How much hair loss is normal? This is what experts say.

Many hair-related issues can affect one’s confidence. Maybe you have unwanted facial hair. Maybe you’re struggling with gray hair at an early age.

Or maybe you’re dealing with hair loss.

Losing your hair has real effects on how you feel. A 2005 study found that the realization of hair loss among men was linked to a concern about losing an important part of personal attractiveness, negative effects on social life and even feelings of depression.

Loose strands of hair all over your sink or in your shower may not be an immediate cause for concern though. Some hair loss is normal, says Dr. Deirdre Hooper, a board-certified dermatologist based in New Orleans. So, when is it an issue? We talked to Hooper to find out the difference between normal hair loss and something greater.

How much hair loss is normal?

It’s normal to lose 100 hairs a day, says Hooper. “Everyone loses 100 hairs a day. It’s part of life. It’s like your fingernails grow and you have to clip them off and new fingernails are growing ... Your skin cells shed off, you’re getting new skin,” she explains. “That’s normal hair cycling loss and gain.”

If you think more hair is falling out than usual when brushing or washing your hair, consider the last time you took one of those actions. The hair your body releases can stay tangled in your locks until you comb them out, Hooper says. If you go multiple days without combing out the loose strands, then it will seem as if you’ve lost more hair than usual when you finally comb your hair. This is just the accumulation of hair released over multiple days.

How do you know if you’re losing more hair than normal?

Counting the number of hairs that fall off your head every day is not very realistic. A better indication that you’re losing more hair than normal is if your ponytail is thinner than usual or if you can see more scalp than you used to, says Hooper.

These changes can indicate alopecia, which is any kind of abnormal hair loss. Some common causes of alopecia include telogen effluvium, androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata.

Telogen effluvium, or excessive shedding, occurs when the hair is healthy, but you’re losing more than 100 hairs a day, says Hooper. Androgenetic alopecia occurs when the hairs themselves are thinning out. This form of alopecia causes a receding hairline for men and a widened middle part in women, according to Medline Plus. Alopecia areata causes hair loss in patches, says Hooper.

How should you treat hair loss?

If you’re experiencing hair loss, Hooper recommends that you see a board-certified dermatologist. “There [are] a lot of nuances to diagnosis and treatment that it’s just better to go to a board-certified dermatologist,” Hooper explains. “There’s probably fifteen types of alopecia that I’ve not uncommonly diagnosed in my practice … a doctor is really going to be the best person that’s going to guide you so you don’t waste time trying to figure out which one you have.”

Does shaving make hair thicker?Experts weigh in on the common misconception.