WHY IS MY HAIR THINNING ON TOP OF MY HEAD?

Most people don’t think about losing their hair. But it can sneak up on you: more hair strands left in your brush or down the shower drain, noticeable thinning on top or even drastic loss with hair coming out in clumps. Solutions are available to help restore your hair to its former glory. This guide explains possible hair loss causes and restoration options, including supplements and hair growth serum for women. 

Get to the Root of the Problem

Healthy hair starts at the roots — specifically in the hair follicles. These intricate structures have 20 unique kinds of cells plus connected sebaceous glands and hair erector muscles. Understanding hair follicles and growth cycles can help you choose an impactful hair loss solution. 

The Building Blocks of Hair

Hair contains keratin, a durable protein manufactured by keratinocyte cells in our bodies. Keratin helps build hair strands. However, your hair follicles contain stem cells that generate new hair strands in the first place. Without healthy stem cells or sufficient keratin production, hair strands may be weak, brittle, slow-growing or non-existent. 

The Hair Growth Cycle

Hair growth cycles have three stages: anagen, catagen and telogen. During the anagen phase, hair cells rapidly divide to make each strand grow and lengthen. After this three- to -10 year active growth phase, the two-week catagen stage triggers hair strands to shrink and detach from their follicles. The three-month telogen phase allows old strands to shed so that new ones can grow in their place. Most of the hair on your head is in the anagen phase at any given time. 

Causes of Hair Loss

Hair loss has many possible causes. As people age, their follicle stem cells may shrink and fall out. While this commonly happens with male pattern baldness, it can occur to anyone regardless of gender. Stress or illness can prompt more hair follicles to enter a resting phase. Known as telogen effluvium, this causes more hair to fall out without new hair strands to replace them. Other reasons for hair loss include alopecia areata, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, and trichotillomania, an impulse control disorder in which an individual may pull out their hair.

Oral Supplements to the Rescue

You have several options for addressing hair loss. Hair serums with rooibos, saw palmetto and apple stem cell extracts may help. These compounds can remove dead skin cells, encourage collagen production and prevent the conversion of excess testosterone into dihydrotestosterone responsible for certain types of hair loss. 

Some hair growth supplements can include some of the same ingredients, plus essential vitamins and minerals. While reducing DHT, they can also boost keratin production to rebuild hair strands. 

Restoring Your Hair

Hair loss doesn’t have to be permanent. Whether caused by hormones, stress or illness, impactful remedies can slow or even reverse the process. While treating hair loss, you can also benefit from treatments for skin conditions like dark spots. When considering options like niacinamide or azelaic acid for hyperpigmentation, read labels thoroughly and weigh the benefits before you buy.