Frequent times noticing more hair than usual on your pillow, comb or even shower drain can literally be a matter to worry about.
This is especially very common when the weather changes. Many people start looking for hair growth tablets in order to manage increased shedding and support overall hair health.
But before adding a supplement for hair wellness to your routine, it is worth understanding why your hair is actually shedding.
It is very normal to lose around 50-100 hairs a day. When shedding becomes noticeably heavier, then it can sometimes be a form of excessive hair shedding which is called telogen effluvium.
This can totally happen after physical or emotional stress, illness, significant weight loss, childbirth or even other changes affecting the body.
Seasonal changes may coincide with increased shedding for some people, but not every increase in hair fall totally means you have a vitamin deficiency.
So, are hair growth tablets useful during seasonal hair shedding? They can be helpful when a nutritional deficiency is contributing to hair fall, but taking multiple supplements without knowing what you truly need is not necessarily beneficial..
What Are Hair Growth Tablets?
Hair-growth tablets are oral supplements. These are very expertly formulated with nutrients or other ingredients which supports overall hair health in a very effective manner.
Depending on the product, they may contain all these:
- Biotin
- Zinc
- Iron
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B12
- Folic acid
- Amino acids
- Vitamins
- Minerals
Some formulations are very simple multivitamins while others combine several nutrients specifically for hair fall.
Can Seasonal Hair Shedding Be Caused by a Vitamin Deficiency?
It can be but it is not the only possibility.
Your hair-growth cycle can really be affected by several factors. For example, inadequate intake of iron or protein can totally contribute to hair loss. Significant stress, illness as well as rapid weight loss can also totally trigger excessive shedding of hair.
This is why taking a hair growth tablet simply because the season has changed may not address the actual reason why you are experiencing hair shedding.
If hair fall is persistent or even unusually heavy then in this case a doctor consultation may be considered. He/she will access your medical history and when appropriate, blood tests to check for nutritional deficiencies, hormonal problems as well as other causes.
Hair Shedding vs Hair Loss
Hair shedding
You may notice considerably more hair coming out while washing, brushing or even styling.
Temporary excessive shedding can actually occur after certain physical or emotional stressors. It may eventually settle on its own.
Hair loss
Hair loss actually happens when something interferes with the normal growth of the hair.
A receding hairline, bald patch or widening part in a very progressive manner. These can literally be signs of hair loss rather than simple temporary shedding.
Knowing the overall difference matters a lot. It is because the treatment approach can be completely different.
6 Common Signs Your Hair Loss May Be Genetic Not Seasonal
You may want to speak with a dermatologist if you notice:
1. A gradually widening part
A widening centre part can be an early sign of female pattern hair loss
2. A receding hairline
This is particularly common in male pattern hair loss
3. A thinner ponytail
You may notice that you need to wrap your hair tie more times than before
4. A visible crown
Thinning around the crown can become more noticeable as pattern hair loss progresses
5. Family history
If close family members have experienced pattern hair loss, genetics may be contributing
6. Gradual progression
Genetic hair loss usually develops progressively rather than appearing suddenly overnight
Can Hair Tablets Stop Seasonal Hair Shedding?
- If the shedding of hair is just a temporary change in the hair-growth cycle then it may settle in a very natural manner.
- If a nutritional deficiency totally leads to shedding, correcting that deficiency may actually help.
- If the cause is actually:
- Hereditary hair loss
- Hormonal changes
- Scalp condition
Then a nutritional supplement alone may not totally address it.
This is why identifying the major cause is more useful than automatically taking a hair-growth tablet.
When Should You Consider a Hair Supplement?
A supplement may make sense when there is a known or suspected nutritional deficiency as well as a healthcare professional recommending correcting it.
For example, if testing shows that you are deficient in iron then this is when your doctor may recommend an appropriate iron supplement.
Other nutrient deficiencies can actually be addressed with diet or supplementation which highly depends on the situation.
Don’t keep changing hair-growth tablets if your shedding is becoming worse in a very progressive manner.
Consider seeing a dermatologist if you are dealing with all these:
- Hair fall is sudden or severe
- You notice bald patches
- Your hairline is receding
- Your part is becoming wider
- Your overall hair density is decreasing
- Your scalp is painful, inflamed or unusually itchy
- Shedding continues for several months
- You have other unexplained symptoms
A dermatologist can totally help distinguish between excessive shedding and actual hair loss. He/she may also determine whether testing is appropriate.
Where Do Hair Growth Tablets Fit In?
Supplements are basically support systems rather than automatically being the primary treatment for genetic hair loss.
A tablet may make sense when you have been dealing with all these:
- You have a confirmed nutritional deficiency
- Your diet is lacking important nutrients
- A healthcare professional recommends supplementation
- You need nutritional support for a specific medical reason
Taking several hair supplements simply because your hair is thinning is not necessarily quite helpful.
Final Thoughts
Seasonal changes can totally make you pay more attention to hair shedding but not every episode of increased hair fall requires a supplement.
Hair-growth tablets can really be very useful when they correct a genuine nutritional deficiency. Taking multiple high-dose supplements without actually knowing what you need can be counterproductive.
Start with the basics which are all these:
If the hair fall is persistent, severe or accompanied by visible thinning then this is when you need to speak with a dermatologist. The overall right treatment totally depends on the cause. Sometimes the best approach is simply giving temporary shedding adequate time to settle.