Why Do We Experience Hair Loss During Seasonal Changes?

As September arrives in Türkiye, the cooling weather and decreasing daylight directly affect the life cycle of our hair follicles. This environmental shift accelerates the transition of hair into its resting phase, leading to a temporary condition known as seasonal hair loss. Although this process, which typically lasts 4 to 6 weeks, is the body's natural adaptation mechanism, losing more than 100 strands a day might signal other underlying dermatological issues.

• While losing 50 to 100 hair strands a day is considered normal, this number can climb to 150 during seasonal transitions.
• Autumn shedding usually peaks between September and November.
• The wear and tear caused by summer sun, sea water, and pool chlorine accelerates the autumn shedding process.
• Deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12, and vitamin D are the primary factors that increase the severity of hair loss.
• For prolonged shedding, dermatological treatments like PRP and hair mesotherapy offer safe and effective results.

What is Seasonal Hair Loss?

Hair strands go through a continuous cycle consisting of three main phases: growth (anagen), regression (catagen), and resting (telogen). On a healthy scalp, about 90 percent of the hair is in the growth phase, while the rest is resting and will eventually fall out to make way for new strands. During seasonal changes—especially moving from the sunny Turkish summer into autumn—the reduction in sunlight exposure slightly alters the body's hormonal balance. This triggers more hair strands than usual to enter the telogen (shedding) phase simultaneously.

This highly common scenario occurs at similar rates in both men and women. While it can be alarming to see more hair than usual on your pillow in the morning, in your hairbrush, or circling the shower drain, this condition is mostly temporary. As part of the body's effort to adapt to changing temperatures, less daylight, and fluctuating humidity, the shedding usually resolves on its own within a few months, provided there is no underlying illness.

Causes and Risk Factors of Hair Loss

Seasonal changes affect hair health in several ways. The most prominent causes of hair loss include fluctuations in melatonin and prolactin hormones due to decreased sunlight. Hair strands that have been exposed to intense summer sun, sea salt, and pool chlorine lose their moisture and become quite fragile. With the onset of autumn winds and colder weather, these damaged hairs break and fall out much more easily.

When looking at risk factors, poor dietary habits and intense stress significantly increase the severity of shedding. Seasonal hair loss is experienced much more intensely, especially by individuals with insufficient stores of iron, zinc, biotin, and vitamin D. Furthermore, thyroid gland diseases, hormonal imbalances, recent severe infections, or major surgical operations weaken the hair follicles and raise the risk. The effects of cold weather on the skin can dry out the scalp, paving the way for dandruff and hair loss. Relatedly, you can learn how to protect your skin and scalp by reading our article titled Skin Barrier Sounding the Alarm: 5 Defense Tactics in Cold Weather.

Symptoms of Autumn Hair Loss

Autumn hair loss primarily reveals itself during your daily routines. You might notice a distinct increase in the amount of hair left on your pillow when you wake up, in your brush when combing, or accumulated in the drain after a shower. While losing 50 to 100 strands a day is normally considered healthy, this number can reach up to 150 during this period. Symptoms usually manifest as an even thinning across the entire head; meaning, you will not see coin-sized bald patches or sudden, drastic receding hairlines.

Mild symptoms include hair strands looking dull, split ends, a loss of vitality, and a slight feeling of dryness on the scalp. In more severe cases, you might notice itching, redness, crusting on the scalp, or a visible reduction in overall hair volume. If there is noticeable thinning at the crown or temples, this may indicate an acceleration of genetically predisposed hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) rather than just seasonal shedding.

How is it Diagnosed at the Hospital?

A detailed dermatological examination is essential to find the true underlying cause of hair loss. When you visit the hospital, a specialist physician will first examine your scalp, the structure of your hair strands, and your shedding pattern. Using a simple and painless method called the pull test, the doctor gently pulls small clusters of hair from different areas between their fingers to evaluate the density of hairs in the shedding phase. This test is highly useful for determining whether the shedding is active.

When a closer inspection of the hair follicles and scalp is required, a special magnifying device called a trichoscope is used. Trichoscopy clearly reveals scalp inflammation, dandruff, thinning at the roots, or follicle miniaturization. Blood tests are requested to understand whether seasonal shedding is overlapping with another systemic health issue. A complete blood count, iron-binding capacity, ferritin, vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin D, zinc levels, and thyroid function tests are thoroughly analyzed in the laboratory. If necessary, hormonal values are also checked to map out the complete picture of your hair loss.

What is Good for Hair Loss and Treatment Methods

The treatment process is planned entirely on a personalized basis, depending on the severity of the shedding and the patient's blood values. Basic steps you can take at home include avoiding washing your hair with very hot water, using sulfate-free shampoos suited to your hair type, and taking a break from high-heat styling tools like blow dryers or curling irons. Transitioning to a diet rich in protein, iron, and omega-3 is the most natural and effective answer to what is good for hair loss.

Medical treatments administered at the hospital aim to nourish the hair follicles directly. In PRP treatment, platelet-rich plasma obtained from the patient's own blood is injected into the scalp using fine needles. Hair mesotherapy, on the other hand, is the process of delivering mixtures of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to the hair roots via micro-needles. These treatments are generally applied in several sessions at 2 to 4-week intervals, and the improvement becomes noticeable within 3 to 6 months. For more information on how to protect your hair as we enter the winter months, you can check out our article How Should Winter Hair Care Be Done?.

Complications and Risk Groups

Although seasonal shedding is generally a self-limiting condition that improves over time, it can lead to permanent hair thinning in certain risk groups. In particular, individuals who are genetically predisposed to hair loss may not fully regain the hair they lose during these transition periods. Women in the postpartum period, those going through menopause, and individuals with hormonal conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome are affected much more severely by seasonal changes.

For people subjected to extreme crash diets, eating disorders, and chronic stress, the shedding process can drag on for months. Unaddressed and prolonged hair loss can turn into permanent volume loss (alopecia) on the scalp. Furthermore, dryness and vulnerability of the scalp can pave the way for secondary skin conditions like seborrheic dermatitis or fungal infections, making the situation even more complicated.

When to See a Doctor?

While hair loss is often part of a natural process, certain symptoms require prompt medical evaluation. If you notice one or more of the following warning signs, you should see a dermatology specialist without delay:

• Shedding that lasts longer than two months and progressively worsens.
• The appearance of completely bald, coin-sized circular patches on the scalp.
• Experiencing severe itching, redness, scaling, acne, or pain on the scalp.
• Hair breaking off rather than falling from the root, along with thinning at the hair ends.
• Hair loss accompanied by systemic symptoms like extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss, or heart palpitations.

Diagnosis and Treatment Process at BHT CLINIC

For all your concerns regarding hair health, the Dermatology department at BHT CLINIC İstanbul Tema Hastanesi is by your side with its expert staff. When you visit our hospital, your scalp analysis is performed using the most modern trichoscopic devices, and any necessary blood tests are finalized in our laboratories on the same day. Following diagnosis, your PRP, mesotherapy, or medical treatments are planned and administered by our experienced physicians under strict hygienic conditions.

Our hospital also features a fully equipped emergency department providing 24/7 service for any unexpected medical situations. When coming for your appointment, bringing your previous blood test results and a list of the medications and hair care products you use will speed up the treatment process. To achieve healthy and strong hair, you can book an appointment to consult with our specialist physicians.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does seasonal hair loss last?

It typically starts in the autumn months and naturally slows down and stops within 4 to 6 weeks. If shedding exceeds two months, an underlying cause should be investigated.

Which vitamins should I take for hair loss?

Biotin (B7), B12, vitamin D, iron, and zinc supplements are particularly effective in stopping hair loss. However, it is essential to confirm a deficiency via a blood test before using these vitamins.

Does washing hair frequently increase hair loss?

No, washing your hair regularly does not increase shedding. The hairs that fall out during washing are strands that have already entered the resting phase and are ready to shed anyway.

Does stress cause hair loss?

Yes, intense physical or emotional stress can push hair follicles into the resting phase, leading to severe shedding known as telogen effluvium.

Does cutting hair during seasonal transitions stop it from falling out?

Cutting your hair does not stop shedding because it doesn't directly affect the roots. However, trimming split ends helps the hair look more voluminous, vibrant, and healthy.

This article is for informational purposes only; please be sure to consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment.