usually stops on its own. Mesotherapy, PRP, exosomes or Keravive are only considered after an assessment, when they make sense in your case, and results vary from person to person.
Should I take supplements to slow the shedding?
It is better not to start on your own. Some deficiencies can cause hair loss, but too much vitamin A or selenium can also cause it. A doctor assesses whether anything needs checking first.
If you notice more hair in your brush this autumn, watch it calmly for a few weeks and keep the warning signs in mind. If any of them appears, or you simply want peace of mind, at Santé Madrid we help you find out what kind of shedding you have and whether anything needs to be done.
