How Can I Regrow My Thinning Hair?

You’ve looked in the mirror recently and noticed your hair’s getting thinner. Maybe you can see your scalp where you used to have a thick hairline. Or there are more strands on the bathroom floor lately. Hair loss can be upsetting, especially when it’s tied to appearance and feelings of self-worth. While causes can range from genetics to diet, there are ways to address the condition.  

How Is Thinning Hair Diagnosed?

Doctors can link thinning hair to more than one root cause. Losing your locks is usually a symptom of an underlying disease, disorder, or deficiency. Healthcare professionals must perform different tests to rule out potential culprits.

But before a doctor does any tests, they’ll do a physical exam and ask you some questions. They’ll be about your eating patterns, medical history, hair care products, and family history. You might also get questions about how long you’ve been experiencing hair loss and your stress levels.

Once a medical professional reviews your medical history and lifestyle, they may order a blood test. This can help rule out excess androgens, thyroid disorders, and anemia. A pull test, which involves gently pulling several strands to see how many fall out, is another common way to diagnose hair loss. A scalp biopsy and light microscopy are additional tests that rule out infections and hair shaft disorders.

What Causes Hair Thinning in Women?

Women tend to experience hair loss differently than men. They may notice overall thinning or a widening hair part. Technically, it’s known as female pattern hair loss. The causes of female pattern hair loss can be genetics and hormonal changes. Other reasons for hair thinning in women are illnesses and vitamin deficiencies or surpluses.

How do Genetics Affect Thinning Hair?

Women can inherit genes linked to androgenic alopecia — the medical term for female (or male) pattern hair loss — and as many as two-thirds of postmenopausal women experience hair thinning. If your relatives deal with androgenic alopecia, your chances of developing female pattern hair loss are likely greater.

Medical scientists hypothesize variations in the AR gene cause androgen receptors in hair follicles to respond differently to androgen hormones. The receptors’ activity levels increase, potentially leading to hair loss. Your body might be more sensitive to or produce excess androgens.

What Illnesses Cause Hair Thinning?

In women, polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the medical conditions that can cause hair thinning. Besides hair loss from the scalp, symptoms include ovarian cysts, acne, and hirsutism. The latter is when excessive hair grows in unwanted places like the chin and chest.

Other conditions that may lead to hair thinning in women are autoimmune disorders, diabetes, thyroid problems, and anemia. Even pregnancy can cause temporary hair loss. If you have psoriasis or dermatitis, it may impact the skin on your scalp and lead to thinning hair.

How do Vitamins Affect Thinning Hair?

Unsurprisingly, anemia in premenopausal women can be linked to iron deficiency. Women’s iron levels can get too low due to heavy menstrual bleeding. Iron deficiency may also occur because of restrictive diets. Sometimes heavy periods and limited iron intake can coincide. About 17% of premenopausal women in the U.S. are iron deficient.

Other vitamins, such as biotin, zinc, and vitamin D, can play a role in hair loss. Too little protein in the diet is an additional factor. Your protein needs vary depending on age, muscle mass, and physical activity. However, between 10% and 35% of your daily calories should come from protein.   

But if you take too much vitamin A, it could contribute to hair loss. You can get too much through your diet and supplements. Simultaneously, you might be boosting vitamin A levels in your body through medications and skin care products with retinol. Excessive vitamin A may treat conditions like acne by reducing oil gland activity. Yet it also affects hair loss.

How Can You Stop Hair Thinning?      

What’s causing your hair to fall out will determine what solutions your doctor will recommend. If it’s anemia, boosting your iron intake through supplements and different foods can help. For instance, vegetarians can increase iron absorption by pairing foods high in vitamin C and iron.

But in cases where the cause is an underlying medical condition, your doctor may want to treat the illness first. For excess androgens, you may need antiandrogen medications. Treating infections and managing autoimmune disorders with medications is typically the line of defense in stopping associated hair loss.

With this said, topical treatments such as minoxidil can help stop thinning hair. It’s not something you want to use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. But minoxidil is an over-the-counter option for women who want to address female pattern hair loss. 

What Are Some Ways You Can Regrow Thinning Hair?

When you notice hair loss, your instinct might be to try any product promising to restore your locks. While there’s no 100% guarantee, there are some steps you can take to promote healthy hair growth.

Natural Remedies

Natural remedies include changing to sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners. You might also try leave-in conditioners with olive oil. This natural ingredient increases the hair strand’s elasticity and may help address hair loss. You might also start using the blow dryer less, buying fewer harsh styling products, and massaging your scalp.

Vitamins/Supplements

In terms of vitamins and supplements, start by increasing protein. You can add protein shakes to your diet or even try protein pancakes. A multivitamin for women is a good start too, as are iron supplements. Most women between 19 and 50 years of age need 18 mg a day. 

Medicines/Prescriptions

Some medications and prescriptions to help regrow thinning hair are minoxidil and spironolactone. Antifungal meds are an option for conditions such as scalp ringworm. A medical provider may also prescribe antibiotics for certain immune-related disorders.

How Long Does It Take for Hair To Thicken Again?

Depending on the cause of your hair loss, it can take hair three to six months to grow back. Hair grows and sheds in four different stages. The growth stage can take up to four years, as 80% to 90% of a person’s follicles are growing at any time. However, you’ll want to treat or address any medical cause(s) of hair loss to see restored growth.

Ready To Treat Thinning Hair?        

If you’re concerned about hair loss, it may be time to get professional help. Natural remedies can only go so far and may not fully address the reasons for thinning hair. When you schedule a consultation with a medical professional, you can start regrowing your hair with a customized treatment plan.