Hair Fall After Monsoon? Causes and When to See a Dermatologist in Chinchwad, PCMC

Hair fall that peaks after the rains is most often a temporary shed called telogen effluvium, where more hairs than usual move into their resting phase. It tends to show up weeks to a few months after a trigger such as a high fever, illness, stress or crash dieting, so the cause may already be behind you when the hair starts to fall. It usually settles within months once the trigger passes, but bald patches, scalp symptoms or shedding that will not stop need a dermatologist.

Written by Dr Aishwarya Patil Pethe, Dermatologist at Chetna Hospital, Chinchwad. If your hair loss looks more like thinning or patches, read our guide on how dermatologists help with hair loss, or see our dermatology clinic in PCMC.

Is hair fall after the monsoon normal?

Some hair fall is normal every day. The NHS says we can lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, often without noticing, and the American Academy of Dermatology gives the same range. Hair fall becomes a worry when the brush, the bathroom drain or the pillow holds clearly more hair than before, or when the hair at the parting or temples looks thinner.

Many people notice this in October, once the rains have gone. That timing fits what doctors describe. Shedding often lags behind its cause, so what you see now may reflect something that happened earlier in the season.

What is telogen effluvium?

Each hair goes through a growing phase (anagen) and a resting phase (telogen). A StatPearls review of telogen effluvium notes that in a healthy scalp about 85% of hairs are growing and 15% are resting. After a physical or emotional stress, more hairs than usual switch into the resting phase and are shed a little later. That excess shedding is telogen effluvium. The AAD uses the plain term “hair shedding” for the same thing.

Why does the hair fall months after the cause?

The StatPearls review says a triggering event typically comes about 3 months before the hair loss, with a range of 1 to 6 months. So a person may have recovered fully from a fever and still see hair coming out by the handful weeks later. The hair roots are not damaged in this type of shedding, which is why regrowth is expected.

What can trigger sudden shedding?

The AAD lists several common triggers for excessive shedding. Add the NHS list of causes and the picture looks like this:

• High fever or illness, including a long viral illness.
• Surgery and recovery, and childbirth.
• High stress over a period of time.
• Significant weight loss or crash dieting.
• Stopping birth control pills.
• Iron deficiency, thyroid problems and some medicines.

If several of these apply, the cause is usually easier to find with a doctor than by guessing.

Is the monsoon itself to blame?

Many websites say humidity and rain water cause hair fall. We looked for a medical source that backs a figure for this and did not find one, so we will not quote any numbers. The medical references we read point to delayed shedding after a trigger, and to nutrition, thyroid and medicine causes. Rain water, hard water and a damp scalp can make a scalp feel unpleasant, and if the scalp is itchy, flaky or painful, that points to a scalp condition and not simple shedding. Read our note on hard water and hair loss in Chinchwad for that side of the question.

What can I do at home while the shedding settles?

Be gentle with the hair

Wash as often as your scalp needs. Avoid tight ponytails, harsh brushing and heat styling. The AAD notes that hairstyles that pull can cause hair loss of their own.

Eat enough

The AAD says not getting enough biotin, iron, protein or zinc can cause noticeable hair loss, and that hair regrows once the body gets enough of the missing nutrient. Regular meals with dal, eggs, milk, pulses and vegetables are a sensible base. Please do not start high-dose supplements without a test, because the right one depends on what is actually low.

Do not stop prescribed medicines on your own

The AAD is clear on this point. Speak to your doctor first, even if you suspect a tablet is behind the hair fall.

Skip the chemist-counter hair tonic cycle

Switching between oils, serums and tonics every few weeks makes it hard to tell what is helping. A clear diagnosis comes first. As the AAD puts it, without an accurate diagnosis treatment is often ineffective.

Which tests might a dermatologist suggest?

After listening to your history and examining the scalp, a dermatologist may suggest blood tests. The StatPearls review lists thyroid function and iron studies, including ferritin, as the usual checks for shedding. Not everyone needs tests. Whether you do depends on your history, your diet, your periods, recent illness and what the scalp looks like. The visit also separates temporary shedding from permanent hair loss that needs treatment, such as pattern thinning, which looks different.

How long does regrowth take?

Acute telogen effluvium lasts less than 6 months according to StatPearls, and the AAD says that most people see their hair regain its normal fullness within 6 to 9 months once the stressor is gone. Regrowth is gradual. Short new hairs along the hairline are often the first sign. Chronic shedding that lasts beyond 6 months is a reason for a proper check.

When should I see a dermatologist?

Make an appointment if you notice any of these:

• Round or patchy bald spots, or sudden large clumps of hair coming out.
• An itchy, flaky, red or painful scalp, or pus-filled spots on the scalp.
• Shedding that has lasted more than 6 months or keeps getting worse.
• Thinning at the parting or crown that is slowly widening.
• Hair loss together with tiredness, weight change, irregular periods or feeling cold all the time.
• Hair loss after starting a new medicine.

The NHS also advises seeing a doctor first if you are worried about hair loss, before paying for a commercial hair clinic. Our guide on what a dermatologist visit costs in PCMC explains what to expect.

When is hair loss part of an emergency?

Hair loss on its own is rarely urgent. Get urgent medical care if it comes with a high fever and a spreading rash, sores in the mouth, swelling of the face or lips, breathlessness or chest pain.

What patients say

Excerpts from Google reviews on Dr Aishwarya Patil Pethe’s profile:

Read all reviews on Google → Individual results vary.

Hair and skin consultation near you in Chinchwad and PCMC

Dr Aishwarya Patil Pethe sees patients at Chetna Hospital, GP 116, Sambhaji Nagar Road, near Rotary Club, G Block, MIDC, Chinchwad, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra 411019. Patients come from Chinchwad, Pimpri, Akurdi, Nigdi, Pradhikaran, Thergaon, Kalewadi, Rahatani, Pimple Saudagar, Bhosari, Moshi, Ravet and across Pimpri-Chinchwad. See our full list of doctors or contact the hospital.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my hair falling so much after the monsoon?

Heavy shedding is often delayed. A fever, illness, stress or crash diet one to six months earlier can push many hairs into the resting phase together. They fall a few months later, which can coincide with the end of the rains. A dermatologist can check whether anything else, such as low iron or a thyroid problem, is involved.

How many hairs is it normal to lose in a day?

The NHS and the American Academy of Dermatology both say 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. You may not notice this. If the amount on your comb, pillow or in the shower has clearly increased for several weeks, or you see thin areas, it is worth having your scalp examined in Chinchwad or a clinic near you.

Will my hair grow back after telogen effluvium?

In most people, yes. Once the trigger is dealt with, the AAD says hair usually regains its normal fullness within 6 to 9 months. Regrowth is gradual and starts as short fine hairs. If shedding continues beyond 6 months, a dermatologist should look for other causes.

Should I take biotin or hair vitamins for hair fall?

Not without checking. Hair loss from low iron, protein, zinc or biotin improves when the missing nutrient is corrected, but the right nutrient depends on a test and your diet. Extra supplements will not help if your levels are normal. Ask a dermatologist which blood tests suit you before buying vitamins.

Where can I see a dermatologist for hair fall in Chinchwad or PCMC?

Dr Aishwarya Patil Pethe, Dermatologist, consults at Chetna Hospital, Sambhaji Nagar Road, MIDC, Chinchwad, for patients from Pimpri, Akurdi, Nigdi, Ravet, Pimple Saudagar and across Pimpri-Chinchwad. Call or WhatsApp 96077 53535 to book a consultation.

Sources

• NHS. Hair loss.
• American Academy of Dermatology. Do you have hair loss or hair shedding?
• American Academy of Dermatology. Hair loss: Who gets and causes.
• StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf). Telogen Effluvium.

This article is general health information and does not replace a consultation. The cause of hair loss is decided after examination and, where needed, tests.