Whats The Difference Between Receding And Thinning Hair
Good news, folks: The answer to this one is pretty straightforward. According to Hill, it all comes down to the reduction of hair fibers versus actual hair follicles. With a thinning hairline, its a reduction of hair fibers in each hair follicle, which creates the appearance of less density, she says. But with receding, its a reduction of actual hair follicles that become dormant and die off, leading to a higher hairline and the forehead becoming more obvious. Dr. Garshick adds that while thinning may occur diffusely around the whole scalp, a receding hairline typically refers to decreased density of hair primarily involving the frontal scalp.
Managing Major Hair Loss
There are many things you can do to disguise sudden hair loss in women that is severe. You can use a hat, scarf, or bandana to cover your head. If you have bald areas, consider getting a weave or concealing the bald area with a hairpiece. Wigs can be very natural looking. They fit so well you can even wear them while you are working out at the gym or swimming. If hair loss causes severe distress and it is affecting your self-esteem or ability to carry out daily activities, seek the help of a therapist.
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Essential Oils For Thinning Hair
Rosemary essential oil went head to head with a common hair loss drug and came out on top. Research from Skinmed yielded surprising results. In the study, rosemary essential oil increased scalp circulation and worked as well as the drug, but with less scalp irritation.
A 1998 study in JAMA Dermatology also looked at essential oils for hair loss. Study participants used a blend of cedarwood, lavender, and rosemary on their scalps. Compared to the control group, the essential oil group saw significant improvement in hair growth and thickness.
The Plant Therapy blog suggests the following essential oils for hair growth:
2 drops of Frankincense Carteri Essential Oil2 drops of Geranium Essential Oil1 tsp of Argan Carrier Oil1 tsp of Evening Primrose Carrier Oil
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Too Many Manly Hormones
Hyperandrogenism is when a womans body makes too many male hormones, called androgens. These extra male hormones can cause hair loss. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is the most common cause of extra male hormones. PCOS is linked with hair loss, obesity, acne, irregular menstrual cycles, and infertility.
Hormones play a big part in our hairs growth cycle. We need estrogens to help our hair stay in the growth phase for the right amount of time. Male hormones, aka androgens, arent as hair friendly and make hairs growth cycle shorter.
When these hormones are out of whack, hair can suffer.
You’ve Been Super Stressed Or Ill
Stress or illness can cause hair lossit’s a process known as telogen effluvium, or the excessive shedding of hair induced by stress, Michelle Henry, MD, a dermatologist based in New York, previously told Health.
“Our bodies perceive mental stress the same way it perceives physical stress, and any dramatic stressor on the body can cause hair growth to become arrested,” Dr. Henry said. “And when hair growth is arrested, it sheds.” Specifically, when the body is stressed it released the hormone cortisol, which can then affect the hair follicle and result in shedding or hair loss. That shedding typically occurs at least three months following a stressful event, Angelo Landriscina, MD, a Washington, DC-based dermatologist, previously told Health.
Of course, preventing stress is the easiest way to help prevent stress-induced hair lossbut that’s not always an easy thing to do. If you experience hair loss of any kind, it’s wise to check in with your dermatologist. Should they determine that your hair loss is stress-related, your derm may recommend a treatment called minoxidil, a vasodilator that improves circulation around the hair bulb at the base of the hair follicle, to help grow hair back that you’ve lost. Also important: having patience and allowing time for hair growth.
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Make Sure You Have Enough Protein In Your Diet
Hair mostly consists of keratin protein, which is produced using amino acid building blocks obtained from your diet.
To maintain a constant protein supply for your follicles, eat some with every meal, whether its poultry, lean meat, fish, eggs, nuts or beans. If you eat a plant-based diet, you may be more prone to thinning hair as some amino acids essential for healthy hair and micronutrients are often difficult to obtain in sufficient quantities without taking a vegetarian-friendly supplement.
Do not skip meals, as this puts your body into survival mode so that the supply of protein and nutrients to hair follicles is reduced.
How Will A Healthcare Provider Diagnose Hair Loss In Women What Tests Are Done
The tests performed to diagnose hair loss in women can be simple or complicated:
- Gently pulling on your hair to see how many hairs come out.
- Blood tests. These check for vitamin and mineral levels and hormone levels .
- Scalp examination under a microscope and trichoscopy.
- Scalp biopsy to remove and examine a very small piece of scalp skin.
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How Do I Know If I’m Experiencing Hair Loss
So, whats an *acceptable* amount of hair fallout? Well, generally people lose between 50 to 100 hairs a day, which is considered ‘normal’. However, if you’re consistently shedding 150 or more hairs a day, this is pretty significant.
If you have no idea what 150 or more hairs a day looks like , it’s basically when you’re shedding more hair than you would normally. If you start to notice clumps falling out all at once, bald spots or signs of patchiness this might be a red flag.
“Some women notice the physical hair loss first – as in more hair in the shower recess, on the floor, in the brush and on the hands when they wash,” said Evans-Frost. This will obviously depend on the length of your hair – the longer your hair the more obvious it is when more hair is falling out.
“Generally women notice hair changes at the front, top and recessions of the scalp before anywhere else, because it is at the front of the hairline where hair is the thinnest and the eye and light can easily make judgement.”
Yep – hair loss is a b*tch.
But don’t freak, you’re not going to be rocking a George Costanza-esque look any time soon. Unlike men, women wont experience complete baldness. Instead, your hair will get thinner and your part gets wider. Your scalp may also become more visible than before.
Pcos Can Be A Trigger
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition in women in which the body manufactures more androgens, or male hormones, than it normally should. It is a potential cause of hormonal hair loss in women. Women who suffer from this condition may grow facial hair and extra body hair. One of the other symptoms of this condition is thinning of hair on the head. Women affected with PCOS may also experience weight gain, acne, menstrual irregularities, ovulation problems, depression, and infertility. Hair thinning may be the only outward sign that a woman is suffering from this condition.
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What Are The Types Of Hair Loss
There are three: anagen effluvium, telogen effluvium and FPHL.
- Anagen effluvium: This is caused by medications that poison a growing hair follicle .
- Telogen effluvium: This is caused by an increased number of hair follicles reaching the telogen phase, which is the stage where hair falls out.
- Androgenetic alopecia/female pattern alopecia/female pattern hair loss /baldness: This type is the most common. Hair thins over the top of the head and on the sides.
How To Stop My Hair From Falling Out
Is your hair shedding? Your scalp may be sweaty. Perspiration creates a moist environment that allows the natural fungus on the scalp to thrive. The resulting inflammation and itching can lead to follicle damage, making hair vulnerable to fall-out, says Roberts-Cooper.
One of the most natural ways to stop hair from falling out and thinning? Honey. Research shows applying honey, which is a natural antifungal, to the scalp every other day eliminates fungus in one week, plus leads to a noticeable drop in shedding in four weeks.
To make a honey hair mask: Mix two tablespoons of honey with 2/3 cup of warm water. Massage into scalp and let sit for 30 minutes, then rinse.
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Can You Measure Hair Loss
Yes. Doctors use the Savin scale. It ranges from normal hair density to a bald crown, which is rare. The scale helps document female pattern baldness, a condition your doctor might call androgenic alopecia. You probably know it as male pattern baldness, but it affects about 30 million American women. Experts think genes and aging play a role, along with the hormonal changes of menopause. Your hair could thin all over, with the greatest loss along the center of the scalp.
Medical Conditions And Genetics
Ill preface this by saying the number of medical reasons that could contribute to hair loss are vastand the only way to get a definitive answer is to see your doctor or a trichologist . If you eat a balanced diet, live relatively stress-free, and havent had any major hormonal changes or pregnancies, yet youre still noticing hair loss, the next step is to make an appointment with your doc.
Medical conditions aside, early-onset hair loss can also be hereditary. Burg says its more of a myth that hair loss can be passed down from either your mother or fatherif youve got a grandmother or aunt on either side of your family with thinning hair, theres a chance you can have it too. Love you, fam!
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Medications To Treat Hair Loss
Treatment depends on the underlying cause, says Dr. Scott. Sometimes simply addressing a medical condition prompting hair loss will be enough for the hair to regrow. In other instances, a woman might consider a medication like minoxidil , which helps with certain types of hair loss, or another treatment to replace or regrow lost hair.
A newer option being used to treat hair loss is platelet-rich plasma injections. For this treatment, the doctor draws your blood, divides it into its separate components, recombines the blood fluid with a high concentration of platelets , and introduces the resulting preparation back into the scalp.
The science on this isnt totally worked out. We still dont completely understand the mechanism behind PRP, but growth factors contained in platelets can stimulate regeneration of hair follicles and other tissues as well, says Dr. Scott.
In addition, low-level LED laser lights have been found to be helpful in regrowing hair in some cases. Its likely that even more treatments will be developed in the near future.
Can I Treat Thinning Hair
If any of the above scares you because you recognize the symptoms, don’t fret. The key to successful regrowth? First, admit you have a problem. Each day you dwell in denial, you’re losing precious time. The more hair you’ve lost, the less likely it is to all grow back. Telltale signs, like a wider part or a smaller ponytail, don’t show up until you’ve lost nearly half your hair! Seek out trichologists and dermatologists or endocrinologists who specialize in hair problems.
Last summer, I started visiting the Philip Kingsley hair clinic in New York City every week to strengthen the fragile wisps that were sprouting up along my hairline as a result of my prescription treatments. There, I learned that physical as well as emotional stress can cause temporary thinning and make genetic hair loss worse. Consider it something like a domino effect.
Hair loss has a direct impact on psyche and morale, says Kingsley, who coined the phrase “bad hair day” 40 years ago. 34-year-old breast-cancer survivor Courtney Hagen found this out the hard way. She revealed to me that when she heard her diagnosis, her first fears were for her golden locks: “I had a double mastectomy, but I was more traumatized about losing my hair.”
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How To Stop Thinning Hair: Hair Loss Treatment For Women
Medications are the most common treatment for hair loss in women. They include the following:
Minoxidil . This drug was initially introduced as a treatment for high blood pressure, but people who took it noticed that they were growing hair in places where they had lost it. Research studies confirmed that minoxidil applied directly to the scalp could stimulate hair growth. As a result of the studies, the FDA originally approved over-the-counter 2% minoxidil to treat hair loss in women. Since then a 5% solution has also become available when a stronger solution is need for a woman’s hair loss.
Clearly, minoxidil is not a miracle drug. While it can produce some new growth of fine hair in some not all women, it can’t restore the full density of the lost hair. It’s not a quick fix, either for hair loss in women . You won’t see results until you use the drug for at least two months. The effect often peaks at around four months, but it could take longer, so plan on a trial of six to 12 months. If minoxidil works for you, you’ll need to keep using it to maintain those results. If you stop, you’ll start to lose hair again.
Some women find that the minoxidil solution leaves a deposit that dries and irritates their scalp. This irritation, called contact dermatitis, is probably caused not by the minoxidil itself, but rather by the alcohol that is included to facilitate drying.
What Causes Thin Hair In Women
Its possible to fix thinning hair, but we need to know why its falling out in the first place. There are several reasons why women experience thinning hair.
Unlike men, women dont usually get a receding hairline or a bald spot, but hair doesnt grow as it should. Hair has a shorter growth cycle over the crown, falls out quicker, and the wispy hairs are short.
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What Are The Roots Of Hair Loss
Thereâs no single cause. Triggers range from medical conditions — as many as 30 — to stress and lifestyle factors, like what you eat. Your genes play a role, too. Sometimes doctors canât find a specific reason. As a starting point, hair loss experts suggest you get tested for thyroid problems and hormone imbalances. Hair often grows back once the cause is addressed.