If your hair is thinning, but over-the-counter supplements are not helping, then your hair loss may have a different cause. Hair loss can be a result of nutritional deficiencies, hormones, or simply aging.
The good news is that the type of hair loss resulting from each cause differs enough to help you narrow down which treatment may work best for you. Read below to learn about three common causes of hair loss and thinning, and how you can preserve and protect your hair best today.
Common Causes of Hair Loss
Although hair loss can be the result of a variety of nutritional or dermatological issues, we are just going to talk about three common causes today.
Iron Deficiency Hair Loss: If your hair loss is caused by anemia, or low levels of iron in the blood, then it will often present as diffuse, or thinning across the entire scalp.
Thyroid-Related Hair Loss: If your hair loss is caused by thyroid health issues, then hair loss can present as brittle hair falling out in patches.
Hormonal Aging Hair Loss: If your hair loss is simply a result of aging, then it will be a more gradual thinning that occurs over the years and is usually at the crown and temples. Aging can also make hair finer over time, which can make hair loss areas more noticeable.
How Does It Work?
Telogen effluvium, or a change in the number of hair follicles growing hair, is the underlying cause of iron deficiency and thyroid-related hair loss. Aging related hair loss, on the other hand, is usually a result of follicle miniaturization, or narrowing of hair follicles which makes it difficult for hair to grow.
Other major differences in these three common causes of hair thinning and loss are:
Iron and thyroid hair changes can occur in any age, while hormonal aging hair loss only occurs in older adults, such as those over the age of 40 years.
Since iron and thyroid hair loss is caused by deficiencies, such hair loss usually improves with supplementation. Aging hair loss, however, is usually harder to reverse with supplementation alone.
How to Reverse Aging Hair Loss
Before we get started on ways to help reverse aging hair loss, remember that no one treatment will work for everyone, since some hair loss may be related to other possible underlying conditions. But let’s start with some basic things you can do to help improve aging-related hair loss.
💊 Vitamins like zinc and iron to help resolve any micronutrient deficiencies that may be leading to hair loss.
🌿 Keratin and/or collagen hair treatments to help rebuild hair.
🍎 Anti-inflammatory nutrition practices such as consuming plenty of antioxidant-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish, for example, and taking probiotics.
🍷 Avoiding inflammatory lifestyle behaviors like smoking, drinking alcohol, and leading a sedentary lifestyle.
📉 Poor sleep, which can place stress on the body, and in turn can increase one’s risk of hair loss and thinning.
🛋️ Stress management to help lower cortisol levels, which can in turn support hair health.
Hair loss can be difficult to deal with. Not only does it change your appearance, but in doing so, it can affect your confidence out in the world, which can impact quality of life. Fortunately, you can help treat these common causes of hair loss through certain lifestyle changes and keeping up with your annual healthcare provider visits.
If none of these lifestyle changes work, then don’t hesitate to reach out for help with a dermatologist or hair loss specialist who may be able to narrow down what is causing your hair loss, and help you regain your hair health.