Well, if you don't belong to a family with innate wide foreheads or shave your hair with an electric razor, then you might be experiencing a receding hairline.
A receding hairline is a red alert for hair growth among men and women. It is usually an early indication of future hair problems, such as thinning locks and hair loss.
How can you detect the onset of receding hairline? Get to know the different stages of this hair growth problem.
Stages of Receding Hairline
A scale measuring the different phases of baldness was introduced in the world of dermatology. The Hamilton-Norwood Scale includes seven stages of receding hairline.
Stage 1: There is no indication of receding hairline.
Having thick hair does not exempt you from losing your hair. This hair problem primarily arises without any sign of hair loss. Even an adolescent may experience the first stage of receding hairline without even knowing.
Stage 2: Your hairline begins receding above the temples.
Adults in their early 30s start experiencing sparse hair growth around your forehead and temples. People may find it a typical feature as you grow older, but thinning hair around these areas is most likely a receding hairline sign.
Stage 3: There is a deep recession, forming an M or U-shaped hairline.
The hair around your temples becomes sparser than before. Your receding hairline gets even worse that you can notice its M or U-shape. Your temples aren't the only victims during this stage. You will also have bald spots around your scalp's vertex.
Stage 4: The hair on your crown starts losing its battle.
The crown or the vertex is the top and most visible area on your head. Once your receding hairline reaches the fourth stage, hair loss is on its way of dominating your scalp's crown. However, there is a thin line of hair strands separating your bald side spots and your hairless vertex.
Stage 5: The balding areas become increasingly larger.
After some time, baldness on the two areas on your scalp has become more evident. The band of feathery strands between the hairless areas has become narrower than before, indicating its severity.
Stage 6: The front and back areas are bald.
As your hair condition worsens, the front and back areas are no longer separated by a thin line of strands. Bad news: the balding areas from your temples up to your scalp's crown no longer have hair growing above them.
Stage 7: A thin ring of hair is encircling the head.
If left untreated, your scalp may suffer from excessive hairline recession, leaving only a thin ring of hair around your scalp. When worse comes to worst, you may suffer from total hair loss.
The Culprits behind a Receding Hairline
Why do men and women experience hair growth recession? Here are six possible reasons behind a receding hairline.
1. Blame it on your genes.
Blood is thicker than water, literally and figuratively speaking. In the case of your locks, bloodline always plays a significant role in hair growth. A receding hairline is an inherited trait that can cause your follicles to become overly sensitive to androgens. Because of these affected follicles, your hair growth cycle is also affected. Your hair may start thinning and receding any time after puberty. Thus, this hereditary characteristic can create a lineage of baldness.
2. Age is not just a number.
Hair loss is an evident sign of aging. As you grow older, your hair follicles also mature. Once they have exhausted themselves during the growth phase, they will gradually undergo the resting phase. When the time comes, these follicles die, and hair shedding occurs.
3. Beware when your hormonal levels go berserk.
Hormones are your body's chemical messengers that perform various biological functions. Thus, they play a big part in hair growth. An influx of androgen levels can adversely affect the quality of your locks. An overproduction of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone's by-product, can bind your follicles, thereby shrinking them.
Women may also experience a receding hairline when there is an extreme decrease of estrogens in the body, especially after childbirth and menopause. Thus, estrogen insufficiency can cause gradual thinning of hair and slower hair growth.
4. Stress is not for your tresses.
When you are stressed, every little thing inside your body can be affected. Stress can create a ripple of adverse effects on your health, including your hair growth. It can disturb your body's hormonal levels, thereby affecting your hair growth cycle.
High-stress levels can also increase the body's cortisol production, pushing many follicles from the anagen phase (growth stage) to the telogen phase (resting stage). In turn, follicles become dormant enough for your strands to deteriorate and fall out.
5. Medical conditions can be perpetrators of hair loss.
There are medical conditions that cause a receding hairline. For instance, alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that forces the immune system to attack its cells, including those residing in your hair follicles. Thus, follicle damage can immensely slow down hair growth, causing your precious hairline to recede.
Scalp infections can also trigger hair recession. For example, psoriasis can cause scalp areas to become dry, scaly, and itchy. Because of this skin condition, patches that appear on your scalp may prevent many hair strands from popping out of your pate. Another autoimmune disorder known as system sclerosis or scleroderma attacks your body's healthy skin tissues, including your scalp. Thus, scleroderma can affect even your hair growth.
6. Medical treatments can affect your hair growth.
Some medical procedures can cause thinning hair and hair loss as side effects. Many cancer patients are victims of unwanted hair loss because of chemotherapy, a treatment that requires radiation to kill cancer cells. However, this radiation therapy can also destroy even your healthy hair cells, thereby hampering hair growth.
How to Treat Hairline Recession
Stop frowning over a receding hairline, for you can still prevent this hair fiasco from giving you a "no hair" day. Here are some ways to treat the hairline recession.
1. Opt to ingest medications.
A receding hairline is not a simple matter that can be solved overnight. Without early intervention, you can suffer from permanent hair loss. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a dermatologist about your hair loss problem.
Autoimmune disorders have negative impacts on hair growth. Therefore, you can take prednisone to avoid your immune system from flaring up. You can also slather minoxidil on the affected areas to slow down your receding hairline.
2. Pump your diet with hair-boosting nutrients.
The way to healthy hair growth is through your stomach. With the help of nutritious meals, nothing can beat your lovely mane. Therefore, get loads of hair growth nutrients from your everyday diet.
Do not forget to include plant-based sources, such as leafy greens, citrus fruits, and green peas, for they are rich in vitamins necessary for your hair's health. Also, eat a hearty supply of fish, eggs, beef, and pork to get your ample doses of protein, iron, zinc, and other essential minerals.
3. Use thickening shampoos to fight against sparse hair.
Dietary supplements are not enough to beat hair loss. A receding hairline is usually coupled with thinning hair. Therefore, it is essential to use a thickening shampoo to remove oil build-up and thicken your locks simultaneously. Not only can your shampoo product get the cleansing job done, but it can also promote thicker hair growth.
4. Use needles to stimulate hair growth.
Though it may sound scary, micro-needling is a medical procedure to stop your receding hairline. This hair growth treatment involves the penetration of thousands of microneedles on your scalp to activate your hair follicles. Yet, you still need to consult a dermatologist if you want to undergo this procedure.
5. Save up for a hair transplant.
Treating a receding hairline needs ample time. If your patience meter can't wait any longer, you can also opt to undergo a hair transplant. This surgical technique involves transferring follicle patches from other body parts to your scalp's affected balding areas. Take note that every session of a hair transplant is expensive. You will also need a hair transplant surgeon to make your hair goals come true. Therefore, save up and research before undergoing this hair restoration method.
Stop Your Hairline from Receding.
A receding hairline is a matter of life and death for your hair. Therefore, the best way to save your locks is to stop your hairline from receding. Check for early symptoms for prompt intervention. Lastly, prevent the onset of hair loss with a nutritious diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Search for the Best.
Are you worried about your hair falling out? Learn more female hair loss and some hair loss treatments. Look for the best hair thickening shampoo to stop your receding hairline. Give your locks some love using the most effective hair growth products loaded with hair vitamins and minerals for total hair restoration.