With the average shedding patterns of both men and women being around 100 follicles lost a day, it’s important for everyone, young and old, to know what to look for regarding hair loss. Knowing whether you are losing a little more than 100 follicles a day or a lot more is often difficult to tell.
First things first, many people will overly frustrate their hopes and fears by exaggerating the thinning or shedding they see in the shower or after a look in the mirror. Some hair shedding and thinning (especially with middle aged persons and seniors) of hair density is normal and not indicative of an onset of balding.
The keyword here is some. Clear and visible hair thinning for someone in their 20s and 30s (not uncommon) should be a warning sign and something to be tackled with great proactivity.
For men, they can begin to notice the changes of hair loss in the texture of their hair. Usually it begins to feel finer and perhaps doesn’t seem to be growing as quickly. Many people assume that a receding hairline at the very front of the scalp is the first thing they should look out for when considering hair loss, but this is not always the case. The whirl on their crown and near the back of their scalp can often be the first places on the head which show signs of balding. Check for bald patches on the crown and the back of the head easily with a pocket mirror. Hold it behind your head, scan the area for signs of texture change, density loss or thinning follicles. Run your fingers or a comb through the crown, lifting and pulling to look for parting and lack of thorough diffusion and volume.
The frontal hairline, however, is also the most common area for men to show signs of recession and balding. Hair loss on the frontal hairline takes the form of the classic M shape where the hairline rises significantly at the temples and dips down in the center. Jude Law is a clear example of the M shaped recession line.
For a more extensive guide to male hair loss, click here.
For women, instead of a receding M shape on the front of the hairline as in men, their thinning hairline will begin to appear in the part line, right down the middle or at the curvature of the head. Minimal thinning can be hidden with styling techniques. As hair loss continues, women will notice a decrease in volume and noticeable widening of the mid-line part. Checking for signs of such parting are much easier for women than men because of the dominance and obvious largeness of the diffused thinning.
For a more extensive guide to female hair loss, click here.
How to Combat a Receding Hairline?
High-quality hair restoration products: groMD’s shampoo/conditioner and follicle activator spray is rich in Argan oil (liquid gold) and Biotin to help kickstart the Anagen (growth) phase of the hair life cycle. It also contains a proprietary blend of DHT blockers which helps to strengthen hair and extend the growing phase.
Rogaine and Finasteride: Topical treatments like Rogaine (also known as Minoxidil) help increase and keep the blood supply to the scalps network of capillaries and prescription-only pills like Finasteride (also known as Propecia) work by blocking enzymes that cause conversion of testosterone to DHT.
Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy: This therapy entails micro injections in the scalp which trigger cell growth and stimulate thinning hair follicles. PRP is loaded with growth factors that promote rapid angiogenesis and localized cell growth. The New York Times reports of one practitioner that the PRP procedure “gets results in 80 percent of patients, more than half of whom are female.”
Hair Transplant: For something more permanent, persons suffering from pattern baldness and great hairline recession can opt for the very successful FUE (follicular unit extraction) procedure which involves extracting follicles (typically from the back or sides of the head) with a micro-punch and then transplanting the uprooted follicles into the recipient site, i.e. wherever hair volume is desired. FUE is the most common hair transplant procedure and is less invasive than FUT or strip procedures, leaving almost no scarring. For an FUE procedure, the hair restoration specialist will consult with the patient to determine an appropriate hairline in order to produce a natural hair pattern and shape.
A Healthier Lifestyle: Stress is one of the most important factors that contribute to hair loss. It is believed that stress can disrupt the normal hair cycle and trigger hairs to enter the telogen or fall-out phase. Thus, when striving for faster hair growth, minimize the stress in your life. Eating a diet rich in protein and vital vitamins and minerals is an essential prerequisite to healthy hair growth. Opt for foods high in vitamins A, B, C, and E, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, and selenium. Argan oil, in particular, is extremely important for making your hair grow faster.
Hair loss continues in a fairly predictable pattern, so you can spot and combat it before ending up with partial or almost complete baldness.
For all matters hair contact one of our offices at 888-717-5273 or visit Modenahair.com.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, and an advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.