After illness, stress, or major life events, hair shedding can feel alarming. Telogen effluvium pushes more hairs than usual into the resting phase — they fall out together weeks later.
Persistent shedding beyond a year, patchy loss, or scalp symptoms warrant examination and sometimes blood tests (thyroid, iron, etc.).
Medically reviewed by Dr. Neerja S. Nellogi. Last updated May 2026.