Thinning hair at the top of your head, your part, or a receding hairline is worrisome at any age. Most affected people chalk it up to genetics or simply old age. There are, however, many other less obvious, but more concerning causes as they have the potential to affect the rest of your body as well.
Determining the cause of hair loss is a science. Assumptions are easy to make, but other factors like hormone fluctuations and nutrition are difficult to diagnose without a doctor’s help. Even in old age, hair loss or thinning could be a result of something other than inactive hair follicles.
What is Genetic Hair Loss?
The possibility of having hereditary hair loss is relatively high in both men and women and can appear at any age. It is commonly known as male or female pattern baldness.
Androgenic alopecia is the technical term, referring to the hormone androgen that causes developmental patterns like hair loss. Hereditary forms of hair loss more likely to appear if your mother or father experienced pattern baldness since the genes have likely passed down to you. Using your parents as “guidelines” for medical conditions you may encounter in life is a reliable way to determine if you could develop androgenic alopecia.
Males and females experience androgenic alopecia differently. Men often begin with thinning hair at the crown or top of the head along with a receding hairline. Women usually start with thinning through the partition. Both are results of shrinking hair follicles that grow finer and shorter hairs, eventually ceasing to grow hair at all. These follicles remain alive, suggesting that new hair growth is still possible with the help of a professional.
What Else Causes Hair Loss & What Can I do About it?
If you used to have a full head of thick and healthy hair that very suddenly began to thin out, you should see a specialist sooner than later as this is possibly a sign of non-genetic hair loss and should be taken seriously. Sudden hair loss could be a symptom of a severe underlying issue or illness, but several factors contribute to non-genetic related thinning. The most common are listed below:
- Medication – a change in medication can result in slight hair loss as sort of a shock to your system. Many medications list hair loss as a symptom. Speak to your doctor to see if they can prescribe an alternative.
- Stress – a stressful event can leave you with excessive hair loss a couple of months afterward, as stress hormones can be harmful to your body and can shut off certain functions, such as hair growth or periods. This is often temporary.
- Unhealthy diets – if your daily diet lacks certain nutrients or vitamins, your body may lack the ability to grow new hair. A lack of protein can damage healthy hair and prevent new follicles from being built. Consider speaking with a dietitian or tracking your daily intake to improve habits and awareness.
- Thyroid Disease – Hair loss, among many other issues, is a common symptom of thyroid disease. This is a hormone problem in which your body produces too much or too little thyroid hormone. Fortunately, many available treatments can help regulate this and help thinning hair grow regularly.
Regardless of your hair loss situation, we’d love to help you find a solution! Contact Allusions today and speak with one of our associates, or come in and see our numerous wigs, women’s hair solutions, and men’s hair solutions!
