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For some people, hair thinning is a concern of daily life, stressing them out and leading to temporary or long-term harm to their self-esteem. While hair thinning and hair loss is a reality for many, understanding the underlying causes and how to respond to it is critical to maintaining good hair health.
Although hair loss has many potential causes, understanding the relation between hair thinning, the hair growth cycle and your overall health should be a central focus of your approach when dealing with hair thinning.
Understanding Hair Thinning
Hair thinning is a result of the hair follicles on your scalp shrinking over time and resulting in fewer hairs growing. This is usually caused by changes in the hair growth cycle, with shorter growth cycles and more resting phases leading to thinner hair over time.
The most common cause of hair thinning is androgenic alopecia, a hereditary condition where the hair follicles shrink over time. But, other causes of hair thinning include nutrient deficiencies, hormone levels, stress or underlying medical conditions.
Hair Growth Cycle
To better understand how hair thinning relates to hair health, it is important to understand the hair growth cycle. The normal human hair growth cycle is a three-stage process, consisting of the Anagen, Catagen and Telogen phases.
The Anagen phase is the active growth stage of your hair, where the cells in the root of the hair are dividing quickly and pushing the hairs up and out of the scalp. This may cause the hair to become longer and thicker over time.
The Catagen phase is the resting stage of your hair and typically lasts a few days up to a few weeks. During this time, the color of the hair may fade and the hair may become thinner and more brittle.
The Telogen phase is the shedding stage of your hair, where the follicles of hair that are at the end of their cycle are pushed out of the scalp by new hairs that are in their growth stage. It is normal for a person to lose up to 100 hairs in a day.
Relationship to Overall Health
Hair thinning is closely related to your overall health and has many potential causes, such as vitamin deficiencies, hormone levels, stress or underlying medical conditions.
Improving your overall health by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly can help to improve your hair health and prevent further hair thinning. Additionally, you should talk to your doctor to assess potential underlying causes and determine the best course of treatment for you.
Conclusion
By understanding hair thinning and its relation to the hair growth cycle and health, you can make better informed decisions when it comes to dealing with hair thinning and prevent further hair loss.
If you are feeling overwhelmed with hair thinning, discussing the issue with your doctor or contacting a specialist for a personalized treatment plan can help you to improve your hair health for a better life.
