Summer Hair Loss Treatments

Summer Hair Loss
Advice From Simone Thomas Trichology Clinic in Dorset

The intense summer heat can make us feel like tearing our hair out, but for some people the reality is that at this time of year they naturally find their hair shedding more than usual.  If this is you, please don’t panic, you’re not alone! 

You may be wondering if this is temporary seasonal problem or the sign of a bigger problem.  To find out more, book an appointment with the expert trichologists at our Westbourne hair loss clinic and we can assess your hair and advise you on what to do to restore it.  

There are many factors that impact on the amount of hair we naturally lose on a daily basis, including seasonal changes to the hair’s growth cycles.  Once we have diagnosed the cause of your hair loss, we can recommend the most appropriate treatments to tackle the problem.

What Causes Summer Hair Loss?

At any given time, around 85- 90% of the hairs on the average person’s head are in the anagen phase, which means they are actively growing.  The remaining 10-15% of the hairs are in the telogen or resting phase.   Hair is in the growth phase for around 2-4 years before naturally entering the resting phase for around 2-4 months.  After this is sheds to make room for the new hair growth.  On average, you can expect to shed up to 100 hairs every day.  This is considered normal and healthy.

Over the summer months many people report shedding far more than this amount.    A recent scientific analysis, based on Google Trends data*, suggests that there is a strong correlation between searches for the term hair loss and seasonality.   Seasonal hair loss occurs most frequently in the summer and autumn months.

There can be a wide variety of reasons for this.  One factor can be that during hot weather, our hair is not needed for insulation.  As our bodies look to conserve energy and keep us cool, they naturally divert resources from hair growth, resulting in more hair follicles entering the resting phase then shedding.   

Another factor which can result in hair thinning is hair breakage.  The sun’s UV rays, heat and exposure to chlorine and sea water over the summer months can make our hair very dry, brittle and prone to breakage.  For advice on how to care for your hair over the summer months click here.

Excessive Hair Loss – Diagnosis

Seasonal hair loss should be temporary and those hairs you’ve lost will eventually be replaced by new ones.  If you are concerned that you are continuing to see clumps of hair falling out in the shower and your parting is becoming more obvious, we recommend booking an appointment at our Dorset trichology clinic so we can assess your scalp and offer advice and treatment.

There are a number of factors which can cause our hair to start to thin and fall out.   These include 

• Major surgery
• Physical trauma such as a sporting injury or car accident
• Serious psychological stress such as divorce
• Illness, infection or a high fever
• Extreme weight loss through diet or illness
• Iron deficiency
• Abrupt hormonal changes such as childbirth & menopause
• Hypothyroidism

All of these factors can trigger Telogen Effluvium.  Sufferers from this condition can shed around 300 hairs a day as more of their hair (around 30%) goes into the resting phase and then falls out.   We have witnessed a big increase in enquiries about Telogen Effluvium since the onset of the Covid pandemic.

Other conditions which cause hair loss include male and female pattern baldness, alopecia and more.   Click here for more information.

We specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of scalp and hair disorders in our Dorset hair loss clinic.  If you are concerned that your hair loss, thinning hair or scalp issues may be more than simply seasonal, book a consultation with one of our resident trichologists.   When caught early, we can offer the best treatments for your condition, so please do get in touch as soon as possible.  You can be sure of a sympathetic welcome.  We offer a full range of the very latest treatments for hair loss including:

• Private blood tests for diagnosis
• Platelet Rich Plasma therapy (PRP)
• Scalp treatments
• IV Vitamins
• Nutrition and wellness advice
• Hair pieces and volumisers
• Wigs

Tips For Healthy Hair and Scalp

Whatever the cause of your hair loss, there is lots you can do to optimise your scalp’s health and the condition of your remaining hair.

• Start by eating a healthy, well balanced diet.   For more advice on how to achieve this, take a look at Simone’s book Healthy Hair, Happy Body.
• Supplements are available which promote heathy hair and skin.   Simone Thomas’s own range of award-winning supplements is available here.
• Wear your hair loose whenever you can.  Tight buns and pony tails can exacerbate hair shedding.
• Take good care of your hair and scalp with regular cuts and Davines treatments at our Westbourne salon.

Contact Simone Thomas Hair Loss Clinic in Bournemouth

Book an appointment at Simone Thomas Trichology Clinic in Dorset and we can assess your hair and recommend the most appropriate hair loss treatments.   We offer a full range and can work with you to find the most appropriate once we’ve helped diagnose your hair loss condition.

Call Simone Thomas Trichology Clinic on the number at the bottom of the page or alternatively you can book online or request a consultation by completing the form below.

* https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/bjd.16075