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How to manage severe hair fall?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am experiencing severe hair fall. When a hair falls out, I notice a white substance at its root. Can you tell me what that is? Is it dandruff?

Kindly suggest.

Answered by Dr. Vinay Kumar

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have noted your concerns, and this most likely appears to be due to telogen effluvium, a condition that causes hair fall. In this condition, there is a loss of scalp hair across its entire length from all areas of the scalp. The whitish, bulb-like substance you see at the root of the strands is a shrunken hair root. While a healthy hair root is active and thick, it shrinks when the hair is shedding. There are several ways to manage this condition:

  1. Avoid brushing your hair when it is wet.
  2. Refrain from massaging the scalp or using harsh chemicals.
  3. Take biotin supplements, as they help the majority of patients.
  4. Correct anemia and maintain a healthy diet.

Finally, be patient, as this disorder takes several weeks or months to resolve. In general, it responds well to appropriate measures.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.

Answered byDr. Vinay Kumar

Medically reviewed byDr. Nithila. A

Published At September 2, 2019
Reviewed AtMay 17, 2026

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