About Thinning Hair
Many people have a misconception concerning "thinning hair." So the obvious question needing to be answered is exactly what is meant by the term thinning hair? Actually, the term itself is a misnomer. It's nearly impossible for human hair to become thinner over time. What exactly is happening on your head ... results in an optical illusion which becomes evident in every mirror you gave at. You see ... typically roughly 10% of your hair follicles aren't growing. These follicles eventually are shed or sloughed off by the body. That's why you find them all over your pillow the next morning. Yet when more than 10% of the hair sheds, the appearance is that the hair is thinning; and hence, the term thinning hair. Thinning Hair Causes
Thinning hair can be caused by as many factors as hairs still upon your head. By far however, the most common cause for thinning hair in men is a poor diet. Our diets often plays a role in determining how much (or how fast) thinning hair occurs. Of importance ... are the so-called crash diets that shock the system either by overloading on a particular nutrient or denying it altogether. In addition, specific vitamin deficiencies and/or excesses can cause thinning hair. To be specific ... an excess of Vitamin A (sometimes called Vitamin A toxicity), or a deficiency of Vitamin C, B, or the minerals iron, zinc, or biotin can also lead to thinning hair. Of course, excessive hair care (which is not all that caring in the long run!) can lead to thinning hair. Men who bleach or dye their hair on a regular basis can experience some hair thinning. This, however, can be mitigated somewhat by the use of high quality shampoos and conditioners which strengthen the hair shaft. And last but certainly not least, is the dreaded s-word: stress! Stress often plays a significant role in thinning hair (or the lack of thinning hair). In many cases, issues related to stress unleash dietary and nutritional problems that ultimately influence thinning hair. Thinning Hair Treatment
Dealing with thinning hair can be challenging; especially when, for some, the thinning is the result of hereditary forces at work, and not necessarily health or lifestyle-related ones. However, regardless of whether the thinning hair is hereditary, thinning hair can be mitigated (at least somewhat) by some available treatments. |
