JustCare

Is your hair thinning? Here’s what to do

Written by

Diane Archer

in

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As we age, it’s very common for both men and women to experience hair loss. Is your hair thinning or do you have bald patches? Here’s what you can do about hair thinning.

Everyone loses about 50-100 strands of hair a day. But, about 80 percent of men experience significant hair loss during their lifetime. More than half of them see their hair thinning before they hit 50. And, nearly half of women see their hair thinning significantly during their lifetime, though generally later in life than men. It rarely feels good.

What’s causing the hair loss? There are several possible causes of hair loss or alopecia. One prime cause is the aging process. Cells die off as we age, causing hair thinning or bald spots. Genetics also plays a large role in hair loss, affecting your hormones. And, some people lose hair as a result of stress. Telogen effluvium, a response to stress, can cause temporary hair loss over several months.

In addition, infections, medications and nutritional deficiencies can all play a role in hair loss. Infections, for example, can invade hair follicles in your scalp, causing hair to fall out.

What can you do about hair loss? First, speak with your doctor or dermatologist. Share a list of your medicines with your doctor, so your doctor can consider whether they play a role. If it’s hormones that are causing your hair loss, an oral medication could improve your situation. Here’s what your doctor might do:

  • Blood test to determine whether a  medical condition is causing your hair loss.
  • Scalp biopsy in which your doctor looks at hair roots to see if you have an infection that’s responsible for your hair loss.
  • Light microscopy which allows your doctor to detect disorders of your hair shaft.

You can also try minoxidil, better known as Rogaine, which is available over-the-counter in liquid, foam and shampoo forms that you can apply topically. It can also be taken orally. Finasteride is a prescription medicine that helps with hair loss, available exclusively for men.

If you’re willing to splurge on a low-level laser and wear it for 30 minutes every other day, the evidence suggests that it can get your hair to grow, improving hair density.

The most costly treatment, and likely also the most painful, is a hair transplant, in which a surgeon moves hair from one part of your head to a bald patch.

To minimize hair loss, use a shampoo that does not contain sulfates, and massage your scalp when you shampoo your hair.

Taking supplements is not likely to help with hair loss. And, there’s no evidence to support a treatment with platelet-rich plasma, in which plasma is separated from your blood and injected into your scalp multiple times.

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