Thinning Hair Causes and Solutions

Thinning Hair Causes

Scarring Alopecia

Thinning hair that results from scarring of the scalps is medically known as scarring alopecia. Among the causes of scarring are traction alopecia resulting from thigh braiding of hair and trichotillomania or compulsive hair-plucking. These causes can eventually result in permanent damage to the scalp if not treated immediately and properly.

Permanent scars and thinning hair can also be caused by injury to the scalp brought by burns or physical trauma. Various diseases cause scarring:

- Folliculitis or inflammation of the hair follicle, fungal infections, and bacterial infections as well as autoimmune conditions like lupus erythematosus and scleroderma

Alopecia Areata

Thinning hair can also be cause by alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is a recurrent disease that can be determined upon the formation of oval or round patches seen on the scalp eyebrows, beard area or any hair bearing part of the body. Hair that is lost from alopecia areata normally grows back after six months or as long as a year depending on the severity of the condition.

Up till now the cause of alopecia areata remains a mystery among hair specialists but is normally attributed to a disorder in the autoimmune system. For some reason, the white blood cells of the body attack the hair follicle resulting in the shedding of the hairs. Those with alopecia areata are recommended to use topical or intralesional steroids to hasten the hair growing process. Those that respond well to treatments see the alopecia areata process disappear after a year and those that poorly respond experience the condition for a longer period of time. The patients with the worse prognosis are ones that have early onset hair loss, large area involvement, hair loss in the back of the scalp.

However, dermatologists do not perceive alopecia areata as a very serious threat to hair growth and rule out surgical treatment as a possible treatment. This is due to the fact that the hair follicle is not scarred or damaged from the effects of the immune system.

Dihydrotestosterone

DHT or dihydrotestosterone is one of the most common causes of thinning hair among men. It is a by-product of testosterone in men. DHT plays a vital role in the development of a male’s main sex characteristics particularly during the embryonic stage of life. DHT also helps in the development of a male’s secondary sexual characteristics during the puberty stage and later years of life.

In its role as a driver of thinning hair, DHT causes hair follicles to become shorter and thinner. Follicles will eventually stop to grow if DHT inhibitors are not present in the body.

The hair growing process is a lengthy one and complete cycle could go as long as 2-4 years. Follicles affected by DHT will deteriorate to the size similar during the infancy stage but some will eventually cease developing and die. By the time the growth phase (anagen phase) slows down, male hair loss process accelerates and hair left on the head will be thinner and finer resulting in miniaturized hairs or peach fuzz hairs.

In summary, female hair loss and thinning hair amongst men is inherited when normal amounts of androgens are present in the body. These genes can be passed on from generation to generation and the effects will gradually rise as time passes by. Those that are destined to see their hair become thinner will see the condition becoming more relentless and progressive.


Dr. Alex Khadavi is owner of Revivogen.com, a website offering information and solutions for hair loss in men and women. Revivogen's flagship product attacks DHT preventing the process of follecular deterioration from happening.

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