The best treatments for thinning hair

You see yourself in the mirror every day, so you may miss the subtle changes that develop over time until they are impossible to ignore.

A receding hairline, a widening part and general hair thinning take time to develop and once that has happened, they are difficult to reverse.

Everyone wants a head full of luscious and shiny hair — a bunch of hair they can be proud of. Unfortunately, we don't always get what we want.

Thinning hair is caused by a combination of factors - some of which you can't control - and it can cause a snowball effect of complications.

Hair loss and thinning hair may not be life-threatening, but unwanted changes to your appearance can affect your self-confidence.

If you're pulling your hair out of your head due to the stress of hair loss, you've come to the right place. We've delved into the topic of hair thinning to discuss common causes and possible treatment options.

Thinning hair vs. hair loss

Before we go into detail about the causes of thinning hair, let's take a moment to explore the problem and find out how it differs from hair loss.

The clinical term for hair loss is alopecia. Alopecia is a type of umbrella term — there are different types of alopecia, each characterized by specific patterns of hair loss or particular triggers.

Hair thinning is generally considered a form of progressive hair loss and is a common symptom of androgenetic alopecia, or male-pattern baldness.

Thinning hair develops slowly over time. In men, it often starts at the hairline and draws back to the back of the head.

When thinning or falling out of hair is concentrated in round areas on the scalp, it is often associated with a condition called alopecia areata.

What causes thinning hair?

In addition to hair loss disorders such as androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata, thinning hair can be related to lifestyle factors or lifestyle habits. It may also have a genetic cause or be caused by fluctuating hormone levels.

Poor diet and lack of exercise can have a negative impact on your health, which can result in hair loss or thinning hair.

A diet rich in lean protein, whole grains, healthy fats, and fresh fruits and vegetables is best for overall health and healthy hair. Nutritional deficiencies can also contribute to hair loss.

Unhealthy diet and lack of exercise are two of the major obesity risk factors that can aggravate hair loss in men with androgenetic alopecia. Smoking can also make hair loss worse.

Another important factor that can trigger or worsen hair loss is stress. Stress is directly related to a specific type of hair loss called telogen effluvium. This condition causes diffuse hair loss three to four months after a major event that causes hair to fall out.

While medical conditions and lifestyle factors can cause hair loss, hair thinning is sometimes a matter of perception.

As you get older, it's normal for your hair to lose some strength and volume. The hair follicles become smaller and lighter in color, which can make them look thinner. Some follicles stop producing new hair after a certain point, which can result in an overall thinning head of hair.

Many men often start showing signs of baldness or thinning hair by the time they reach their thirties.

Treatment options for thinning hair

The first step in resolving your issues with thinning hair is identifying the underlying cause.

Whether your hair loss is caused by an underlying medical condition, triggered by stress, or due to poor lifestyle choices, there are things you can do to address it.

Here are some of the best treatment options for thinning hair.

Keep your hair clean

If your hair looks thin or lifeless, it sometimes has nothing to do with hair loss at all. Excess sebum and other impurities can build up on your scalp and weigh down your hair, preventing it from looking its best. All you have to do is change the hair products you use.

Try switching to a brightening shampoo that breaks down the polymer residue that other hair products leave behind. You can even try a thickening shampoo with ingredients like saw palmetto that promote volume and moisture.

If you suffer from dandruff, using an anti-dandruff shampoo can help you get rid of your scalp. Men with oily hair can look for a shampoo that prevents excess sebum production and skip the conditioner to prevent your hair from becoming even heavier.

It's also worth knowing that you should use a shampoo designed for your specific hair type.

Reducing stress

If your hair falls out due to stress, it is a promising solution to control your stress. Stress does not cause baldness in men, but it can disrupt the hair's natural growth cycle. There is also a direct link to a form of hair loss called telogen effluvium.

Telogen effluvium occurs when a significant number of hair follicles enter the telogen (resting) phase prematurely from the growth phase. In fact, they stop growing earlier than usual and fall out earlier than usual.

There are a number of things you can do to reduce stress, starting with identifying and addressing the things that trigger stress.

Stress-reducing exercises such as deep breathing and meditation can also be helpful. Remember that exercise is a natural stress reliever and try to moderate your alcohol and caffeine consumption to reduce stress.

Try Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements

In any case, Omega-3 is part of a balanced diet, but is particularly important for healthy hair.

Consider adding natural sources of omega-3 such as oily fish and flaxseed to your diet, or take an omega-3 supplement to improve hair density.

More research is needed in this area, but early results are promising.

Take Finasteride

Finasteride is an oral medicine commonly sold under the brand name Propecia® to treat hair loss in both men and women. This medication was originally approved by the FDA in 1992 and has been extensively researched.

This specific medication works as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, which helps prevent your body from converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

High DHT levels are associated with androgenetic alopecia in men - the hormone connects to receptors in hair follicles, causing them to shrink, which can restrict growth and cause hair loss.

Using Topical Minoxidil

Minoxidil, usually sold under the brand name Rogaine®, is a topical hair loss medicine. Research shows that, when used consistently over several months, minoxidil can stop hair loss and improve the thickness of existing hair.

Unlike many hair loss treatments on the market, minoxidil is FDA approved and scientifically substantiated. It comes in a liquid or foam that must be applied twice daily.

Although it does not cure baldness, it can improve hair growth by improving blood flow to the scalp and encouraging hair to enter the growth phase. Remember, you should keep using it daily to maintain your results.

Give yourself a scalp massage

Healthy hair needs oxygenated blood and a steady stream of nutrients. If blood flow to the scalp is obstructed, it can affect hair growth and thickness. A simple solution is to give yourself a scalp massage a few times a week.

Massaging the scalp can improve scalp blood flow and stretch hair follicles, making them thicker and longer.

In a small 2016 study involving just nine people, researchers found that men who received four minutes of scalp massage each day had thicker hair after 24 weeks than they did at the start of the study.

According to self-reported findings published in a 2019 study, men who self-massaged scalp twice a day reported an improvement in their alopecia.

Conceal hair loss

If you're concerned about your thinning hair but aren't ready for a prescription treatment, you might want to consider using hair loss concealers.

Hair loss concealers are simply products that you can apply to your scalp to make hair loss or thinning hair less noticeable.

Hair loss concealers are usually made from proteins like keratin and they adhere to the hair you have to create the illusion of thickness.

Powdered hair loss concealers are applied to the scalp in thinning areas to disguise bald areas and make your hair look fuller.

Liquid hair loss concealers add artificial thickness to your natural hair, usually by coating it with ingredients that adhere to the hair.

Considering hair replacement

Whether you've lost hair due to alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia, or another form of hair loss, you may be considering hair replacement to restore the fullness and thickness of your hair.

Surgical hair replacement is generally recommended for men who have lost a significant amount of hair. Hair transplant surgery doesn't replace the hair you've lost, but it can transplant hair from part of your body to your scalp.

These procedures can be quite expensive and may not give you the look you want. Moreover, depending on the underlying cause of your hair loss, it can only offer a temporary solution.

Non-surgical hair replacement options include hair replacement systems such as wigs or toupes and scalp micropigmentation. Hair replacement systems can look unnatural, but they are an affordable and non-invasive option.

Scalp micropigmentation uses tiny, tattooed tips on the scalp to make thicker hair look.

Conclusion

Androgenetic alopecia is the main cause of hair loss in men. It causes your hairline to thin over the years, but there are treatments to stop or reverse the thinning and loss of hair.

If you're concerned about thinning hair or hair loss, talk to a certified healthcare professional to determine the underlying cause. From there, you can discuss treatment options to restore the thickness and fullness of your hair.