As your body ages, your natural production of hair can slow down. Hair can also take on a thinner and weaker appearance with age. These changes can be influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics and disease, but are often easily managed by one or more treatment options. Talk to your doctor to see if any of these treatment options may work for your unique situation.
Hair Products
Certain hair products can give the appearance of thicker hair without any dramatic medical or pharmaceutical interventions. For example, several volumizing hair products such as mousses, creams, mists and thickening sprays can give the appearance of thicker hair after application. You can also talk to your hair stylist about cutting your hair in a way--perhaps in a layered cut-- that tricks the eye into thinking there is more volume to your hair than there really is.
Over the Counter
Over-the-counter products also are available to help regrow hair follicles, producing a thicker look to thinning and balding areas of the scalp. One of the most popular over-the-counter products is minoxidil, most commonly sold under the brand name Rogaine. Available in varying solution strengths, minoxidil is applied to the scalp twice a day in order to regrow new hair. Results typically take about 12 weeks to become noticeable, with the Mayo Clinic recommending you stop using the product if you see little or no hair growth within six months.
Finasteride
For men who are experiencing thinning due to hair loss, there is also a prescription medication that can help called finasteride, popularly sold on the market as the brand name Propecia. Finasteride blocks testosterone in the body from being transformed into dihydrotestosterone, commonly referred to as DHT. Dihydrotestosterone can affect the growth of hair strands by shrinking the size of hair follicles, states the American Hair Loss Association. Because DHT is primarily a male hormone, the prescription is for men only.
Grafts
In more serious cases of thinning or balding hair, hair transplants of healthy hair follicles can be performed. Hair transplants are performed using grafts of hair follicles from thicker, healthier areas on the body, such as the sides and back of the head. Although an expensive and invasive process, over time the newly transplanted hair plugs begin to blend into the scalp, reducing the look of thinning and bald spots on your head.
Scalp Reduction
Scalp reduction is another invasive procedure that can help to reduce the look of hair thinning on your scalp. During a scalp reduction, thin and balding areas of the scalp are surgically removed. The remaining scalp is then stretched, pulled together and secured in order to heal. Scalp extension or expansion devices may be used during the procedure to gain a greater amount of skin to cover the removed portion of scalp, according to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery.
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