Understanding Thinning Hair

• According to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, androgenetic alopecia affects roughly half of all women at some point in their lifetimes. Although thinning hair is sometimes associated with advancing age, you may actually suffer the effects of alopecia as early as your teen years. Typically, the condition begins as a thinning of the hair at the top of your head which then extends outward. Telogen effluvium usually manifests as a sudden loss of hair throughout your scalp. If you suffer from this condition, you may notice abnormally large numbers of detached strands when you comb or wash your hair. Even minor tugging of your hair can result in hair loss.
  
  

Alopecia Areata

• If you experience the effects of androgenetic alopecia, you may be able to prevent ongoing hair loss and encourage new hair growth with a medication called minoxidil (Rogaine). Typically, your doctor will recommend a twice-daily application of this product directly to your scalp. Be aware that it may take several months to a year before you see any benefits from minoxidil use. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, minoxidil slows or stops hair loss in the majority of women, and provides re-growth of hair in 20 to 25 percent. However, the effects of minoxidil last only as long as you actively use the product. Ask your doctor to fully explain the risks and benefits of this medication.
  
  

Telogen Effluvium

• If you suffer from telogen effluvium, it will typically begin several months after experiencing a stressful event. Potential triggering events include high fever, anxiety, nervous shock, sudden weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, surgery and hormone changes associated with pregnancy and menopause. You may also trigger telogen effluvium if you take blood pressure medications, anticonvulsants, vitamin A, oral contraceptives, chemotherapy drugs, anticoagulants or ACE inhibitors. Usually, the effects of the condition are temporary, and your hair will grow back in time.
  
  If your symptoms are related to medication use, you may be able to prevent future bouts of telogen effluvium by changing your medications or adjusting the dosages of your current medication. Talk to your doctor about this possibility. If your symptoms are the result of nutritional deficiencies, correcting these deficiencies may also prevent future occurrences of hair loss. Avoidance of extreme stress or learning to cope with anxiety may also have preventative value.