Why is my hair falling out more in autumn, and when is PRP the right next step?

5 Oct

Autumn hair shedding is a real and measurable pattern. A study of 823 women published in Dermatology in 2009 found resting hairs peak in summer and fall out weeks later, which is why shedding rises in September and October. Seasonal shedding settles by winter. Shedding that persists, or a widening parting, needs a doctor's assessment.

Key points

Seasonal hair shedding peaks in late summer and autumn and usually settles by winter, according to Kunz and colleagues in Dermatology (2009).
The American Academy of Dermatology puts normal daily shedding at 50 to 100 hairs. Loss well above that, or visible thinning, is not seasonal.
Autumn shedding often unmasks early pattern hair loss, which is the stage at which PRP gives its strongest results.
The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness begins every hair case with diagnostic bloods, including ferritin, thyroid function, vitamin D, B12 and zinc.
PRP hair treatment at our Marylebone clinic is from £545 per session, with a course of three from £1,455.

Is autumn hair shedding a real thing?

Autumn hair shedding is supported by more than one study. Kunz, Seifert and Trüeb analysed trichograms from 823 healthy women over six years and published the results in Dermatology in 2009. The proportion of hairs in the resting telogen phase was highest in summer and lowest in late winter. A separate long-term study of men, published in the British Journal of Dermatology in 1996, reached the same conclusion.
Seasonal shedding follows the timing of the hair cycle. A resting hair stays in the follicle for around three months before it is released. Hairs that enter the resting phase in July and August are therefore shed in September, October and November. The pattern repeats every year, which is why many patients tell us their hair "always seems worse at this time of year".

How much hair loss is normal in a day?

Normal daily hair loss sits between 50 and 100 hairs, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Seasonal shedding can push that figure higher for several weeks. Baylor College of Medicine noted in March 2026 that telogen effluvium, the medical term for diffuse stress shedding, can cause loss of more than 200 scalp hairs a day.
Counting hairs is unreliable at home. A more useful test is change over time. Patients who notice their ponytail is thinner, their scalp shows under bathroom lighting, or their parting is wider in photographs from a year ago should book an assessment rather than wait for spring.
Send our doctors a message on WhatsApp with a short description of your shedding and three clear photographs of your scalp.

How can I tell seasonal shedding from pattern hair loss?

Seasonal shedding and pattern hair loss look similar in the first weeks, but they behave differently over months. Seasonal shedding is diffuse, starts suddenly and settles within roughly 8 to 12 weeks. Pattern hair loss, known medically as androgenetic alopecia, is gradual, follows a recognisable shape and does not recover on its own.

Signs your shedding is probably seasonal

Shedding started in late summer or early autumn and you have noticed a similar pattern in previous years.
Hair falls from all over the scalp rather than one area.
Your parting, hairline and crown look unchanged in photographs.
Shedding is easing by December.

Signs your shedding is probably more than seasonal

Thinning concentrates at the crown, temples or along the parting.
Hairs growing back are finer and shorter than before.
Shedding has lasted longer than three months.
A parent or sibling has pattern hair loss.

Autumn shedding often acts as a warning light. The extra fall reveals thinning that was already present, and that is the moment early treatment changes the long-term outcome.

What blood tests should I have for hair shedding?

Blood tests identify the treatable causes of shedding before any procedure is considered. The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness runs a doctor-led diagnostic panel covering ferritin, a full thyroid panel, vitamin D, vitamin B12, relevant hormones, HbA1c and zinc. The Online GP by The Wellness performs this testing at the same clinic in Marylebone.
Diagnostic bloods matter because low iron stores, thyroid imbalance and vitamin D deficiency all increase shedding, and each one is correctable. Correcting a deficiency first also gives PRP a healthier follicle to work with. Many hair transplant clinics treat PRP as an add-on to surgery. Our approach starts with the cause.

Can PRP help if autumn shedding reveals thinning?

PRP for hair loss has a growing evidence base for early to moderate pattern hair loss. A 2024 systematic review in aesthetic dermatology reported mean increases of 18 to 27.7 hairs per square centimetre in treated areas. A 2022 evidence review in American Family Physician concluded that PRP increased hair density more effectively than usual treatment in men with pattern hair loss.
Clinical adoption has followed the evidence. Census data from the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery showed the share of hair restoration surgeons routinely recommending PRP rose from 24% in 2012 to 48% in 2021. PRP uses growth factors concentrated from a patient's own blood, so the risk of allergy is very low.
"Autumn is when most patients first notice their hair, and it is also the right time to act," says [Doctor name], lead PRP doctor at The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness. "If the bloods are normal and the pattern points to early thinning, starting PRP now means the new growth arrives by spring." [Quote to be approved by the reviewing doctor before publication.]

When is the best time to start PRP for hair loss?

Autumn is a practical time to start PRP for hair loss. A standard course is three sessions spaced around four weeks apart, followed by maintenance every four to six months. Visible change typically begins from three months, so a course started in October shows its effect by early spring.
Seasonal timing also affects how results are judged. Seasonal shedding eases naturally in winter, so our doctors take standardised baseline photographs before the first session and compare like with like at each review. This keeps the assessment honest and shows patients exactly what PRP has added.
Book your free suitability review on WhatsApp and a doctor will tell you whether autumn is the right moment for you to start.

How much does PRP hair treatment cost in London?

PRP hair treatment in Harley Street and Mayfair is commonly priced at £600 to £850 or more per session. The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness offers doctor-led PRP hair treatment from £545 per session, and a course of three from £1,455. Every course includes the doctor consultation and review appointments.
Diagnostic blood testing is arranged through The Online GP by The Wellness and quoted separately, so patients only pay for the tests their doctor recommends. Read our full guide to PRP hair treatment costs in London in 2026 for a breakdown of what is included.

How does the free suitability review work?

The free suitability review is a doctor's honest opinion before any booking. Send a short message describing your hair history, plus three photographs of your hairline, crown and parting, through WhatsApp. A GMC-registered doctor reviews the case and either approves you for a consultation or explains why PRP is not the right route for you.
We decline patients whose shedding is clearly seasonal and resolving, and patients whose bloods point to a cause that needs treating first. That honesty is the reason our approved patients start treatment with confidence.
Start your free suitability review now or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.

Frequently asked questions

How long does autumn hair shedding last?

Autumn hair shedding usually lasts 8 to 12 weeks and eases by early winter. Shedding that continues beyond three months, or that leaves visible thinning, should be assessed by a doctor with blood tests.

Will hair grow back after seasonal shedding?

Hair shed in a seasonal cycle normally regrows, because the follicle stays active and simply starts a new growth phase. Regrowth is slower if an underlying cause, such as low ferritin or pattern hair loss, is present.

Is PRP worth starting during a shedding phase?

PRP is worth starting during a shedding phase when the shedding has revealed early pattern thinning and blood tests are normal. A doctor should confirm the diagnosis first, because purely seasonal shedding resolves without treatment.

Where is The London PRP Clinic?

The London PRP Clinic by The Wellness is at 10 Portman Square, Marylebone, London W1H 6AZ, a short walk from Baker Street and Bond Street stations. Call +44 20 3951 3429 or message the team on WhatsApp.