You may have noticed more of your hair around your home—in your shower drain, on your pillow, intertwined within your hairbrush. Perhaps you’re noticing thinning on the top of your head along with this frequent shedding, with parts in your hair appearing wider. Maybe you’ve noticed that your hairband wraps around your ponytail more times than it used to. To combat this strange thinning, you might have started changing your hairstyle, parting it in different ways to hide any noticeable thinning. Even if you haven’t noticed a distinct bald spot, frequent hair thinning across the skull can be a sign that you are experiencing the first stages of hair loss. This might be cause for internalized worry, but know that you’re not alone. Millions of men and women around the globe suffer from hair loss, with half of men and one-quarter of women being affected by it.
While there are many different types of hair loss, the most common type is one caused by your genes, known as androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness). This is a progressive condition that affects both men and women, constitutes approximately 98% of hair loss, and worsens over time. Unfortunately, surgical methods are the only way to regrow hair from follicles once they have died; however, there are non-surgical preventative methods available to both slow and reverse the growth of thinning hair. First, let’s discuss the warning signs that might mean you are at risk for hair loss. If any of these signs sound familiar, you should consider discussing treatment options with your medical physician.