What Can I Do If My Hair is Thinning But Not Falling Out Completely?

Without treatment female-pattern hair loss can progress from a widening part to general thinning. Learn what treatments are available for female pattern hair loss.

What Can I Do If My Hair is Thinning But Not Falling Out Completely?

Without treatment, female-pattern hair loss can progress from a widening part to general thinning. Not all women who have this type of hair loss will develop general thinning. Is your piece getting wider? Have you noticed that your ponytail is thinner these days? You may have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), a condition that affects millions of women. FPHL is actually the most common cause of hair loss in women.

Treatment can often help control hair loss that occurs with aging by improving hair health, thickness, and strength. Hair that falls out due to a health problem often grows back over time. Hair loss (alopecia) may affect only the scalp or the entire body, and may be temporary or permanent. In the type of patchy hair loss known as alopecia areata, hair loss occurs suddenly and usually begins with one or more circular bald spots that may overlap. It's a common treatment for FPHL because it can help restore hair growth and prevent hair loss from getting worse.

While hair loss shampoos can do the above, they cannot cause hair to grow back or prevent hair loss from worsening. Shampoos can't prevent hair loss or bring it back, but a moisturizing shampoo can help your hair retain moisture, making it look thicker and fuller. Hair loss due to telogen effluvium is usually temporary, and hair often grows back without treatment once it no longer has that stress. It can be eczema, psoriasis, or a condition called frontal fibrosing alopecia, which usually causes scarring and hair loss, sometimes permanent on the front of the scalp, above the forehead. It remains to be seen if newer treatments for hair loss, such as lasers for home use, are safe for long-term use and can continue to stimulate new hair growth.

Consult your doctor if you are concerned about persistent hair loss in you or your child and want to continue treatment. In other cases, a woman might consider a medication such as minoxidil (Rogaine), which helps with certain types of hair loss, or another treatment to replace or regrow lost hair. Deborah Scott, assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Hair Loss Clinic at Brigham and Women's Hospital. But the good news is that, in many cases, this hair loss can be stabilized with treatment and can be reversible. If you suddenly notice that more hair is falling out than usual, you're losing locks of hair, or it seems that your hair is visibly weakening, it may be a sign that something is wrong, says Dr. At the other end of the spectrum is hair transplantation, a surgical procedure that moves active follicles from the back of the scalp to areas where the hair is weakening.

Jerri Inaba
Jerri Inaba

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