Men's Health > Hair Loss > Thinning Hair

All About Thinning Hair

Hair is one of those things in life that we rarely think about – or at least value – until it starts to disappear.

And for the millions (it’s probably in the billions) of men who experience thinning hair, this can be a very emotionally disconcerting event. In fact, it can be outright traumatic for some!

So just what is thinning hair? Actually, the term itself is a misnomer. The hair itself is not thinning, or becoming thinner. What’s really happening is too much hair is in the resting or non-growth state. Typically, 10% of hair follicles don’t grow, and will “shed”. This is perfectly normal. Yet when more than 10% of the hair sheds, the appearance is that the hair is thinning; and hence, the term “thinning hair”. The medical term for this is “diffuse alopecia”, and some medications for treating thinning hair will refer to this term. Most, however, will use the more widely-known term “thinning hair”.

Thinning Hair Cause

Thinning hair can be caused by a number of factors. Diet often plays a role in determining how much (or how fast) thinning hair occurs. So-called “crash” diets that shock the system either by overloading on a particular nutrient – or denying it altogether – can be catalysts for thinning hair. Specifically, an excess of Vitamin A (sometimes called “Vitamin A toxicity”), or a deficiency of Vitamin C, B, or the minerals iron, zinc, or biotin can also lead to thinning hair.

Some medical treatments also promote or enhance thinning hair. Chemotherapy and radiation will lead to thinning hair. Medications used to treat Crohn’s Disease also lead to thinning hair, as do some anti-inflammatory drugs, and some male hormones (testosterone and androgens).

Of course, excessive “hair care” (which is not all that caring in the long run!) can lead to thinning hair. Men who bleach or dye their hair on a regular basis can experience some hair thinning. This, however, can be mitigated somewhat by the use of high quality shampoos and conditioners which strengthen the hair shaft.

And last but certainly not least, is the dreaded s-word: stress! Stress often plays a significant role in thinning hair (or the lack of thinning hair). In many cases, issues related to stress unleash dietary and nutritional problems that ultimately influence thinning hair.

Thinning Hair Treatment

Dealing with thinning hair can be challenging; especially when, for some, the thinning is the result of hereditary forces at work, and not necessarily health or lifestyle-related ones. However, regardless of whether the thinning hair is hereditary, thinning hair can be mitigated (at least somewhat) by some available treatments.

One such treatment is applying Minoxidil (i.e. Rogaine). Minoxidil has shown its effectiveness in treating androgenic-related hair loss (hair loss in men). Some ultraviolet therapies have also been effective in some cases, such as PUVA. However, there is some concern that the rays can actually lead to potential skin cancer concerns, and as such is not widely recommended at this time. Anthralin and Propecia are other topical ointments that are popularly available.

Drew Voight