Receding hairline stages
What are receding hairline stages, and why does happen in different conditions for women and men?
The first visible sign of hair loss is a receding hairline. In most cases, there will be a remarkable thinning of hair in the temporal area. Then, the hairline starts to recede until a widow’s peak is formed.
At this point, the hairline appears to be an “M” shape that’s why it is also referred to as “male pattern baldness”. If left untreated, the frontal hairline may further recede to the back, leaving the crown bare. Receding hairline happens very slowly very few people would notice it until age 30 and above.
The receding hairline stages for women may happen slightly differently, but not always.
Causes of Receding Hairline
Our hair, because of its location and the wide-area that it occupies on our head, is the first thing that people would see in us. Most people regard having a full head of hair as a sign of youth and vigor. Unfortunately, hair loss comes naturally as we age, and men are at a higher risk of losing hair compared to women. There are several factors that contribute to Receding Hairline, such as
- Improper hair care
- Frequent use of styling products
- Chemicals that can cause damage to the scalp
- Poor nutrition
- Severe stress
- Scalp infection
- Chronic illness
- Drugs side effects
- Chemotherapy
Family History
Receding Hairline is an inherited trait, the hair follicles are sensitive to certain male hormones. We have millions of hair follicles and men with baldness history are more likely to lose their hair. The onset of hair loss in people with a family history of male pattern baldness starts at puberty. Hair loss won’t be noticed until a large number of hair follicles have stopped producing hair.
Androgenic Alopecia
Hair loss in men is due to an inherited condition called androgenic alopecia. Hair loss due to androgenic alopecia is caused by a high concentration of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). At puberty, men start producing testosterone.
An enzyme called 5-alpha reductase binds to free testosterone in the body. It converts them to DHT leading to an increased level of this androgen in the body. DHT handles hair growth but, too much DHT in the scalp can damage the hair follicles causing them to shrink. Over time, the hair follicles continue to reduce until they close and stop producing hair.
Receding Hairline Treatment
Although receding hairline is genetically pre-determined, it can be prevented. Hair experts recommend using DHT blockers right after puberty. DHT blockers are products that inhibit 5 alpha-reductase from converting testosterone to DHT.
They are available in different preparations such as tablets, serum, foam, and shampoo. DHT blockers are proven to be effective in preventing and reversing receding hairlines. It also rejuvenates damaged hair follicles, helping them to produce hair once again.
It is important to identify causing factors first to determine which treatment method will be most effective. Here are some classifications of Receding Hairline treatment according to their actions.
DHT Blockers
Receding Hairline treatment products under this category are for people with male pattern baldness. In people with this condition, testosterone is converted to DHT by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase.
An excessive amount of DHT in the scalp leads to hair follicle damage by shrinking it. This occurs until such time that it would stop producing hair. DHT blockers stop 5-alpha reductase from converting testosterone to DHT. Among the well-known DHT blockers is Procerin.
Hair Growers
While these products stimulate hair growth, they are not designed to correct the root cause of the problem. They are combined with other hair loss treatment regimens to speed up hair growth. An example of a hair growth product is Rogaine.
Anti-inflammatory
In some cases, the cause of hair loss is inflammatory scalp diseases like seborrheic dermatitis. Its symptoms are flakes on the scalp commonly known as “dandruff”.
Sebum builds up in the scalp, causing hair to fall off. Treating this condition first will eventually correct hair loss. Products designed for this purpose come in shampoo form, one of the popular anti-dandruff shampoos is Nizoral Shampoo.
Food Supplements for Receding Hairline
For your hair follicles to produce healthy hair, it requires enough amount of nutrients. Eat foods rich in vitamins A, C, E, and all the B vitamins. Protein and minerals like Zinc, Silica, and Iron also play an important role in hair growth.
Excellent sources for these nutrients are green and leafy vegetables such as:
- citrus
- clams
- nuts
- pepper
- grains
- oats
- fish
- meat
- eggs
- dairy products
Taking food supplements can also help to ensure that you get enough amount of these nutrients.
Hair loss treatment products come in different forms such as tablets, foam, serum, and shampoo. For advanced hair loss, hair transplant surgery may be necessary. It is a very expensive option but it is a permanent fix, especially for people with a receding hairline.
