Thinning hair has been a problem experienced by people since the beginning of time.
When looking back in history, some of the most powerful and famous people in the world struggled with thinning hair to include King Louis XIV who reportedly had upwards of 20 wigs and Julius Caesar who was known for wearing a wreath as a means of hiding the problem. Although no a new phenomenon, thinning hair and even balding raise serious concern for the people being affected in today’s world.
Some people are not bothered by the effects of thinning hair but others are devastated. For millions of people, hair is a symbol of personality, character, success, strength, and wealth so once hair begins to fall out or break, these people go through rough times of being self-conscious. In fact, some people lose a sense of identity in that appearance matters, whether people want to admit it or not.
According to experts, approximately 56 million people in the United States alone have thinning hair with 35 million being men and 21 million women. The primary difference is that about 40% of men begin noticing thinning hair by age 35 while 65% of women do not see a problem until around age 60.
Definition of Thinning Hair
Although most people know the definition of thinning hair as a big picture, we wanted to drill down to details. With this, a person’s hair would begin to fall out, changing the density and texture. In severe cases, a person would actually develop small patches on the scalp where hair has completely fallen out.
Not only does thinning hair involve the head but it can also affect a person’s eyebrows, eyelashes, and hair on other parts of the body. Now, on average a person has 100,000 hairs on the scalp, losing up to about 100 a day but in the case of thinning hair, the amount that falls out would be substantially higher.
Thinning hair loss is also a condition that both men and women face. In fact, there are some babies, younger children, and teenagers that also lose hair at an abnormal rate. Typically, after hair has fallen out, it would be replaced with new growth in a few weeks to months but when thinning hair occurs suddenly or new hair does not grow in, the problem could be a little more serious. In this case, it would be essential to seek medical advice from a qualified doctor.
Causes of Thinning Hair
The goal would be to find the best solution for preventing and treating thinning hair but before this could happen, it would be imperative to understand the underlying cause. In this section, information has been provided regarding some of the more common reasons a person would experience thinning hair of any degree.
Genetics – A person’s genetics plays a role in certain types of hair loss and balding. There are actually several types of thinning hair that would be cause by genetics although the one best known is called Androgenetic Alopecia. However, from birth a person’s hair follicles have already been programmed, meaning that some people will naturally experience thinning hair at an earlier age than others.
Autoimmune Disorder – Another reason for thinning hair has to do with the body’s immune system. For certain diseases such as Alopecia Areata, hair is attacked by the body and as a result, complete hair loss on the entire body would occur.
Inflammation – Even inflammation of hair follicles can lead to thinning hair. In the case of Cicatricial Alopecia, tissue around hair follicles becomes inflamed and then develops scars. When this happens, hair follicles are permanently destroyed, causing hair to fall out in that area.
Trauma – The body responds in unique ways to different types and levels of trauma. For instance, when a person undergoes surgery, experiences pregnancy and delivery, or faces certain serious illnesses, hair suddenly begins to fall out. The official name of this condition is Telogen Effluvium, which can be treated successfully in most cases.
Psychological Disorders – One of the more unique causes of thinning hair is known as Trichotillomania. A person with this disorder actually pulls hair out. Depending on the individual and severity of the condition, some people will only pull out a small amount of hair at a time while others pull out handfuls. Another problem is the ingestion of hair although not something done by everyone suffering from this particular psychological disorder.
Illness – Another common cause of thinning hair is illness. Again, illness stresses the body, which in turn reacts. A few examples of illnesses that could lead to a problem of thinning hair include diabetes, thyroid disease, systemic lupus, and ringworm.
Medication – Certain prescription medications are also responsible for issues of thinning hair. The three biggest culprits include birth control pills, blood thinners, and anabolic steroids used to build muscle mass.
Medical Procedures – For people who undergo radiation or chemotherapy for treating cancer, thinning hair would be expected.
Hormonal Changes – Even change of hormones can have a significant impact on hair. As mentioned, pregnant women and those who recently delivered a new baby often go through a period of thinning hair although once hormones balance out, new growth appears. Another time in a woman’s life when thinning hair would likely be a problem is menopause, again because of dramatic hormonal changes.
Styling Tools, Products, and Accessories – Overuse of styling tools, products, and accessories would be a problem. In this case, harsh chemicals, heated styling tools, and wearing something tight around hair on a regular basis could cause hair to fall out.
Poor Diet – Food consumed has a direct impact on a person’s health, which includes hair. For people that have a poor diet, deficiencies are common to include iron and protein. However, too much of certain vitamins and minerals would also be risky such as vitamin A.
Weight Loss – Often, a person who loses a lot of weight and very quickly would probably experience some degree of thinning hair.
Treating Problems of Thinning Hair
The appropriate treatment for thinning hair would depend on the cause but also severity. Usually, a doctor would complete a physical examination to include learning about a person’s personal and family history of health, drawing blood, ordering a urinalysis, and in some instances, performing a biopsy of skin from the scalp. With this, the underlying cause would be confirmed and proper treatment started.
For people with a hormonal imbalance, medication could be recommended to bring hormones back into alignment. For someone with diabetes, the doctor would conduct an analysis on insulin levels and use. S
omeone with a thyroid condition might need to have medication adjusted or even changed. In other words, a number of medical treatment options would be available to prevent further issues of thinning hair but also promote new growth.
For situations where medication was the problem, a doctor might be able to change dosage or even put the individual on a different type of drug. If the cause of thinning hair were associated with poor diet, the solution would involve making better food choices.
Even choosing organic hair care products over those containing chemicals would make a difference, as well as reducing the frequency of heated styling tools and accessories.