The One Thing You Should Never, Ever Do if You’re a Woman Who Wants To Avoid Thinning Hair as You Age
Woman's hair brush with thinning hair in the bristles
Hair thinning and hair loss can make you, well, want to pull your hair out—but if you're struggling with it, know you are not alone. While hair thinning and loss can lead to shame and isolation, according to the Cleveland Clinic, about 50 percent of women will deal with some form of noticeable hair loss during their lifetime.
According to Dr. Sara Perkins, MD, a dermatologist on the medical advisory board of Hims & Hers and assistant professor in the Department of Dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine, the biggest thing to avoid if you're coping with thinning hair is beating yourself up about it.
"The biggest mistake women make in terms of thinning hair is that they blame themselves or something they are doing," Perkins tells Parade. "Female pattern hair loss is extremely common and, while the exact pathophysiology isn't fully understood, it’s thought to be due to genetic predisposition and sensitivity to circulating androgens, as well as nonandrogenic factors."
That said, there are other things to consider if you want to avoid thinning hair as you age.
Related: Everything to Know About Alopecia, Jada Pinkett Smith's Hair Loss Condition
What Should Women Who Want To Avoid Thinning Hair Never, Ever Do?
Many women with thinning hair suffer in silence, but that's one of the worst things you can do. If you want to avoid thinning hair, please do not wait to talk to your physician about it.
"Waiting to talk about it and waiting to intervene can allow the hair loss process to continue to progress," Dr. Perkins warns.
Related: 13 Possible Reasons Why Your Hair Is Falling Out
What Are the Most Common Causes of Hair Thinning as Women Age?
One of the biggest culprits in terms of hair thinning in women, especially as we age, is hormones.
"Hormonal changes during menopause commonly cause hair thinning in women," Dr. Marina Peredo, MD founder of Skinfluence Medical PC and associate clinical professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Department of Dermatology, explains. "Reduced estrogen alters the hair growth cycle, resulting in thinner hair." This is called androgenic alopecia.
According to Dr. Peredo, other forms of alopecia in women can include traction alopecia, a form of alopecia often caused by wearing too-tight hairstyles, and lichen planopilaris, a type of hair loss that involves inflammation and scarring.
Dr. Ben Benham, MD, dermatologist at Santa Monica Skin and co-founder of Happy Head, advises that there are several other possible causes for hair loss and thinning in women. These can include:
Thyroid problems, which can impact your hormone levels
Iron deficiency, vitamin D deficiency and/or vitamin B6 deficiency, which can be caused by heavy periods
Menopause
Rapid weight loss
Major stressors (think divorce or hospitalizations), which can trigger telogen effluvium, a reversible type of hair loss
Going off of oral contraceptives (birth control pills) after several years
Related: Does Rosemary Oil Actually Work to Cure or Prevent Hair Loss?
Is There Any Way Women Can Prevent Hair Thinning?
Dr. Benham says to keep up with your regular medical checkups, as hair loss can often be triggered or be a symptom of other underlying conditions.
In terms of day-to-day care, you have options as well. Experts agree that these can all help you prevent hair thinning:
Avoiding tight hairstyles, which can trigger traction alopecia
Maintaining a healthy diet high in protein, iron and vitamin D
Managing stress
Avoiding or limiting your exposure to harsh chemicals, hair dye, hair bleach and heat-styling
Avoiding using too many styling products, which can clog pores and damage follicles
Avoiding playing with or pulling your hair
Avoiding over-shampooing
Related: 14 Foods That May Help Hair Growth
What Are the Best Treatments for Hair Thinning?
That said, the best thing you can do is to see a dermatologist, who can determine the ideal course of treatment for you depending on the underlying cause of your hair thinning. That said, there are several options to try, and your care team may recommend a combination of them to deliver the best results. They may include:
Oral supplements like Nutrafol
Spironolactone, an oral medication that can help with hormonal hair thinning and loss
Monitoring your hormone and vitamin levels
Oral and/or topical minoxidil, which stimulates blood flow to hair follicles to kickstart hair into the growth phase
Oral and/or topical finasteride, a dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blocker
Oral and/or topical minoxidil and finasteride combinations
Next up: The New Medication That May Help You Grow Hair Really Fast
