Why Is My Hair Thinning At The Front
Hair thinning in men usually happens because of male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia, as its sometimes known. Its a hormonal condition that is, unfortunately, par for the course of being a man. According to the American Hair Loss Association, by 35, two-thirds of men will have some sign of hair loss. By the age of 50, that numbers up to 85%.
It happens because of an androgen known as DHT, or dihydrotestosterone. Produced by an enzyme, 5-alpha reductase, created when your body breaks down testosterone, DHT occurs naturally in your body. The trouble is, as it accumulates, your hair follicles on your scalp become sensitive to it mainly those follicles above the temples and at the crown.
You can see how male pattern hair loss is likely to develop by looking at the Norwood scale, the scientific model for the progression of MPB. Thinning hair is usually the first stage, but if unchecked, the condition can affect hair growth across the scalp.
Treatment is possible and well come to that. But if your hair becomes too thin at the front, it can mean that your follicles have died completely. At that point, treatment can be much more difficult .
How To Handle Major Hair Loss
It can be a challenge. If thin areas are easy to spot, consider a weave, a hairpiece, a scarf, or a hat. Good-quality wigs are more comfortable than ever — and they rarely have bad hair days. If hair loss affects your job or social life or makes you not want to leave the house, talk with a counselor.
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Can Hair Grow Back After Thinning
That totally depends on what’s causing your thinning in the first place . And, like, not to sound like a broken record here, but this is just another reason why you should always, always see a professional to diagnose your hair loss before you make any decisions. At the end of the day, early prevention is key with any form of hair loss, so book an appointment if you’ve noticed thinning and want to get ahead of it.
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Male Or Female Pattern Hair Loss
Androgenetic alopecia is a frequent cause of hair loss. It affects an estimated 50 million men and 30 million women in the United States.
According to the Genetics Home Reference, the likelihood of experiencing androgenetic alopecia increases with age. Although it can affect teenagers, over half of males aged 50 and older have some degree of hair loss. It is most likely to affect females following menopause.
Often, people who have androgenetic alopecia have family members with the same condition.
In males, hair thinning tends to occur from the hairline to the back of the head. In females, it tends to affect the crown of the head.
Potential Causes For Hair Thinning
From daily habits to genetics, theres a myriad of reasons why we suddenly lose hair. This is why prioritizing your hair and scalp health is so important, as hair loss can affect virtually anyone. However, there are four main types of hair loss:
- Androgenetic Alopecia: the most common form of hair loss in women, androgenetic alopecia is characterized by thinning on the scalp. As its name would suggest, this type of hair loss is genetic and can be passed on from mother or father.
- Telogen Effluvium: this kind of hair loss happens during periods of great stress. Youll see handfuls of hair on brush, bathroom floor, or pillowcase.
- Traction Alopecia: youll see slight balding or a receding hairline where hair is normally pulled, twisted, or excessively styled.
- Alopecia Areata: characterized by hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. This is caused by an autoimmune skin disease.
If youre still unsure about why youre suddenly experiencing hair loss, here are some other reasons:
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Why Is My Hair Thinning At The Part
There are many reasons why women experience female hair loss. Whether your thinning is linked to aging, genetics, nutritional deficiencies in your diet, hormonal changes , overstyling, or a combination of other factors, significant hair thinning is stressful. But it can also be a very normal stage in a womans life.
For most women, the most obvious signs of female pattern hair loss are a widened part and a smaller ponytail, and more rarely, some may see thinning at the temples. In many cases, female hair loss is just temporary and after a few months, your hair will grow thicker again on its own. But if youre experiencing serious or long-term thinning , ask your dermatologist about your possible causes and treatment options.
Where Is The Hair Loss
If you are noticing a receding hairline or loss specifically in the crown area, these can be signs of balding. A more random pattern or evenly spread loss of hair is usually an indicator of hair thinning.
If your hair seems to be falling out in patches, you could have alopecia, a condition that causes a person to lose patches of hair. Consult a doctor if you think this to be the case.
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My Hair Is Thinning Will It Grow Back
Losing hair is a natural process that happens to everyone, every day. We all lose an average of 80 hair strands a day, but our hair is continually growing in cycles to replenish itself. However, if you have been noticing an unusual amount of hair loss, you might be worried you are going bald.
Many men will notice their hair thinning when they are still in their 20s or 30s. Some of the most common signs of balding include a receding hairline, more hair appearing in the sink and shower, and a sudden change in how your hair reacts to brushing.
Don’t panic. Hair thinning and baldness are two different things, and both have multiple treatment options.
What Are The Treatment Options For Male Pattern Baldness
Coming to terms with losing one’s hair is difficult for many men. Unfortunately there are plenty of private clinics out there who promise incredible results, but often don’t warn you about what can go wrong. Hair replacement treatments are not always that effective and can rapidly become very expensive. Before you commit to anything, get a few opinions from different places. Preferably try to get the opinion of an impartial doctor in a state-funded health system, like the NHS.
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How To Disguise Hair Thinning At The Part
Lots of women experience female pattern hair loss. Probably more than you realize! However, with a few styling tricks, you can actually conceal hair thinning at your part.
But before we get to the styling, we recommend visiting your hairstylist. Why? Because one of the easiest ways to create the illusion of thicker hair is just getting a few inches cut off! Shorter hair isnt weighed down by extra lengths, so it has more volume and bounce. Plus, face-framing layers can make your hair look fuller.
Once you have your new do, follow this simple routine to help you disguise hair thinning using the right hair products, blow-drying and styling tips, and Toppik Hair Building Fibers:
Your Hair Is Just One All
You know how wearing all one color is considered slimming? Same goes for your hair. If you’ve only got one hue going on, your locks could appear extra thin. The solution: add varied tones. “Highlighting definitely adds depth to your strands,” explains Nick Penna, owner and lead stylist of SalonCapri. “Instead of single-toned hair, it creates dimension, giving the illusion of fuller-locks.” Scared of winding up with chunky ’90s highlights? Don’t worry, there are lots of ways to make highlights and lowlights look totally natural, including balayage and beyond.
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Stress Can Be A Factor With Thinning Hair In Older Women
As women age their bodies begin to process nutrients less efficiently. Many vitamins and minerals are necessary for hair growth. Iron and Vitamin C are good examples of this.
Iron deficiency has been linked to hair loss in several studies. As the body ages, it can become more difficult for it to obtain the iron it needs from foods. The deficiency can then lead to thinner hair. Interestingly, a Vitamin C deficiency can contribute to the iron deficiency. This is because, without enough Vitamin C, the absorption of iron from foods such as red meat becomes more difficult.
There are a great number of nutrients that play a part in thinning hair in older women. In addition to iron and Vitamin C, getting enough magnesium, B vitamins, selenium, niacin and zinc is important. Some deficiencies can be helped with a diet change or nutritional supplements. Nutrafol is a supplement that contains Vitamin C, Selenium and Zinc â among other things.
As we age our stress levels increase. Additionally, realizing that we are aging can cause additional stress. High levels of stress over a long period leads to increased cortisol production. This can have an negative impact on hair growth and lead to hair appearing thinner.
Be Mindful Of Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills are a form of contraception that works by suppressing ovulation and/or making it more difficult for a fertilized egg to implant into the lining of the uterus. Hormonal hair loss in women may occur when women start or stop taking certain kinds of contraceptives. The hormones that make birth control pills effective may also cause hair thinning in women who use them. You are more likely to experience this side effect from birth control pills if you have a family history of hair loss. Stopping the pill is also a cause of hair loss in women. Hormones are not the only medication that may be associated with hair loss. Blood thinners and blood pressure medications may do it, too. So can drugs used to treat depression, heart disease, and arthritis.
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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.
Prescription Medications And Treatments
Here are some medications for hair thinning and loss that your doctor may be able to prescribe:
- Finasteride : This is an oral medication that helps reduce levels of the hormone dihydrotestosterone that can cause hair loss.
- Corticosteroids: These are oral or injected medications that can reduce inflammation that may lead to hair loss.
- Laser therapy: Your doctor or a dermatologist may be able to treat hair follicles with laser technology that sends light particles called photons into your follicles to help them grow. Talk to your doctor first to see if this will help you.
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Switch Up Sleep Positions
I already know that one of the reasons why the right side of my hair is thinner than the left is because I prefer to sleep on my right side. And since I sleep around 7-8 hours a night, this means that the blood vessels on the right side of my body are being compressed during all of that time. The less blood flow, the less blood circulation there is to reach my scalp and my hair follicles. And, when my scalp and follicles arent getting the nutrients that they need, that can definitely play a part in impeding my hair growth. The same thing applies to you. Weve all got a favorite sleep position, but if youre serious about trying to get the thinner side to thicken up a bit, you might want to switch your position up on occasion. If you absolutely cant imagine doing that, Ive got another tip that just might help. This brings me to my next point.
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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How Do You Measure Hair Loss
Doctors characterize the severity of hair loss using something called the Savin density scale. This scale has 8 stages and describes hair loss around the midline part as well recession in the front of the hairline. Some women lose hair to various degrees around the midline and/or in the front of the hairline. Some women experience hair thinning all over the scalp. Hair loss may occur in episodes or continuously. The doctor parts the hair down the middle of the head and then determines the severity of hair loss. The most common pattern for female pattern baldness is thinning around the midline that occurs in the shape of a Christmas tree. The pattern and severity of female hair loss helps determine the appropriate course of treatment.
Thinning Hair In Women: Why It Happens And What Helps
- By Kelly Bilodeau, Executive Editor, Harvard Women’s Health Watch
Many people think of hair loss as a male problem, but it also affects at least a third of women. But unlike men, women typically experience thinning hair without going bald, and there can be a number of different underlying causes for the problem.
Some are associated with inflammation in the body. Some are female-pattern hair loss, says Dr. Deborah Scott, assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Hair Loss Clinic at Brigham and Womens Hospital. But the good news is that in many cases this hair loss can be stabilized with treatment, and it may be reversible. When its not, there are a number of new cosmetic approaches that can help.
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