Over the last twenty years dermatologists have observed a gradual increase in the amount of men and women experiencing problems regarding hair loss. In attempting to stop thinning hair it is important to understand the underlying reasons why thinning hair occurs and what external factors may be causing it. While hereditary factors play the best part in deciding if a person is going experience thinning hair there are also several other factors which could play a part.

The issue of thinning hair is the most common in men, with over 40% of men under the age of 35 experiencing some baldness. The hair loss slowly progresses to a bald spot at the crown and eventually complete hair on the top of the scalp. It’s now universally accepted that the most frequent cause of thinning hair in men is attributed to a chemical derived from testosterone known as dyhydrotestosterone (DHT).

While generally thought of as a male problem, thinning hair now affects over 40% of women over the age of 40. While male hair loss displays a certain pattern, women’s hair loss tends to happen as an overall thinning this is often called”diffuse thinning”. There are a number of causes of thinning hair in woman and it is important to get a GPs diagnosis before attempting to treat the condition. Other factors that can result in thinning hair in women are caused by the use of extreme hair treatments such as colorants, perms and hot oil treatments. These can inflame the scalp causing damage to the hair follicles.

Available Treatments

There are a now a large number of hair loss prevention and re-growth treatments available for both men and women. One of the key treatments that can stop thinning hair and stimulate development is a topical solution containing a component called minoxidil. Additionally, there are several shampoos for thinning hair that work by removing the damaging DHT compound from the scalp. There is also a treatment called Finasteride that is clinically proven to prevent thinning hair but only works for men. Depending on the precise sort of hair loss a few of these treatments might need to be used continuously to prevent hair loss reoccurring.

Disguising Thinning Hair

While there are many effective treatments available to stop thinning hair it may take many months before results are noticed. In this time there are many products and techniques which may be used to make the present hair look thicker and healthier. Hair loss conditioners can thicken the hair shafts by as much as 300 percent and blow drying hair may also be used to create thinning hair look substantially thicker. Certain hair styles are also better suited to thinning hair, in general shorter hair is better, growing hair longer to cover up thinning hair is not recommended.

Conclusion

The reasons why thinning hair occurs can be varied and complicated but it’s very important to know what the underlying issues are before proceeding with the correct course of treatment. Hair loss treatments are now much more powerful than they were ten years ago and it’s now possible to stop thinning hair in the majority of cases.