It’s quite normal for hair to recede and thin as we grow older, and there are multiple reasons that this might happen.
The reason that your hair is thinning or receding will determine how the hair loss appears and also what can be done about it.
Hereditary hair loss
The most common reason that people lost their hair is down to their genetics. Both men and women can experience hereditary hair loss, and its medical name is androgenic alopecia.
Hereditary hair loss means that you have genes that will eventually cause your hair follicles to shrink and stop growing new hair. The signs of hereditary hair loss are thinning all over or a receding hairline.
One effective treatment for hereditary hair loss is a hair transplant, where follicles are taken from the portion of the scalp, which still has healthy growth and transplanted into the portion of the scalp where the growth has stopped. Hair transplant can be performed under local anesthesia, with minimal discomfort.
This process means that hair can regrow in the areas where it has been lost.
Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss caused by an autoimmune response. The body essentially begins to attack the hair follicles and causes hair to fall out. This hair loss isn’t just limited to the hair on the head; it can also affect eyebrows and eyelashes, and any other hair on the body.
If you have experienced hair loss in this manner, it’s important that you consult with a physician who will be able to advise you on the best course of action. With treatment, it may be possible to regrow the hair.
Medication side effects
There are some types of medication that can cause hair loss. Drugs that are used to treat cancer, arthritis, heart problems, depression, and high blood pressure are sometimes the culprit when it comes to unexplained hair loss.
If you believe that your medication might be causing your hair loss, you should speak to your physician, who may recommend an alternative treatment. If your hair loss is caused by medication, then the hair should regrow once the medication use is stopped.
Stress
Stress is a common cause of hair loss, particularly if you have experienced a very shocking event; however, sustained stress over long periods of time can also cause hair loss.
When we are under stress, our bodies produce the hormone cortisol, which can attack the hair follicles and prevent them from growing new hair.
The best way to manage hair loss caused by stress is to address the cause of the stress by making lifestyle changes or by seeking help from a therapist.
It can take a few months for the hair to begin to grow as normal after it has been lost due to stress, but it should begin to grow back on its own.
Haircare
If you regularly color or use chemical treatments on your hair, then this can cause hair loss, and if the hair follicles have become damaged in the process, then the hair will not grow back.
Your hairdresser should be able to advise you on safe ways to style and treat your hair that won’t damage your scalp.
