Why hair falls out more after summer and how to prevent it

Summer not only ages the skin, it also leaves its mark on the hair. Sunlight, high temperatures, chlorine, salt, and other factors, such as lack of sleep or dietary imbalances, weaken hair. Although summer damage is more evident in long hair, all hair suffers, and hair loss is also common. There's no need to panic, as this is normal, according to experts, due to the hair's life cycle. However, it's important to distinguish it from a more serious problem, such as alopecia .

Throughout the year, hair goes through three phases: growth (anagen), resting (catagen), and shedding (telogen). Autumn, or even late summer, is when hair typically enters the telogen phase. “It’s a natural renewal process. The hair that falls out in autumn is actually hair that ‘died’ in spring or early summer,” explains Dr. Ian Zylberberg , hair surgeon at Face Clinic. “Factors such as oxidative stress caused by sun exposure, chlorine in swimming pools, or sea salt during the summer can accelerate the hair’s transition into the shedding phase , making it more evident come September and October.”

Abel Evert , a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of hair disorders and technical director of Henao Hair, adds that “UV rays damage the hair cuticle, drying it out and making it brittle. This doesn’t usually cause hair loss from the root , but it does cause hair to break more easily. Chlorinated water or sea salt removes protective lipids from the scalp and hair shaft, weakening the hair. Late summer or early autumn is usually the time when most people notice their hair loss (September-November), probably influenced by hair exposure in the summer.”

Hair loss and alopecia are not synonymous, and it's important to know how to differentiate them. Hair loss after the summer is seasonal and reversible, although many people are naturally concerned and seek professional advice. Alopecia, which can cause bald spots or significant hair loss, is not usually reversible unless a hair transplant is used.

To know how to differentiate them, Abel Evert gives us several clues: “The amount of hair that falls out , in seasonal hair loss it can be from 100 to 200 a day (taking into account that it is normal to lose 50 to 100); in alopecia the number of hairs is indefinite and constant. In seasonal hair loss, when examining the scalp, new hairs are observed that are beginning to grow, but in alopecia, few hairs are seen in the regrowth phase. Other warning signs of alopecia are very weak and thinning hair, light areas on the scalp, persistent itching or flaking . ”

When in doubt, it is always best to consult a professional so that an effective diagnosis can be made.

It's normal that with the end of summer, advertisements for anti-hair loss shampoos, lotions, and supplements multiply. Is there any point in using them? Abel Evert believes that "they provide an external reinforcement to maintain balance both at the scalp and in the hair fiber. Shampoos help balance possible alterations and proper cleansing; hair lotions or tonics help activate blood flow, which boosts growth and stops hair loss; and supplements are a boost for the immune system, promoting hair strengthening and slowing hair loss. In most cases, these products contain ingredients such as caffeine , barley yeast, plant stem glands, biotin , and B complex, which are essential for maintaining and optimizing the scalp. It is always recommended to use them as shock therapies for a minimum of three months ."

In addition, medical treatments such as capillary mesotherapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and low-level laser therapy are available to strengthen hair. Experts recommend personalizing treatments to ensure they work. Dr. Zylberberg explains that "with mesotherapy , we deliver nutrients exactly where the follicle needs them. We not only stop hair loss, but we nourish the follicle from within, stimulating the growth of stronger, thicker, and shinier hair. It's like a 'superfood' treatment delivered directly to the root."

In the case of PRP , the patient's own plasma is used, which, as Dr. Javier Rivero of Clínica Ferraro explains, "stimulates blood circulation, strengthens hair follicles, and promotes new hair growth. Plasma is rich in growth factors, stimulating cell regeneration and hair growth."

On the other hand, it is also possible to use drugs, which must be prescribed by doctors, such as minoxidil.