Reasons for Increased Hair Loss?

July 29, 2005 2:59 PM

I just moved into a new house and am noticing my long hair is falling out much more quickly than before. We've checked on water quality (it's soft and no different than our previous home - just 2 miles away). What might be the reasons for this?

It appears to be a combination of both the entire hair falling out and hair breakage. I don't believe it's stress as I have extended time off from work. My diet and exercise routine has not changed from before. I am also using exactly the same hair products as before. The house is older (28 years) compared to our last home (15 years). Could it be the pipes? Any other things to try? Thank you!

posted by jojopizza to Health & Fitness (12 answers total)

Hmmm...I would speak with a doctor. Thyroid disorders can cause hair loss.

Is your house much drier than the previous one (like maybe your other house had an integrated humidifer)? I think dry air can cause hair breakage.

But for such sudden loss, I would talk to a doctor.
posted by Sully6 at 3:10 PM on July 29, 2005

i'm going to disagree with you on the stress thing. changing house certainly is a source of stress (there's a subconcious upheaval because your lizard brain is saying "whoa, i'm in this freaky new place" all the time) and there's no guarantee that taking time of work will make things better - stress is not the same as tiredness and changing your routine (holidays) is itself stressful.
posted by andrew cooke at 3:31 PM on July 29, 2005

My hair falls out if I haven't had it cut in a long time, regardless of how healthy it seems. I have enough that I don't miss it; it's only a problem when the shower starts clogging. Could this be your problem?
posted by mudpuppie at 4:01 PM on July 29, 2005

Stress is also not the same as distress (the kind of stress that feels bad). There is also eustress (which feels good). Stress is really just a demand on the system. Any kind of change places a new demand on the brain and body. Even if you love your house and everything's hunky-dory, your body is still in the position of orienting to a new arrangement of daylight coming through the windows, new and different house noises, new places to keep things, even where to automatically reach for the light switch. Your old spinal memory for your old house has to be scrapped and a new internal map built. Even if you don't feel bothered, that counts as a stress. Any change is stressful, even good change like getting married, starting a great new job, or moving.
posted by Miko at 4:03 PM on July 29, 2005

Your sure it isn't just the carpet colour?
posted by Chuckles at 5:36 PM on July 29, 2005

I , too, noticed more of my hair was falling out when I moved to a new house. First, I was a little freaked out by it. Then, I thought maybe I only noticed it cuz it was a different drain. Soon after, it went away. Ever since I became aware of it, it seems to happen at certain times of the year. So, I have been assuming it was some kind of seasonal shedding? You also don't mention how much more you are losing than normal. Mine doesn't come out in clumps, just probably 2 times more than usual in the shower drain for like a week or so.
posted by phox at 5:50 PM on July 29, 2005

Stress.
posted by fish tick at 5:58 PM on July 29, 2005

You could start drinking a lot more for a month.
posted by Dean Keaton at 6:08 PM on July 29, 2005

Were you particularly ill 2-3 months ago? That kind of body stress can cause a delayed hair loss.
posted by fleacircus at 7:25 PM on July 29, 2005

Stress is the only thing that has ever made my hair fall out.
posted by trip and a half at 8:25 PM on July 29, 2005

Response by poster: Thanks for the ideas - you made me realize that it got really hot here about the time we moved. I suspect it might be weather/time of year combined with delayed stress of the past 2 months with moving/buying/selling houses.

If it continues more than another month, I'll check with my doctor.
posted by jojopizza at 8:44 PM on July 29, 2005

How long has this been going on? The rate at which your hair falls out waxes and wanes naturally on about a monthly cycle.
posted by randomstriker at 9:09 PM on July 29, 2005