Most people experience thinning hair at some point in life due to heredity, medications or a health condition, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your hair will grow back in most cases. For some, what starts as a thinning on the top of the head will progress to baldness. Recognize the cause of your hair loss to determine if the thinning will stop or if you may need to consult your doctor about treatment options.
Significance
Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss that affects one-third of all men and women. As you age, your hair undergoes a cycle of loss and regrowth, according to Family Doctor.org. Most people lose 100 hairs daily and will never experience noticeable thinning. Others are at a higher risk for hair loss that occurs faster than normal and results in partial or complete baldness.
Temporary Loss
Hair that thins in small round patches is a symptom of alopecia areata, reports the American Academy of Dermatology. The condition typically will not extend past a few bald patches on your scalp. Symptoms include itching or soreness prior to hair loss. Significant stress causes telogen effluvium, or a temporary hair loss that you may notice when you brush or wash your hair. Pigtails, cornrows or braids, as well as tight rollers, raise your risk for traction alopecia---bald patches that are visible in the area where your hair is subjected to the tightest pull. Temporary hair loss, called anagen effluvium, occurs when you undergo chemotherapy. Thinning starts as therapy begins, although your hair should grow back when you are healthy.
Permanent Loss
Men may experience permanent thinning starting in the teen years due to male-pattern baldness. A receding hairline is a first sign, followed in later stages by balding on the top of the head or complete balding. Female-pattern baldness is also permanent and, in most cases, is confined to the front or sides of the head. Few women suffer total baldness, according to the Mayo Clinic. Scarring, or cicatricial alopecia, is rare and occurs when your hair follicles undergo excessive inflammation.
Other Hair Loss
Eating disorders or fad diets---which lead to poor nutrition and lack of protein---elevate your risk for thinning hair. Improperly using dyes, tints, bleaches and chemicals that straighten your hair can result in thinning or damaged hair, while excessive brushing or overstyling also damages your hair shafts. Lost hair should grow back when you stop the harmful activity.
Considerations
Taking medications for arthritis, depression, high blood pressure or heart problems may cause temporary hair thinning, reports the Mayo Clinic. Ringworm and other scalp infections that can be treated with topical medication raise your chances of thinning hair, although the hair typically returns once the infection is resolved. In some cases, sudden hair loss is a symptom of a serious health condition. Contact your doctor to discuss treatment options.
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