More hair loss in autumn? Here’s what you can do about it
For some people, the end of summer can be a difficult time. The days are getting shorter, and the sun is disappearing behind the clouds. Do you feel as though your hair is looking thinner or that you’re losing more hair in autumn? Or are you simply feeling a bit down?
For some people, the end of summer can be a difficult time. The days are getting shorter, and the sun is disappearing behind the clouds. Do you feel as though your hair is looking thinner or that you’re losing more hair in autumn? Or are you simply feeling a bit down?
Hair loss is both simple and complex. It is largely hereditary, but for some people, external factors can influence the hair, its quality and its growth. One such external factor is the sun. In summer, the sun helps your hair to absorb vitamin D. UV radiation can also have a positive effect. As a result, some people have a fuller head of hair in summer.
To understand why you lose more hair in the autumn, let’s look at the natural cycle of our hair. A hair grows and renews itself through three distinct phases: the anagen phase (growth phase), the catagen phase (transition phase) and the telogen phase (resting and shedding phase). Under normal circumstances, around 85 to 90 per cent of your hair is in the growth phase. In autumn, this can change due to the effects of the sun during the summer.
Dermatologists observe a clear shift in this cycle during autumn. In summer, the body naturally keeps more hairs in the growth phase. This likely serves as a natural protection against intense UV radiation on the scalp. As soon as autumn sets in, the days grow shorter and sunlight diminishes, this ‘sunscreen’ is shed and many hairs enter the resting phase at the same time.
This mechanism has also been scientifically proven. A six-year Swiss study involving more than 800 healthy women showed that the proportion of hairs in the growth phase is highest in spring (March). Around the middle of summer (July), a large proportion of the hair shifts into the resting phase. As this telogen resting phase lasts approximately 100 days, this leads to a noticeable peak in hair loss in autumn (October and November). During this period, hair loss is on average 10 per cent higher than in other seasons.
In addition to natural seasonal changes, the summer sun may also have caused direct damage to your hair, which exacerbates hair loss. For example, UV-B radiation breaks down bonds in keratin, causing the hair to lose its tensile strength and break more easily. This is a mechanical break that is often mistaken for hair loss originating from the hair root.
At the same time, UV-A radiation penetrates deeper and causes oxidative stress, which – in the case of thinning hair – can damage the cells in the hair root and cause localised micro-inflammation.
Although this seasonal hair loss is a normal biological process, various internal and external factors can exacerbate its effects. These include hormonal fluctuations following pregnancy, when stopping contraception or during the menopause, as well as lifestyle factors such as prolonged stress, illness, fever and the use of specific medicines, which force hairs into the resting phase prematurely.
Finally, deficiencies in essential nutrients, such as iron, zinc or vitamin D, can also contribute to this temporary hair loss.
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The short answer is: no, not usually. On average, we lose around 100 to 150 hairs a day. With this seasonal hair loss, the hair follicles are not damaged; they simply take a ‘break’, as it were. The hair roots remain healthy and, as soon as the resting phase is over, the hair follicle switches back to the growth phase. After a summer of vigorous growth, the rate of growth now slows down slightly. Because this happens more all at once than at other times of the year, it may seem like a cause for concern, but that needn’t be the case. Bear in mind, however, that hair grows on average 1 centimetre per month. It therefore takes a few months before you really start to notice your hair regaining its fullness.
The summer sun can damage your hair through exposure to UV radiation. In autumn, you can support your hair by ensuring you get enough nutrients that contribute to the condition of your hair and promote healthy hair growth.
It’s always a good idea to look after the health of your scalp. A healthy scalp forms the basis for strong and healthy hair. A good balance of sebum, moisture and the natural skin barrier helps to keep the scalp in good condition.
Supplements containing, for example, biotin, zinc and MSM can be a useful addition to keeping your hair and scalp healthy. Hair growth-stimulating products such as Neofollics are also designed to keep the scalp healthy. These products can therefore help to stimulate hair growth and keep your hair in good condition.
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Sources
Kunz M, Seifert B, Trüeb RM. Seasonality of hair shedding in healthy women complaining of hair loss. Dermatology. 2009;219(2):105–10. doi: 10.1159/000216832. Epub 29 Apr 2009. PMID: 19407435.
Hordinsky M, Andriessen A, Mesinkovska N, Woolery-Lloyd H. INDIVIDUAL ARTICLE: Insights on the Impact of Scalp Barrier Condition on Hair Health. J Drugs Dermatol. 1 February 2025;24(2):s3–s7. doi: 10.36849/JDD.32711. PMID: 39913236.
