What Is a Receding Hairline?
A receding hairline is a disorder that does not mean having less hair. This condition can occur in both men and women, though it is more commonly seen in men. It is one of the first signs of male pattern baldness in men, which multiple factors can cause. Women are more likely to experience hair thinning than a receding hairline, but it is still possible for women to get a receding hairline. As a receding hairline often makes a person look older than the actual age, it can have a serious psychological impact on many people. Fortunately, there are multiple promising ways to manage a receding hairline.
What Causes a Receding Hairline?
There is a range of causes of a receding hairline, including:
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Family History: Family history can contribute to receding hairlines. For example, men with a family history of baldness tend to lose their hair. However, in most cases, the pattern of hair loss is also similar to previous generations.
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Hormone Changes: Hormonal imbalances in both men and women can cause hair loss in them. A hormone called DHT is linked to male pattern baldness, as it causes shrinkage of follicles to the extent that no hair can grow in them anymore. Hormonal changes due to pregnancy, menopause, or thyroid may also trigger hair loss in women.
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Age: A receding hairline is one of the clearest signs of aging in people. However, young people can also have a receding hairline. Hair loss is often a natural part of aging. Thousands of hair follicles are present on the scalp's surface, each hair follicle growing its hair. Usually, as these hairs fall out, they are replaced by new ones. But if hair follicles become damaged for some reason, hair loss and receding hairline can happen.
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Medications or Treatment Side Effects: Some medical procedures or treatments can also trigger hair loss. For example, a person's hair thins or falls out in chemotherapy. In addition, medications for cancer or arthritis or drugs for heart problems, hypertension, or depression also cause hair loss in people.
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Emotional Stress: Stress may lead to sudden hair loss, called telogen effluvium. This is a condition in which people unexpectedly shed more hair than usual in a short period. However, the condition often reverses itself without treatment.
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Medical Conditions: Medical conditions, such as alopecia areata, infectious diseases, ovarian tumors, thyroid disease, or other conditions, can cause hair loss in men and women.
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Smoking: Smoking can also be a causative factor for hair loss. Smokers may experience hair loss faster than nonsmokers.
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Diet: People who do not get sufficient protein in their diets may lose hair more often than those who eat enough protein.
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Lifestyle Choices: Excessive hairstyling using blow dryers or curling irons, hairstyles that pull the hair very tight, and hot oil hair treatments can lead to hair shedding in some people.
What Are the Common Symptoms of a Receding Hairline?
In men, a receding hairline can start any time after the end of puberty. They have a receding hairline by the time they reach their late 30s. The process of receding hairline usually begins above the temples. Then, the hairline moves back across the top of the head, leaving a horseshoe-like ring of hair around the top of a bare scalp. Hair thinning may continue on top of the head. A receding hairline can also start just above the temples, but the hair in the middle may stay closer to the forehead, which leads to a V-shaped hairline in front, often called a "widow's peak."
In women, the hair loss pattern is usually very different than in men. Women usually do not have the typical receding hairline at the beginning of male pattern baldness.
Instead, in women, the hairs on the sides and back are typically spared, but they may notice a widening of their part and considerable hair thinning.
How Is a Receding Hairline Diagnosed?
A person should speak to a dermatologist to understand the type of hair loss they are experiencing and its cause. The doctor may ask about personal and family medical history. The dermatologist may perform a "pull test" to determine how easily the hair and how many fall out. The dermatologist may also recommend a blood test to screen for medical issues, such as thyroid disease, that can cause hair loss. The dermatologist may perform a biopsy of scalp tissue or hairs to determine any scalp conditions or if there is a scalp infection causing hair loss. In a biopsy, the dermatologist removes a small amount of tissue from the affected part of the body and sends it to a lab to test for signs of infection or disease.
How Is a Receding Hairline Treated?
Treatment of a receding hairline typically depends on the cause. However, treating the underlying can help manage hair loss. Always speak to a healthcare provider before starting any treatment regimen. The dermatologist may recommend any of the following treatments:
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Minoxidil: It is an effective over-the-counter solution that is applied twice a day to affected areas of the scalp. It helps in increasing blood circulation and strengthening hair follicles. A higher strength of this Minoxidil tends to work better for men. This medication is more effective at restoring hair in small batches than in large areas. Early use of Minoxidil tends to produce the best results.
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Finasteride: Finasteride is a prescription medication that addresses genetic hair loss. It prevents testosterone from converting to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that weakens hair follicles. Finasteride is an FDA-approved pill for men and is taken once a day daily. Consistent use has a high success rate at slowing genetic hair loss. Although Finasteride does not reverse hair loss, it can slow receding hairline. However, this medication carries some side effects, such as depression and sexual side effects.
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Hair Restoration Surgery: This treatment option involves transplanting small sections of the scalp and hair follicles from the back of the head to areas where hair growth has stopped.
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Red Light Therapy: The procedure focuses red laser light on certain wavelengths on the scalp. Red light therapy stimulates fast hair cell repair and growth and promotes blood flow and circulation to the scalp and hair follicles, strengthening hair.
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Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: This is a popular three-step nonsurgical procedure in which a person's blood is drawn, processed, and injected into the scalp that needs hair growth. PRP is a safe and effective way to reverse hair loss and promote new hair growth.
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Corticosteroids: These drugs can help lowers inflammation around the hair follicles, allowing them to grow new hair.
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Biotin: Biotin, also called vitamin B7, stimulates keratin production to stimulate hair growth.
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A Careful Daily Routine: A good hair care regimen is important in treating a receding hairline. People with receding hairlines should switch to shampoo with low sulfate content.
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Managing Stress: Stress-induced hair loss can be managed by indulging in stress-relieving activities, such as music, yoga, games, and meditation.
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Eating a Wholesome Diet: A healthy diet rich in proteins, minerals, and vitamins helps nourish hair. Certain food items, such as eggs, fish, berries, nuts, green leafy vegetables, and fruits, help promote hair growth. In addition, omega-33 fatty acid supplements like fish oil capsules promote hair growth.
How Is Receding Hairline Prevented?
A receding hairline cannot be prevented if the cause of a person's receding hairline is hereditary. However, some preventative measures can help prevent hair from falling out, including:
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Avoid tight hairstyles, such as braids, buns, or ponytails.
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Use a wide-toothed comb for combing hair.
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Avoid vigorous pulling, rubbing, or twisting hair.
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Avoid using harsh chemical treatments, such as permanent or hot oil treatments. Instead, use more natural products to rejuvenate the hair.
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Avoid using heated styling methods, such as hot rollers, straighteners, and curling irons.
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Avoid drugs or supplements as much as possible that can cause hair loss.
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Quit smoking.
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Protect the hair from prolonged sunlight exposure.
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Use a cooling cap to lower the risk of chemotherapy-induced hair loss.
What Is the Outlook for People With Receding Hairline?
A receding hairline can be an early sign of baldness. However, it is often difficult to predict how far the hairline will recede in the future. In some cases, by looking at the hair loss pattern of a family member, a person can get a possible preview. Fortunately, some proven medications and medical procedures can help restore hair growth in affected areas of the head.
Conclusion
A receding hairline can be upsetting for a person to look at. However, it poses no risk to health. Most people can manage their hairline with available medical treatments and procedures that can help slow down the receding hairline process. Before embarking on any treatment, discuss with a healthcare provider to understand the condition's cause and find the most suitable option.