Thinning or very fine hair presents a challenge for both men and women. The right haircut and style can actually minimize the appearance of thinning, so it is less of a source of frustration about your appearance.

A hairdresser who knows what they are doing can make hair look thicker and fuller with the right cut. Styling maximizes the cut’s ability to make your hair appear to have more volume. By contrast, a poor cut can actually emphasize hair thinness, which is another reason it’s extremely important to find a quality hairdresser.

Men and women have several choices when it comes to haircuts that mask thinness. Most are short cuts, but medium cuts may also work well, depending on your hair and lifestyle, or the amount of time you have to devote to styling.

Short cuts are popular as they tend to give the appearance of thicker hair. Hair tends to be healthiest and strongest at the roots, so it looks fuller cut short. Short cuts that fit the shape of the face and accentuate your most attractive facial features will take the emphasis away from your hair.

Haircuts for Men

Short cuts are the easy option for men whose hair is thin. A “buzz cut” or very short crew cut is the simplest option. If you’d like to try a slightly longer or more styled look, you can try a cut that’s designed for molding short hair into gelled spikes.

Medium length styles for men include:

A long layered cut.

This is a good choice if hair is thin at the crown without a receding hairline. Simply apply gel or cream when hair is damp, then slick or comb it back and tuck it behind your ears.
A messy shag.

This cut consists of long layers at the top of the head, and may be short or slightly longer in back, especially if you have wavy hair. Your hairdresser may use a razor to create the “shaggy” look. This is an easy to care for style, however it might not be appropriate for some professions.

Textured hairstyle.

Hair on the top is left a bit longer and cut to create “texture.” Hair gel or cream can be used to emphasize the “textured” style.

Haircuts for Women

Short, chin length or possibly shoulder-length hairstyles work well to give the appearance of thicker hair. Bangs can help draw attention to your face. Popular short haircuts for women seeking to minimize the appearance of thin hair include:

The cap cut.

This is a short, pretty style that features a lot of many small layers. It can be cut choppy or left a bit longer to flatter your particular facial shape.

Bob cuts.

A bob with very short layers makes hair look thicker as well as styled. Shorter versions with many layers at the back of the head work best for hair that is especially thin.
Up-dos

Medium length or longer hair styled into your choice of up-do will minimize thinness and make your hair look fuller. There are many, many options for up-dos, depending on your personal taste, styling ability and preferences.

Men and women should be prepared to experiment if they want to find the best haircut and style for their hair. When you find the right hairdresser and haircut, you can look forward to looking great with hair that appears fuller, thicker, healthy and stylish.

Propecia is the marketing name for a drug called Finasteride. It is one of only two FDA licensed drugs for the treatment of male pattern baldness.

It is not suitable for pregnant women – some people recommend it is not used by women of child baring age even if they believe themselves to not be pregnant.

Pills are typically coated to ensure that females can handle them safely.

The Problem

Male pattern baldness affects many tens of millions of men worldwide.

Symptoms may vary considerably but classically it involves a receding hairline (often most noticeably at the outset, from the temples) coupled with a bald spot towards the rear of the head. Hair may then thin down the centre of the head from the rear leaving a classic pattern of hair on the sides of the head with little on top.

Some male populations in the world do not suffer it or only suffer very reduced instances (in terms of both absolute numbers and severity) of it. The reasons for this are not clear but are presumed to be a combination of genetics and possibly (though controversially) diet.

The causes are not precisely understood but science now has a reasonable model for the cause of it in males – female pattern baldness is more complex and arguably even less well understood.

The Causes

It’s probably accurate to say that the precise mapping of the processes and interactions involving a combination of age, genetics and hormonal levels, is still a long way off.

However, it is known that a form of Testosterone called DHT is produced in males at a level much higher (typically) than in females. DHT has a proven negative effect on the hair follicles and as a result, hair growth.

Some researchers speculated that if the DHT in the body could somehow be reduced or controlled, then hair loss may be reduced and perhaps hair growth stimulated.

The Prostate Gland

One of the major potential health risks for men is enlargement (whether benign or malignant) of the prostate.

For some time it has been recognized that there are links between this condition and the levels of male hormones in the body called androgens. The basic idea behind some treatment regimes for prostate problems is to control these androgens and this can involve the use of Finasteride.

As an apparent by-product of treatment, it was noticed that Finasteride also, in some patients, generated increased hair growth even in areas of the scalp that had previously been considered ‘dead’.

After due trials, it was therefore licensed for sale.

Treatment Regimes

Typically used via a pill, some people have indicated very significant results. Others have suggested a mild improvement. A fair percentage has indicated little or no effect.

The effects appear to be mainly seen around the back and centre of the head – for reasons that are not clear, results in terms of a receding hairline seem less pronounced.

Points To Consider

This medication must be prescribed by a doctor and is a powerful drug.

It works by blocking an enzyme that turns Testosterone into DHT and this is also the same mechanism that works to help prostate problems.

Side effects are felt in some users and they may include things such as:

• Impotence or reduction in libido;
• Sexual dysfunction;
• A reduction in sperm/semen volumes;
• Testicular pain;
• Enlargement of the breasts.

However, the percentages so affected appear to be very small and the effects seemingly cease if the treatment is discontinued.

It also appears to be the case that the hair growth benefits disappear if the drug is discontinued.

Summary

Propecia/Finasteride is a powerful medication that has proven benefits in terms of helping reduce the rate of male pattern baldness and perhaps, more arguably, sometimes hair re-growth in certain parts of the scalp.

Some experts continue to believe that these benefits can only be obtained in areas where the follicles are dormant or operating in a reduced capacity and that areas of the head that have long been bald may have to be considered as largely irreversibly so.

Like many medicines, Minoxidil doesn’t have a particularly pleasing name that just rolls off the tongue.

However, for large numbers of people it has been a real hope and inspiration in that it actually represents that great rarity – a licensed treatment for thinning hair.

To understand what it is and what it does (the exact ‘how it does it’ is by no means clear), let’s have a look at the history here.

Pattern baldness

There are many known causes of hair loss and even more that remain speculative.

This article is going to refer only to that condition known as pattern baldness – something that affects males and females.

Causes of hair loss relating to illness, medical treatments, vitamin deficiencies, pregnancy, stress and the environment, won’t be considered further here.

Pattern baldness affects large numbers of men and women. Differentiations by sex are possible though it must be cautioned that they are statistical and may not apply in your individual circumstances:

• Men tend to be affected at an earlier age, the pattern of progression is different to that of women and the effects are often a little more profound in terms of total appearance;
• Women’s hair loss and thinning may be a little more evenly distributed across the head meaning fewer obvious totally bald patches – though their hair may recede;
• The condition may stabilize in women more frequently than is the case in males;
• Women may see a spurt in progression around and after the menopause.

The medical name for this problem is androgenic alopecia.

The causes

This is still subject to intensive study, debate and sometimes, heated argument!

Many researchers are now suggesting:

• The causes are most likely to be a combination of genes and hormonal in origin – coupled with age in a way not yet understood;
• The causes in women may be more complicated and not necessarily the same as for men (though probably related in principle).

The cause in males is typically ascribed as being probably due to the effects of testosterone when converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT has a proven negative effect on the follicles and hair production.

This may or may not be exacerbated by a genetic predisposition to hair loss.

In females, the same causal agents are presumed to apply but this is complicated by the female’s estrogen sex hormone, which is known to promote hair growth.

It is the drastic reduction of estrogen levels after pregnancy and again in the run-up to the menopause, that may change the female’s hormonal balances with a greater preponderance of male sex hormones leading to an increased risk of pattern baldness.

Some experts argue that this complication justifies calling the condition in women affected by these hormonal changes ‘estrogenic alopecia’ to differentiate it from the typically slightly simpler (though just as little understood in totality) condition in men.

There remain, however, many mysteries and contra-indications. For example, the time in life (youth) when male sex hormones may be at their highest, may also be the time least likely to commence pattern baldness. Some women also commence hair loss during pregnancy when estrogen levels are at their highest.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is one of only two drugs (the only one for women) formally licensed by the FDA for the treatment of pattern baldness.

Discovered quite by chance as a side effect of another treatment regime, it is also marketed under many various trade names around the world – usually in concentrations of 2% for women and 5% for men. In many countries it is now available over-the-counter from a professional pharmacist.

The good news is that it is proven to be effective in a fair percentage of cases but there are some caveats to that:

• Figures vary, but some argue it is only effective in around one-third of patients;
• Of that third, only perhaps one half will see significant improvement – the other half may see some fine downy growth that may not be satisfactory (subject to personal expectations);
• The mechanisms behind its effects are, once again, not entirely understood – something that may concern some;
• If you obtain benefit, you may have to continue to use it for your lifetime as the improvements are lost relatively quickly if you discontinue use.

However, whatever the shortcomings, Minoxidil may offer hope to the many millions that suffer from this condition.

For hair to grow well, your scalp needs to be healthy.

That basically means that a number of things need to be ‘right’ in order to support the hair follicles that generate healthy hair. Those things basically involve blood flow, vitamin and natural oils and acids.

There are a number of illnesses that may affect the health of the scalp and hair and obviously these will need to be treated as appropriate. Using vitamins alone is unlikely to have any affect on hair problems that arise from these medical conditions.

Vitamins as a cause of hair loss

It has been known for centuries (if not articulated in modern scientific terms) that vitamin deficiencies can cause illness and even death.

In the British navy of centuries past, limes and other fruit were increasingly an obligatory part of the diet (hence the nickname ‘Limey’) as they were known to prevent scurvy – though the exact mechanics were not understood at all.

More recently, the effects of vitamin deficiencies on health have become better understood and it is known that some diseases arising as a result of vitamin deficiencies may also have the effect of thinning hair.

In the USA and western world in general, serious vitamin deficiencies arising as a result of the total absence of available sources (primarily food) due to the traditional historical causes of famine, war or the seasons, is now fortunately very rare.

Even so, it may still occur in cases of:

• Extreme social and economic deprivation;
• Poor voluntary dietary regimes associated with excessive consumption of junk food or strict dieting without medical supervision;
• Illnesses that prevent the body fully metabolizing vitamins available to it.

Vitamins and hair

If you are suffering serious vitamin deficiencies as a result of the above, then you may need some form of medical or other professional help. In fact, the effects on your hair may be very much secondary in severity to other more noticeable health effects.

However, what some may argue is that certain non-critical deficiencies in vitamins may play a part in your hair thinning.

In fact, the “how to improve hair growth through vitamins” advice often includes a fairly potent-sounding cocktail of vitamins and minerals including perhaps:

• Vitamin B-complex including biotin;
• Vitamin B-6;
• Vitamin E;
• Vitamin C;
• Zinc, Sulfur and Magnesium;
• Beta-Carotene.
Intuitively, few would doubt that keeping the body’s levels of critical vitamins and minerals up to healthy levels would do anything other than help you maintain good health and as a by-product, healthier hair.

However, it’s usually a good idea to consult your physician before taking any form of vitamin or mineral supplements.

Differentiating between hair growth and hair loss

The problem is that when talking about vitamin treatments for hair loss, vitamin deficiencies may rarely be the causative factor.

If you have, for example, an ingrown toenail, then taking an aspirin may help you feel better for a while but it won’t be doing anything for the underlying cause or helping the problem to resolve itself.

Although many experts in medicine will probably agree that vitamins are essential for healthy-looking hair and good growth, that’s a completely different thing to saying that vitamins can prevent hair loss or stimulate its re-growth.

The area is far from well understood but it is now widely accepted that the more common cause of premature hair thinning and loss in both sexes (often called pattern baldness) is due to a combination of genetics and hormone levels.

Other causes may be attributable to things such as stress, pregnancy (also hormone based), environmental issues, lifestyle (controversial and unproven) and illness or illness-related treatments. In only a relatively minor percentage of cases may the cause be due to vitamin deficiencies.

As a result of this, it is not immediately easy to see how vitamin-related treatments could significantly reduce hair loss and thinning for many people.

Summary

Keeping your hair healthy and more attractive-looking may be possible by the use of some vitamin-based regimes – that is a matter for personal assessment.

However, there appears to be little evidence that such treatments would have any effect on serious hair thinning and loss arising from things such as pattern baldness.

As such, for most people it may be something better seen as a cosmetic rather than remedial treatment.

One of the most important things to grasp about hair regrowth products is that the majority of them just don’t work.

OK, perhaps that’s a little harsh and should be expressed more correctly as “may not work for you” – but the core message is the same. There is no guaranteed 100% effective treatment for hair loss and many of the products offered for sale have no proven benefit whatsoever in terms of clinical trials.

However, some are generally accepted to work in certain situations – that’s the good news!

What is hair loss?

People can suffer this at just about any age but it becomes much more common in:

• Males in their 30s-40s onwards;
• Females after pregnancy (sometimes during);
• Females in their 50s and upwards (though typically not to the same extent as males);
• Anyone suffering an illness or undergoing some forms of medical treatment including, at times, chemotherapy – and at any age in those circumstances.

What can be done about it?

That depends to some extent upon the cause – and the bad news is that some causes of hair thinning and loss remain poorly understood.

It’s possible to cut directly to the chase here. Some conditions may be understandable and treatable – but the only person likely to be able to diagnose and decide for sure is a physician. So don’t hesitate to consult one rather than sit worrying and trying to self-diagnose.

The basics of hair regrowth products

Hair grows out of hair follicles just below the scalp and the processes involved are relatively well understood.

The follicles go through growth, loss, resting and new growth phases as part of their natural cycle.

For a variety of reasons, not all of which are fully understood, the follicles can start to ‘die’ and no longer produce hair.

Hair regrowth products virtually all claim, directly or indirectly, to have some effect on this process by one or more of:

• Increasing blood and nutrient flows to the follicles thereby increasing their ‘health’;
• Blocking the action of those naturally occurring agents that are known to have a detrimental effect on the hair;
• Stimulating overall body health and well-being with the presumption that somehow that will also lead to reductions in hair loss or increased hair re-growth;
• Reducing the amount of time that the follicle spends in its resting phase before re-commencing hair production.

Regowth and reducing the rate of loss

In the USA, there are currently two products formally licensed as being proven to promote hair regrowth:

• Minoxidil
• Finasteride.

In both cases, it’s important to note that there may be a distinction between being able to slow the rate of hair loss, improve hair regrowth from areas that have become ‘dormant’ and regenerating hair in areas that have become profoundly bald over time.

As a crude and general rule, these treatments may be less effective where the hair loss is severe. They may also, in perhaps 25% of successful use cases, only lead to a fuzzy down-like growth of hair

These treatments may be beneficial to only a proportion of those treated and Finasteride is potentially harmful for fertile females (whether actually pregnant or not).

Other products

Due to the sensitivity of many people to their appearance and the effects on that arising from hair loss, the hair regrowth products market is a global multi-billion dollar industry.

There are now so many different products available (including some that are based upon Minoxidil) that it is virtually impossible to list them all in any one place.

It is probably advisable to retain a degree of healthy skepticism insofar as the efficacy of most of them is concerned. That is not to say that they may not be effective, just that the seller’s claims may be hard to check against objective sources and clinical trials.

Finasteride (also marketed under various other brand names such as Propecia) is a product aimed at those men suffering certain forms of hair loss.

The human body contains an enzyme that converts part of the so–called male sex hormone testosterone into a strong androgen called DHT (Dihydrotestosterone).

DHT plays an important role in several areas of the development of secondary sexual characteristics including the prostate. It also exists in females though, typically, to a lesser extent. For some time it has been recognized that DHT, along with genetics, plays a role in the development of several prostate conditions including some that are malignant and dangerous.

Finasteride was a drug originally developed to inhibit the action of the enzyme that creates DHT, thereby leading to a reduction in the further spread of prostate-related conditions in those affected.

Male pattern baldness implications

One of the effects noted in trails of the product was that hair growth was affected.

Individuals that were suffering from hair thinning (male pattern baldness) suddenly found that the rate of loss was reduced. In some cases, hair re-growth appeared to commence in areas of the head that had become effectively bald spots previously.

Presumed relationship to Finasteride

DHT is also recognized as a contributory factor in the progression of male pattern baldness. It acts to shrink and reduce the hair follicles just under the scalp and inhibit hair growth.

As DHT production is inhibited and reduced by Finasteride, a secondary effect is sometimes seen on hair growth as a result.

Finasteride is now one of only two drugs (the other being Minoxidil) licensed by the FDA for use in the treatment of male pattern baldness.

Unlike Minoxidil, it is currently only available via prescription.

Efficacy

This is sometimes disputed but some general summary points are perhaps possible:

• Its effects on the ‘hairline’ area of the head (and reducing hairline) may be less pronounced than on areas of the head that are further back, such as the traditional bald spots on the crown. The reasons for this are not entirely clear.
• Effects may be most evidenced on thinning areas that have perhaps not become entirely bald and that have not been very thin for lengthy periods of time;
• Significant percentages of men may experience no or only very minor effects – the manufacturers claim around 9/10 men will notice a difference.

Women

Finasteride is known to put fetuses at risk in terms of abnormal genital development.

For that reason it must not be used by pregnant women. Some authorities suggest that any woman capable of becoming pregnant should not use it.

It is sometimes used for post-menopausal women but the effects on hair loss seem much less in evidence and many physicians are very reluctant to prescribe it for females.

Sometimes it is recommended that women of childbearing age should not even handle Finasteride, though the pills are coated to make them safe for women to touch under normal circumstances.

Side effects

As per any strong medication, there may be a variety of side effects.

In fact, these are moderately severe in only a relatively small percentage of users (according to the manufacturers statistics). However, those effects may include a reduction in libido and impotence/sexual dysfunction.

These affects seem to disappear if the medication is discontinued and if using Finasteride, it’s important to keep in touch with the prescribing physician if any side effects are noted.

Durations and hair effects

Some users report a rapid re-commencing of hair loss once the medication is discontinued and the manufacturers advise that this may be the case.

It’s also important to recognize the difference between a reduction in the rate of hair loss and the restoration of growth. Some people may experience the former rather than the latter.

For women, hair thinning and loss is often a major psychological blow.

That’s not to say that it doesn’t also cause distress to men when they experience a similar problem but for women, their hair is often a critical part of how they see their femininity and attractiveness.

What causes it?

There are many problems that can lead to hair loss and this area is still subject to widespread research.

For the sake of convenience, in this article we’ll concentrate on one form of hair loss – that is often called female pattern thinning (or female pattern baldness).

The mechanisms

It will come as little surprise to most women to learn that the causes of female pattern hair thinning are generally accepted to be far more complex than the similar condition that arises in men.

Although there is some evidence that things such as diet and stress may play a role, most research currently focuses on a combination of the female hormones and genetics.

What is known is that women may suffer major changes in their hormonal balances (other than in the case of illness) around the times of pregnancy and the menopause.

In both situations, a relatively high percentage of women report hair thinning.

In the case of pregnancy this appears to be frequently of limited duration and the position may recover. The exact mechanisms behind this are debated and the evidence sometimes confusing.

For example, some women report hair thickening during pregnancy and thinning afterwards. As estrogen in females increases through the term of the pregnancy and decreases afterwards, this would appear to support the model that suggests that increased estrogen levels are a key factor.

Some experts label the condition in women affected by these hormonal changes ‘estrogenic alopecia’ to differentiate it from the similar condition in men

It is also clear that estrogen levels decline during and after the menopause.

As this is also a common time for women to report hair loss, this also seems to conform to the estrogen attribution. Hair loss around the menopause may also have a tendency to be more widespread and of longer, perhaps permanent, duration.

However, confusingly, some women report hair loss during pregnancy itself – even while their estrogen levels are increasing.

It’s also the case that in the menopause, some women’s bodies may start to produce higher levels of androgens (the male hormones) for reasons that are not clear. Amongst other things, that may have the effect of exacerbating hair loss.

All in all, the position is extraordinarily complicated and poorly understood ‘in totality’.

What is clear is that the condition exists for many women and they will look for help.

The treatments – licensed

In the USA there are two products officially licensed by the FDA for use in treating hair loss:

• Minoxidil (marketed under various names including Rogaine);
• Finasteride (marketed as Propecia).

Propecia is only available under prescription and it is NOT typically prescribed to women. It is a powerful drug also used in the treatment of some forms of prostate problem.

It is dangerous for pregnant women or for women that may become pregnant and pills are coated to ensure that they are safe for women to handle under normal conditions. Whether you’re male or female, DO NOT use it without consulting your physician first.

By contrast, Minoxidil is available for women through a pharmacist – no prescription is required.

It comes in a preparation normally set at 2% for women (5% for males) and is applied to the scalp.

It is presumed to work by increasing blood flow to the follicles.

Results may be unpredictable and perhaps one third of users will see little improvement. However, two thirds may be able to anticipate some improvement and this may be significant in some cases.

Other treatments

If a woman is suffering hair loss due to significant hormonal imbalances, some treatments are available.

Some of these may have undesired side-effects and some physicians may be reluctant to use them due to the underlying doubts about whether HRT is entirely well understood.

The market is also flooded with literally thousands of other forms of treatments. The vast majority of these have little if any proven value.

Sometimes, the effects of hair thinning, particularly around the menopause, are far more serious in the mind of the sufferer than to anyone else – in fact others may not even be able to notice any change.

In such cases, counseling may be of some help.

In some, relatively rare, cases, female pattern balding may be linked to dietary deficiencies and stress. In both cases, vitamin supplements and stress reduction techniques may help, although they remain controversial in terms of their effectiveness.

Provillus is a product marketed at people suffering from hair thinning/loss.

This article is an attempt to factually describe the current position and should not be interpreted as advice to either buy or avoid buying this product.

Description

Provillus is essentially a mixture of natural foodstuffs, minerals, vitamins and nutrients. People selling it (this takes place primarily over the internet) claim that it is effective in stopping hair loss and eventually, perhaps re-stimulating some areas of growth.

Some versions of the product may contain only the natural ingredients. Other forms also contain Minoxidil, which is one of only two drugs the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) license for use in the treatment of typical pattern hair loss.

Provillus is not a recognized drug or medicine. You do not need a prescription to obtain it.

Note that just because Provillus may contain an FDA licensed ingredient in the shape of Minoxidil, this does not mean it is an FDA approved product in total – it is not.

Use

The normal course of treatment involves tablets and/or a preparation to use on the affected areas.

The manufacturers/retailers typically recommend use over many months and their publicity appears to suggest that it may be necessary to wait until as long as perhaps 6 months before improvement will be noticed.

It is marketed in versions for both men and women. The Minoxidil concentrations are typically 5% or 2%.

Claimed process

The body produces Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from testosterone.

DHT is clinically known to have a detrimental effect on the hair follicles and for men (and to an extent women also) it can play a part in the development of pattern baldness.

The manufacturers’/suppliers’ claim is that provillus can block the effects of DHT on the follicles and also stimulate them by increasing the supply of nutrients etc (the exact process descriptions vary somewhat between sites).

As provillus is seen as essentially a herbal product, it is not required to undergo rigorous clinial evaluation and licensing.

Efficacy

At the time of writing, it has not been possible to trace any objective clinical trials that support (or refute) the effectiveness of this product.

What is clear is that the internet is full of case studies, product reviews and testimonials, proporting to represent satisfied clients. Surprisingly, relatively few indications of concerns or stories of failure seem to come to the fore.

However, extreme caution needs to be exercised before reading too much into that:

• Many of the articles, in widely varying sites, contain fulsome praise of the product to an extent that should generate unease.

Experience suggests that unqualified reviews of any product are very rare, so this may indicate a high degree of ‘article placement’ and search engine optimization by a sponsoring and sophisticated net-marketing operation;

• Many of the articles appear to contain very similar logical structures, styles and at times, even language. This may indicate ‘syndication’ as well as sponsorship. That must give rise to concern over their objectivity;

• The internet is fairly heavily populated with ‘blocker’ or ‘interference’ articles that come up when trying to search for problems and dissatisfied clients using search criteria such as “provillus problems”.

These articles are often provocatively entitled “provillus scam” or “problems with provillus” but immediately again launch into virtually unmitigated praise of the product.

It is, therefore, difficult to ascertain an objective summary position.

As a general rule, there are very large numbers of products sold that claim to help premature hair loss and it is generally accepted that the vast majority of them are, in effect, probably useless.

Provillus typically offers a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied and that may give cause for re-assurance though no comment is made regarding the extent to which this guarantee would be honored or not.

Summary

It is impossible to cite objective evidence relating to the probability of success when using this product.

It does contain a drug (Minoxidil) that is known to be effective in some cases.

Whether it would be more cost-effective to purchase Minoxidil over the counter at a pharmacy and still achieve the same effect, must be open to question.

Hair thinning and loss is often associated with men but it may also be a problem for some women.

There are many causes of hair thinning including things such as stress, medication and illness.

Yet some of the more common causes of female hair thinning are attributable to the changes taking place in a woman’s body around the menopause.

Remember though, never self-diagnose. This article should not be read as qualified medical advice and if you start to lose your hair you should consult a physician.

Menopausal hair loss

It’s worth stating that the precise detail of the mechanisms at work here are not entirely understood, even if the general principles are.

What is clear is that most women in the age range late 30s-early 50s, will become pre-menopausal then eventually enter the full menopause.

The menopause is best described as being the period in which a woman will cease producing eggs and being fertile.

The body typically undergoes major hormonal changes during this period and the symptoms experienced may be many and varied.

Some women report only very moderate problems, issues and experiences while for others, the changes may be severe and traumatic – both psychologically and physiologically.

One moderately common symptom reported by menopausal women is hair thinning.

This often follows a relatively set pattern and for that reason it’s sometimes referred to as female pattern baldness/hair loss.

The pattern

The human body rarely tidily conforms to ‘standard’ descriptions and the hair loss associated with the menopause may depend slightly upon the hair of the person concerned and their genetic background.

In those with longer straighter hair, the thinning often commences along a central widening ‘parting line’ giving what’s sometimes called a ‘thin and straggly’ appearance. This can progress down the sides of the head leading to an increasingly thin-looking appearance over larger areas.

In women that have more naturally curly hair, the hair loss may be less visible initially along a central line but may become visible over a wider area.

Whatever the hair type, the thinning may also be accompanied by a receding of the hairline from the front of the head though this is not as common in women as it is in men.

Female pattern hair loss rarely reaches the levels seen in large numbers of men and the thinning is typically more evenly distributed across the head.

It is impossible to outline a ‘typical’ loss rate. In many women, the loss stabilizes naturally and fairly quickly. In others it may continue over years and become moderately pronounced or more rarely, very severe.

Psychological effects

The effects on men and women may be grave.

In men, the effects may be consistently underestimated due to the sociological pressures for males to disregard such a thing as being ‘normal’.

However, for many women it may be worse.

In males, society does not generally interpret premature hair loss as implying a loss of masculinity or virility (though it may well imply a lack of attractiveness to females).

However, in females, there is no corresponding safety net. Thinning hair often cuts directly to many women’s self-perceptions of their femininity and sexuality and this view is also reflected to some extent by society at large.

As menopausal hair loss also corresponds to an approaching loss of fertility, this may be an extremely difficult thing to accommodate emotionally without trauma.

The causes

Estrogen is commonly described as the ‘female hormone’.

Although the exact mechanisms are still under debate, it appears as if estrogen stimulates hair growth and encourages thicker hair.

During the menopause, it’s not unusual for estrogen levels to fall. Sometimes this leads to female pattern hair loss being described as estrogenic alopecia.

Paradoxically, this may also correspond with what appears to be a tendency for the male hormones (androgens) to increase.

One of these, testosterone, is converted by the body into a substance called DHT.

DHT is known to have a negative effect on the hair follicles and restrict their growth. It is presumed to be a major cause of male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia).

Researchers are keen to point out though that there are many factors potentially at work and that they may well be interacting.

For example, hormonal changes commonly result in increased stress levels in women and rapid mood swings. Stress is also now generally accepted to be a significant cause of hair thinning even though the exact mechanisms are poorly understood.

Treatments of menopausal hair loss

It is sometimes estimated that around 90% of hair loss treatments are completely ineffective. That may be because they simply don’t work or because they don’t work for the individual concerned.

In the case of the menopause, hormone related treatments are available and for some women they appear to be moderately successful in reducing many of the undesirable effects of the menopause including hair thinning.

However, hormone treatments may have serious side effects and for some physicians, they remain controversial.

There are some reports that vitamin supplements (taken under direction) may also be beneficial in some cases.

Ultimately, cosmetics may be the most effective way of reducing the visible effects although extreme solutions such as ‘hair transplants’ are also becoming increasingly available (though again, often with mixed or disappointing results).

Alopecia Areata is a term used to describe a loss of hair.

It’s often rather imprecisely used to describe a range of hair-related conditions.

Background

It is perfectly normal for human beings to lose hair.

The natural cycle is that the follicles in your scalp will produce hair. That process will include a phase where the hair will fall out to eventually be replaced by new growth.

As we get older, the capacity of the follicles to produce hair diminishes and some may die.

Once ‘dead’, currently it is generally accepted that they cannot be re-animated.

However, follicles also go through a ‘resting phase’ and there are some treatments that appear to be able to reduce the period of inactivity and stimulate growth.

Therefore, seeing moderate hair loss over time on things such as combs or pillowcases is perfectly natural as is a gentle reduction in hair thickness and quantity as you age (though not all researchers accept that).

If you are experiencing these forms of mild hair loss and this loss appears to be having no visible effect overall, then you probably do not have alopecia.

Other hair loss

There are though, other forms of hair loss that are less ‘natural’ and which may be cause for distress.

• Alopecia areata
• Androgenic alopecia.

Both of these describe conditions where the hair loss is considered to be abnormal in the sense that it does not conform to the above natural cycle of loss and replacement.

For many years androgenic alopecia (also known as male/female pattern baldness) was also considered to be part of a normal life process that meant some people, predominantly males, would start to lose their hair early.

This is now being increasingly question by medical professionals and is coming to be regarded as a condition – even though some doctors may still be relatively unsympathetic.

Androgenic alopecia – symptoms and causes

In males this condition is typically characterized by the hairline receding from the temple areas and the development of a thinning crown and central area of the head.

Initially this may result in the appearance of a ‘peak’ in terms of hair shape but over time the thin crown often advances down the middle of the scalp until the hair has virtually gone leaving only hair on the sides.

In women the progression is different (it may not, in fact, be best described as androgenic as this implies that male hormones are the cause – which they may or may not be for women).

The thinning of hair appears to be more uniformly distributed and bald spots are relatively uncommon. The end effect is often hair that looks normal from a distance but which close-up, is seen as being very thin with areas of scalp visible.

The causes of this condition are not well understood.

Hormones and genetics are generally accepted to play a part in both sexes (e.g. pregnancy or the menopause in women).

Alopecia Areata

The symptoms here are quite different.

Typically small round bald patches will appear on areas of the body – usually the scalp or male beards etc. This may be accompanied by odd sensations or very slight pain. The hair loss may be relatively fast.

Sometimes these patches will clear up with hair growth resuming.

The condition may simply disappear, re-appear after an extended period or may progress and become more problematic.

In a very small percentage of cases, the condition may progress to Alopecia Areata Totalis, which essentially means that hair is lost over the entire head.

Even more rarely, the condition affects the entire body. That may include the chest, eyebrows and even pubic hair.

Once again, the causes are not clearly understood and they remain the subject of research and debate.

Currently some researchers incline towards the view that this condition may be linked to an autoimmune problem whereby the function of hair follicles is stopped or inhibited by immune system attacks.

There is also evidence that stress may play a significant part in triggering alopecia areata in susceptible individuals.

Other hair loss

There are other medical conditions and environmental situations, which may cause hair loss.

Sometimes also referred to as alopecia, these may form a variety of patterns depending upon the causative agent (e.g. chemo or radiation therapies etc).

Treatments

In the case of androgenic alopecia, there are some treatments (e.g. Minoxidil) that may be able to help some individuals although the entire field remains the subject of heated debate and is home to many treatments of doubtful benefit.

For sufferers of alopecia areata, the outlook is slightly better.

There are a number of treatments including corticosteroids and Minoxidil, where the effects are pronounced and clear – however even here some individuals appear to obtain only limited benefits.

Given that the exact mechanisms behind these two conditions are simply not yet fully understood, it may prove difficult to identify a definitive ‘cure’ in the near future.