Is It Monsoon Hair Fall Or Something More Serious? How To Tell

Add as a preferred source on Google

The shower drain tells the story first. Then the pillow. Then the comb, wrapped in more strands than you remember losing last month. Every July, the same quiet panic returns - and with it, the same question: is this just monsoon hair fall, or is something else going on?

Photo Credit: Canva

The short answer: it can be both. Losing 50 to 100 strands a day is considered normal, and during seasonal transitions, that number may temporarily rise to 150-200 hairs a day - alarming to see, but not automatically a sign of chronic hair loss. The trouble is that the monsoon can also mask hair loss unrelated to the weather.

Why The Rains Make Your Hair Fall More

Humidity is the main culprit. During the monsoon, the scalp often stays damp for extended periods due to rain and excessive sweating caused by high humidity. This prolonged moisture, combined with pollutants and microbial buildup, can weaken hair roots, irritate the scalp, and contribute to increased hair fall.

A damp scalp is also fertile ground for dandruff and fungal flare-ups, which trigger itching, scratching and breakage. Much of what looks like hair "falling" in the monsoon is actually hair breaking - full-length strands are more likely to have shed from the follicle, while shorter, uneven hairs point towards breakage from towel-drying, tight buns and combing wet hair.

When It Stops Being Seasonal

Photo Credit: Canva

Doctors call heavy seasonal shedding telogen effluvium - a phase where an unusually large share of follicles enter "rest" mode and shed together. According to a review published on NCBI StatPearls, the condition is confirmed when at least 25 per cent of follicles are in the telogen phase - and crucially, it is temporary, typically settling within three to six months once the trigger is removed.

But telogen effluvium has many triggers beyond the weather. Nutritional deficiencies, recent illness, stress, crash dieting, thyroid imbalance, hormonal changes, postpartum shedding, certain medications and autoimmune hair loss can all contribute - and when these overlap with seasonal humidity, shedding can appear more dramatic. Which is why changing your shampoo rarely fixes it.

See a dermatologist if you notice:

• Hair falling in coin-sized patches
• A widening parting or visible scalp
• A receding hairline that persists after the season
• Scalp symptoms - itching, pain, redness, pus-filled bumps
• Shedding that continues beyond two to three months

A dermatologist can use your history, a scalp examination, trichoscopy and selected blood tests to tell breakage, telogen effluvium, pattern hair loss, alopecia areata and inflammatory scalp conditions apart - something no home remedy can do.

What Helps In The Meantime

Keep it simple. Wash two to three times a week with a gentle shampoo to clear sweat and oil. Never tie or comb wet hair. Skip tight ponytails that tug at the roots. Dry your scalp fully after getting caught in the rain. And eat for your hair - protein, iron and zinc do more for regrowth than any serum.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.