It is all to easy to panic when discovering your hair has started to recede, but it is essential to identify the cause.
The Usual Suspect
The sad truth is that for the massive majority of us the reason we are losing our hair is obvious… a quick glance through a family photo album will confirm that you are the victim of your genes. That unavoidable bullet encapsulated at the moment of your creation within your DNA. You are a mix of both of your parents genes and you can inherit the hair loss gene from either parent, or even both. That said, while genetics are responsible for over 90% of cases of hair loss they are far from the only possible trigger. We take a look at some others that you might no be so familiar with but which would need ruling out before deciding on how to proceed.
Post Partum Hair Loss
With the advance of social media and the willingness of celebrities to share their every intimate moment we have seen a better understanding of this type of hair loss… which affects women in the period of time after giving birth. As their bodies return to a situation where they are no longer required to sustain a baby in the womb the affect on some of the “less important” processes, like growing fingernails and hair, can take a back seat for a while. The situation is temporary and will almost invariably see the patient return to a full head of healthy hair.
Stress
Another, usually temporary form, of hair loss can be bought on by stress. We are all aware of the significant impact on our wider health that stress can cause. Stress can push follicles into the resting phase causing a higher than usual amount of hair to be lost during brushing and washing. Treat the cause and you will cure the symptoms.
Vegetarianism
While a vegetarian or vegan diet is extremely healthy in many regards it can leave your diet short of some of the nutrients essential for good hair growth. Iron in particular can be in short supply
Medication
It is understandable that when your Doctor is talking to you on serious health matters like blood pressure or depression that hair loss, or the potential for it, takes a back seat. But blood thinners, used to prevent clots, or beta blockers can cause you to lose hair.
Maybe more of a surprise is that everyday medications also present a threat to hair. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) can also cause hair to thin… which is probably OK until we tell you that this group of drugs include ibuprofen, one of the most popular non prescription drugs on the market.
HIS Hair Clinic
As we said at the outset, the most likely cause for hair to thin is genetic – and whatever anyone tells you this is not currently treatable with anything but Minoxidil or Finasteride, with limited results, a lifelong commitment and side effects that need to be considered. But before you do anything it is important to be certain about what is causing your own hair to thin.
If you would like to discuss your hair loss situation with one of our team of friendly experts simply complete the contact form at the side of this page, or click here to find your nearest clinic.
