5 tips for thinning hair

Thinning hair is a constant battle for many women. Thinning hair is as much an emotional issue as it is a physical one. Yet for the millions of women dealing with it each day, it is still considered a taboo subject, despite the fact that this is an increasing problem. The Retiree spoke with Specialist Dermatologist, Dr Eleni Yiasemides about her top tips for dealing with thinning hair.

Hair loss and thinning in women is more common than you think, affecting 1 in 3 women after the age of 30 and progresses with age. It can be a mental and physical challenge for women and put a real stop on ones confidence.

We know hair sheds naturally as part of the hair growth cycle, but a variety of factors, including hormones, age and genetics, can cause the regrowth to have a finer, thinner appearance. This may not be an issue for ten or twenty hairs on the scalp, but when thousands of follicles start to sprout thinner hair with less pigment, it can have a dramatic effect on the overall volume of your locks. We lose around 50-100 strands (about 10%) of hair in a day, but some women lose 150 or more. If you lose over 150 hairs, then this is considered a significant amount and you should see a doctor. This may be a sign of female pattern hair loss, a condition that affects one in three women over the age of 30, as the hair starts to naturally thin with age and peaking in incidence in the early 40s.

Here are Dr Yiasemides top tips for dealing with thinning hair. Speak to your doctor before commencing treatment or to see if there’s an underlying cause for your hair loss

1. Keep hair in the best shape possible with regular trims and a good daily routine
2. Style your hair right (although only a temporary fix) a short, blunt haircut will give the appearance of more volume. Highlights and volumising shampoo can help give hair a fuller effect. Parting hair on the side also helps to camouflage hair loss, and adding lighter highlights/foils/streaks can help give the illusion of more hair.
3. Minimise stress: Non-hereditary hair loss can be stress-related. Our busy lifestyles actually have a big impact on what our hair looks like. Taking the time to look after ourselves can be the start to healthier strands!
4. Target the root of the problem: Certain treatments reactivate the hair follicles and stimulate hair regrowth with results in as little as 12 weeks. Unlike products that temporarily thicken hair, there are over-the-counter treatments available that include the most effective topical minoxidil 5% as the key ingredient. This is applied once daily, comes in a non-greasy formula and addresses the root of the problem, reenergises and revitalises follicles.
5. Seek treatment: The sooner, the better. Once you’ve lost a significant amount of hair, it’s harder to get that back. Most solutions are about retaining the hair you have. Some of the products available at pharmacies have been proven to be the only foam that can regrow female hair that’s why it is essential to seek early treatment for the best long term results. The condition of female pattern hair loss is a genetic hereditary condition and its best to address it now!