How to tell if your hair breaking or falling out

According to dermatologists, hair loss can be caused by a number of different factors including stress, diet, genetics and underlying health conditions. If you or a loved one is suffering from hair loss, it’s important to know that this field of medicine is ever-evolving and what we know about related conditions is always changing and developing. As such, there are a number of theories on what causes hair loss. 

But what if your hair is breaking rather than falling out? What is the difference between hair loss and hair breakage? We consulted specialist dermatologist, Imraan Jhetam for more information. 

The main causes of hair loss

“There are many different subtypes of hair loss that we see in dermatology, which vary from scarring to non-scarring types,” Dr Jhetam explains. “As a result, the causes may be multifactorial.  If I have to isolate the most common type of hair loss that I see on a daily basis, which is alopecia areata and telogen effluvium, then the main cause is stress.”

Hair breakage can relate to the condition of your scalp

“There are some conditions of the scalp that can cause hair breakage like Pityriasis Amiantacea, which causes the hair to become matted into the scales of the scalp and break,” Dr Jhetam says. “Also, itchy conditions of the scalp can cause hair breakage when patients scratch excessively and break the hair shafts.”

Hair breakage vs hair loss

Many people can relate to seeing hair fall out in the shower or after brushing. At times, these hair strands may look like split ends and at times, the strand may seem to be longer. Before you decide how to treat your hair, consider Dr Jhetam’s opinion. “You need to examine the root tip of the hair strand that has fallen out,” he says. “If there is a bulb at the end, then this is called a club hair and this is a hair that has fallen out. Broken hairs are different and look frayed at the end.”

It may be time for a change

If you have consulted a professional and determined that your hair is falling out rather than just breaking, there are ways in which you can empower yourself to become healthier. “Stress reduction is the key for alleviating the common types of hair loss that I see,” Dr Jhetam recommends. “For other hormonal types of hair loss, obesity and the resultant insulin resistance is a problem, so a healthy diet and weight loss is the solution. For the scarring hair types that I see, treatments like hair relaxers, hot combing, and certain hairstyles like tight braids can contribute to traction alopecia and should be avoided.”
 

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