Hair thinning

Hair thinning in women is more common than having green eyes or a freckled face. But that doesn't make it easier to live with.

Hereditary hair thinning is usually triggered by a combination of hormonal activity and heredity, which together cause the hair follicles in your scalp to shrink. This condition is called androgenetic alopecia, and it can start in the teens, 20s, 30s, or 40s. Over time, this progressive shrinking of certain scalp follicles leads to a shortening of the hair's growing cycle - until there is no growth at all.

Hereditary hair thinning accounts for most cases of hair thinning. (Less common causes include certain medications and medical conditions; you should see your doctor if you suspect your hair thinning is caused by something other than heredity.) Typically, members of your family also have hair loss or thinning of varying degrees.

As well as the natural ageing process, particular situations may cause additional hair thinning. These include poor nutrition, certain medications, severe stress such as emotional anxiety, surgery or prolonged illness, childbirth, and premenopause (the time leading up to menopause). These types of hair thinning are usually reversible once the underlying cause is addressed.

There are also some medical conditions which can affect your normal hair growth. These include Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), Anaemia (low red blood cells), Alopecia Areata (abrupt hair loss caused by an auto-immune disorder) and Telogen Effluvium (temporary but sudden thinning of the hair, often caused by shock.)