Although hair loss is more common among men, women can experience it as well. Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss, and it can be caused by genetics, hormonal imbalances, lifestyle factors such as how you wear your hair, medical treatments like radiation or chemotherapy, or even a very stressful event. But you don’t have to just live with it.
If your thinning hair bothers you, the experts at Osteopathic Center for Healing may be able to help. Dr. Neil Spiegel and physician assistant Jennifer Gularson offer numerous treatments to help with thinning hair. The one that’s likely to work best for you depends on several factors including the underlying cause of your hair loss and your medical history, among others.
As you get older the likelihood of your hair thinning increases because your follicles slow down and eventually stop producing new hair. Often, this happens as your hair begins to lose its color. In women, the hairline also begins to recede.
The sooner you notice your hair thinning, the more likely that treatments will work. Like with most anti-aging treatments, we can slow the process down considerably. It’s possible to age gracefully and continue to feel good about your health and how you look.
You may be unwittingly causing your hair to thin through your choice of products and hairstyles. Excessively harsh products such as gels and sprays, as well as perms, relaxers, and other chemical treatments can cause your hair to begin to thin.
Some products can even damage your follicles permanently, meaning you can’t grow hair out of them. Consider the products you use carefully.
Another potential cause of hair thinning or loss is wearing your hair in styles that pull on your hair. Very tight buns, ponytails, braids, or other styles can lead to thinning.
Both men and women can develop hormonal imbalances that can cause hair to thin or fall out. Often, treating the imbalance helps your hair regrow. Although most people think of estrogen or testosterone when they think of a hormone imbalance, issues with your thyroid can also lead to hair thinning.
Once your hormonal imbalance is corrected, your hair should begin to grow again -- plus you’ll probably feel more energetic and better overall.
If you’re lacking certain vitamins and minerals, you may experience hair thinning and loss. For example, iron and folic acid are both known to help your follicles work properly.
In addition to hair thinning, lacking sufficient vitamins and minerals can have a serious impact on your overall health and the function of your immune system. Our providers can help you balance your diet or suggest supplements if necessary.
Stress impacts your health in many ways, and one of them is to kill new hairs that your follicles are trying to grow. Stress can also cause your existing hair to loosen earlier in the hair growth cycle than it normally would. These two factors together can cause rapid thinning of your hair.
It’s easy to say “lower your stress levels” but quite another thing to take the steps necessary to actually lessen your stress. Talk to your provider when you come in. We may be able to offer constructive advice or suggest treatments such as acupuncture that could help.
You’re a special, unique individual, and the underlying factors that are contributing to your hair thinning are unlike anyone else’s. In order to suggest treatments that may work, our provider performs a thorough evaluation and talks to you in-depth about your health, your life, and your goals.
If you’re ready to find out how we might help, book an appointment at our office in Rockville, Maryland.
