Factors That Lead to Thinning Hair

Your hair is your crowning glory. That is why you may experience low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression when it starts to thin. Fortunately, there are a lot of available treatment options for thinning hair. The right choice for you will depend on a variety of reasons, including the factors that led to your condition. Here are some of the factors that lead to thinning hair or hair loss.

Genetics

Genetics is one of the most common factors that lead to thinning hair. Androgenetic alopecia, a hereditary condition, may occur in both men and women as they age. Hair loss gradually happens in predictable patterns like a receding hairline, bald spots, and thinning hair on the crown.

Age

Old age is another factor for thinning hair. Thinning hair due to aging occurs because the natural hair growth rate slows down as you get older. Hair strands also become thinner and less-pigmented, making the scalp more visible. Men and women’s hair can begin to thin as early as in their 30s.

Hormones

For women, another reason for hair thinning is hormonal changes. This may occur due to pregnancy, childbirth, or menopause. Women who have problems with the thyroid or have a natural hormone imbalance problem may also experience hair loss.

Elevated dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels also contribute to thinning hair for both men and women. Together with age and genetics, hormonal factors can exasperate androgenetic alopecia.

Medical Conditions

Certain medical conditions also cause or increase hair thinning. These include alopecia areata and trichotillomania.

• Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease, which results in patchy hair loss and scalp infections, like ringworm. This condition happens when white blood cells attack healthy cells in the hair follicles, affecting hair production.
• Trichotillomania is a mental health disorder that is characterized by the constant urge to pull out hair from the scalp or eyebrows. This condition, also known as a hair-pulling disorder, results in hair thinning and bald spots.

Medication

Some drugs may also result in hair thinning. These include medications used for cancer, arthritis, depression, and high blood pressure. Hair thinning happens because these drugs damage hair follicles, resulting in a disruption of hair production. Hair loss may be short-term or long-term, depending on what stage of hair growth the interruption takes place.

Stress

Extreme stress has also been found to cause hair thinning. Telogen effluvium is a temporary condition that is triggered by traumatic and stressful events. Some of the triggers are surgery, physical injury, psychological problems, extreme weight loss, and sudden dietary changes. When this happens, around 30% of your hair stops growing and starts to fall out.

Hair Thinning Treatment in Missouri

Hair thinning may be a natural occurrence for many people, but it does not mean you have to live with it. Dr. Scott Darling of Darling Hair Restoration in Missouri is the leading hair restoration expert in the Kansas City metro area. He can diagnose the reason for your hair problem and provide a tailor-fit plan to improve your situation. Our clinic offers surgical and non-surgical treatments for hair thinning and hair loss.

You may visit our clinic in Liberty, Missouri. Our staff is happy to help you with your hair loss issues. You may reach us at (816) 792-3400 for inquiries, or you may request an appointment through our online form.