If you have been seeing hair strands on your brush or shower floor, do not panic yet. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), it is normal to shed an average of 100 hair strands daily. However, any more than this could already be a sigma of hair thinning.
Compared to full-blown hair loss, hair thinning will not always lead to baldness, though it may give the appearance of less hair coverage in certain areas on your head. The condition also develops slowly, which would give you more time to identify the cause and try different treatment options.
However, this can be a big blow to women’s self-confidence as females tend to associate more value on their hair, such as their sense of self and identity. In fact, a recent study showed that more than 60% of women who experience thinning hair are also suffering from low self-esteem.
What Causes Hair Thinning In Women?
Your hair growth cycle occurs in three phases, and hair fall is a part of its natural cycle. It starts with the anagen phase, when the hair strand grows actively and lasts for about two to eight years. Following this is the catagen phase, where the hair strand stops growing and transitions as it prepares to shed. Last is the telogen phase, where the hair is expelled from the follicle, after which the follicle stays dormant for about three months before a new hair strand sprouts again.
Hair thinning can be caused by different factors that disrupt the hair growth cycle. Some examples are genetics, chronic stress, or hormonal changes in your body that occur during menopause, during and after pregnancy, or while taking medicines.
Certain lifestyle habits can also contribute to hair thinning, such as over-treating or using harsh products on your hair, having insufficient nutrients in your diet, or wearing tight hairstyles. Medical conditions like immune system deficiency, anemia, skin disorder or infection, or Vitamin D Deficiency can lead to hair thinning as well.
How To Prevent Hair Thinning
The good news is that there are many ways to prevent or treat hair thinning. Of course, if the condition is due to a medical or health issue, you need to seek the help of a medical professional in order to treat the underlying cause.
Medical conditions aside, having healthy hair and scalp is a must to prevent excessive hair fall. Treat your hair kindly by using natural hair care products and proper styling tools that are gentler and would cause less damage. When styling, do not pull your hair too tightly so it won’t cause too much stress on the strands and scalp.
A regular scalp massage using hair growth products would also help you get thicker hair. Use Shouts Naturals Tamanu Growth Serum three times a week before bed to promote a healthier scalp and hair. It is loaded with vitamins and proteins that penetrate deep into hair follicles to help combat hair loss.
You may also need to shift to healthier lifestyle choices, which would be beneficial to you anyway, especially in the long run. Try to reduce or manage your stress, and take time to exercise regularly in order to strengthen your body. Make sure to have a healthy diet that includes a good dose of multivitamins, folate, supplements, biotin, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
You may also need to shift to healthier lifestyle choices, which would be beneficial to you anyway, especially in the long run. Try to reduce or manage your stress, and take time to exercise regularly to strengthen your body. Make sure to have a healthy diet that includes a good dose of multivitamins, folate, supplements, biotin, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.