Thinning Hair SOS: Recognising The Early Signs Of Balding

• 30 January 2024
• Dr Malay Mehta

Hair, often considered our crowning glory, plays a significant role in our self-esteem and appearance. But what happens when it starts to thin or even bald?

The experts at Malay Mehta Aesthetic Clinic delve into how to recognise the early signs of balding and what you can do about it.

What are the early signs of balding?

Not everyone experiences hair loss in the same way. Here are the most common signs to watch for:

• Thinning temples: The first noticeable sign for many.
• Receding hairline: Your hairline begins to make an “M” shape as the hair on the sides of your head recedes and is associated with male pattern baldness.
• Thinning on top of the head: Hair starts thinning on the top of your head, but the sides remain unaffected. This progression is gradual and can take years.
• Widening part: Your part line widens and separates, revealing more scalp. This commonly affects women.
• Thinning across the whole head: Some experience hair loss equally across their entire head with no specific pattern.
• Hair falling out in clumps: Hair loss can sometimes occur suddenly, with hair falling out in clumps.

One of the earliest signs of male pattern baldness or female hair loss is shedding excess amounts of hair, beyond what you would normally expect.

Assessing your type of hair loss

Hair loss can be concerning, but understanding the type of hair loss can bring some comfort. First, the type of hair loss can be categorised into male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness.

• Male pattern baldness is often characterised by a distinct “M” shape on your forehead. It typically starts with a receding hairline and thinning at the crown.
• Female pattern baldness: Women may experience diffuse hair thinning across the entire scalp without a defined pattern.

It can then be further narrowed down by the common causes of hair loss:

• Genetics and family history.
• Hormonal changes or imbalances such as with PCOS, pregnancy or menopause.
• Injury to your hair follicles.
• Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that attacks hair follicles.
• Telogen effluvium is a result of stress, illness or surgery.
• Tinea Capitis is a fungal infection of the scalp.
• Nutritional deficiency where your hair follicles and scalp aren’t receiving the nutrients, vitamins and minerals they need to be healthy.
• Certain medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders can disrupt the hair growth cycle.
• Traction alopecia is caused by tight hairstyles, harsh chemicals and heat styling.

Male pattern baldness usually presents as a receding hairline, whilst in females it is a widening of their part. There are many common causes including genetics, hormonal imbalances and medical conditions.

Common hair fall – what you DON’T need to worry about

It’s entirely normal to be concerned with signs of hair loss. However, it’s important to remember that not all hair fall will indicate impending baldness.

Your hair goes through a continuous cycle of growth, rest, and shedding. This is the natural hair growth cycle, and hair fall is common when a strand enters the shedding phase. It’s only when this hair fall is more then 100 strands per day that you need to be concerned.

What are the treatment options for female or male pattern baldness?

There are many different treatment options to treat the thinning or balding of your hair:

• Medications: slow down hair loss and encourage regrowth.
• Topical treatments: can stimulate hair follicles and boost hair growth.
• Micropigmentation: scalp tattoos conceal baldness or thinning areas.
• Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: utilises your body’s growth factors to stimulate hair follicles and encourage regrowth.
• Low-Level Laser Therapy: increases scalp blood circulation to stimulate hair follicles.
• Hair transplant: In more advanced cases of hair loss, hair transplant procedures can permanently restore hair.

Lifestyle and hair care changes

There are several lifestyle changes you can make to prevent further hair loss or damage:

• Ensure your diet includes a variety of nutrients essential for hair health.
• Be gentle when washing and styling your hair. Avoid vigorous scrubbing or rubbing, and use a mild, sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner.
• Implement stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises.
• Limit the use of harsh hair treatments like perms, relaxers, and excessive heat styling.
• Maintain a healthy scalp by keeping it clean and well-moisturised.
• Stop pulling it up into the same tight hairstyle.
• Engage in regular physical activity.
• Stay well-hydrated.

Something as simple as changing the way you wash your hair can slow down your hair loss.

Early prevention and management

It is important to recognise these early signs of balding so you can be proactive about seeking professional advice. So if you find yourself nodding yes to any of these symptoms, don’t wait – take charge of your hair health today and contact Malay Mehta Aesthetic Clinic.

FAQs

How do I know my hair is thinning or balding?

To help identify if you have early signs of balding, here’s a list of questions you can ask yourself:

• Have you noticed a decrease in hair density?
• Can you see more of your scalp when you part your hair? (More common with female pattern baldness
• Is the texture becoming finer, thinner, or weaker?
• Has your hairline started to recede? (mainly a sign of male pattern baldness)
• Do you notice more hair shedding when you wash or brush your hair?
• Are there areas on your scalp that have little to no hair growth?
• Do you have persistent itching, tingling or discomfort on your scalp?
• Is your scalp dry, flaky or irritated?