Cristina Mutchler
Published on September 6, 2023
Medically reviewed by
William Truswell, MD
PIXLAND / GETTY IMAGES
How thin your hair is might be dependent on your genes—hair thickness varies person to person. But if you notice your hair is looking thinner than usual, it could be the result of factors like aging, a health condition, medication, or high stress levels. Fortunately, there are treatments and at-home remedies available that can help stop or slow down hair thinning or to make your hair look thicker.
What Does Thin Hair Look Like?
An overall loss of hair volume is the telltale sign for thinning hair. You might also notice:1
A gradually widening part
Thinner ponytail
Receding hairline
One or more bald spots
A more visible scalp
While hair tends to thin out gradually and subtly—and may not be noticeable for months or even years—you may also experience hair thinning over a much quicker time period. This might look like a sudden bald spot over the course of a couple days or it could come in the form of clumps of hair that fall out while you're brushing it.1
Causes of Thin Hair
Hair thickness—in terms of the size and shape of each hair follicle as well as how many hair follicles you have on your scalp overall—is influenced by genetics. That means some people just have naturally thin hair.2
But there are other causes of thinning hair, such as:3
American Academy of Dermatology. Hair loss: Who gets and causes.
42
Age: How old you are often influences your hair thickness (as well as texture). This is driven by natural hormone changes and hereditary factors. Hair strands themselves might become smaller while many hair follicles will stop producing new hair.5
Physical conditions: Things like pregnancy, bacterial infection, ringworm on your scalp, blood loss, or a high fever can all lead to hair thinning by impacting the rate at which hair falls out.
Autoimmune conditions: Some conditions where your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells—like alopecia areata, lupus, or thyroid diseases—can cause hair thinning and bald patches.
Certain medications and treatments: Some retinoids, oral contraceptives, beta-blockers, antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and chemotherapy can cause hair to thin out.
Hair styles, chemicals, or tools: These can damage or put too much tension on the hair follicles, leading to hair thinning.
Stress: Whether physical or emotional, stress often causes hair thinning that may come out in clumps. This type of hair loss often improves after stress levels are regulated.
Repetitive hair pulling or rubbing: Whether an occasional habit or a condition known as trichotillomania, the action can result in hair thinning. In these cases, it's possible for strands to regrow if the follicle hasn't been destroyed.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you're noticing your hair appearing thinner lately, you should first know that you're not alone. It's estimated that millions of people experience some form of hair loss.1
That said, there are some hair-thinning signs that may require a medical visit to get to the root of the issue. Check with a healthcare provider if you notice:6
Hair loss in an unusual pattern
Rapid or unexplained hair loss
Pain or itching that comes along with the hair loss
Weight gain, muscle weakness, fatigue, or an inability to stand cold temperatures
A scalp that appears red or discolored, scaly, abnormal, or infected
A healthcare provider will typically be able to make a diagnosis based on your symptoms and a physical examination. Be prepared to answer questions about the speed of your hair thinning, its specific location, any dietary changes, recent stressful episodes, and family history of hair loss and thinning.6
How to Make Thin Hair Thicker
While you can't actually change the size of individual hair follicles, it is possible to make your hair appear thicker. In some cases, you can even encourage hair regrowth.
If necessary, a healthcare provider should first help you determine the underlying cause of thinning hair. That's because certain treatment methods are more effective for certain causes of hair thinning. And usually, the sooner you start, the more successful treatment tactics tend to be.7
In general, options that can help encourage hair growth and fullness include:768
Hair growth shampoos: Formulas with specific ingredients like protein aim to lock in moisture to make hair appear thicker or cut down on strand breakage, which helps reduce hair thinning. Hair loss shampoo products can't make hair regrow or prevent hair thinning from getting worse, though.9
Rogaine (minoxidil): This over-the-counter topical solution can be applied to the scalp daily to help stimulate hair growth for early hair thinning, prevent further hair loss, and assist in maintaining your hair's thickness. Keep in mind that this product should be used consistently and as directed. Results typically take at least six months.
Corticosteroid injections: Performed by a healthcare provider in-office, these injections may be particularly successful for people with alopecia areata. You'd need to receive the injections every four to eight weeks.
Microneedling: A hand-held device with tiny needles can be rolled across the affected area to support hair growth, particularly for genetic hair thinning. These devices are available to use at-home, but you may want to check with a healthcare provider to make sure what you're using is appropriate for your circumstance.
Propecia (finasteride): This U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved oral medication can help with male-pattern hair loss (and sometimes female hereditary hair loss) by slowing down hair thinning and prompting new hair to grow. It may take months for noticeable improvements, though.
Spironolactone: Sold under brand names like ldactone and Carospir, this prescription drug for high blood pressure may be prescribed for female-pattern hair loss. It's shown to be effective in increasing hair thickness and halting future hair loss. Because it can cause birth defects, the medication is not prescribed for people who may become pregnant.
Vitamin supplements: If a blood test determines that you have deficiencies of biotin, iron, or zinc, a supplement may be recommended to boost these levels. This can help support overall hair health.
Low-level laser therapy: Applying a controlled laser light to the affected area as an in-office treatment may promote hair regrowth for hereditary hair loss, alopecia areata, chemotherapy-related hair loss, and more. Several repeat treatment sessions are usually required.
Platelet-rich plasma: This is another in-office procedure. It involves drawing a small amount of your own blood and injecting it into the hair loss area can help prevent hair thinning. Several rounds of treatment are typically recommended to see results in the first few months.
Hair transplant procedure: Considered to be a permanent solution for hair thinning due to male- or female-pattern baldness, this surgical procedure involves removing healthy hairs from the scalp and transplanting them into the affected areas. Results may take six to 12 months to be noticeable.10
Remedies for hair thinning are not one-size-fits-all. Depending on the underlying cause, it's even possible for some hair thinning cases to improve on their own without treatment.7
How to Prevent Thinning Hair
Experiencing thinning hair can be stressful. Thankfully, there are a variety of things that may be able to prevent any future hair thinning. These include:11
Washing hair with a gentle shampoo and using a moisturizing conditioner and detangler to help reduce breakage, split ends, and moisture loss
Wrapping your hair in a microfiber towel after washing to cut down on blow-drying time
Limiting the use of heat from hair tools, as high temperatures can weaken or damage strands
Avoiding at-home coloring or other chemical processes that are damaging to hair
Staying away from tight hairstyles that pull on hair and can lead to hair loss
Brushing hair gently and only as much as needed to style
Stopping smoking, which can can worsen hair loss due to inflammation
Eating a well-balanced diet to ensure you're getting nutrients needed to support hair health
While these strategies are helpful and promising in many cases, adjusting your lifestyle and hair care habits may not get to the root cause of your hair thinning. A healthcare provider can help detect and address any specific concerns about thinning hair.12
A Quick Review
Hair thickness varies greatly person to person. The individual strands of hair may be thin as well as the overall volume of hair strands. Genetics, aging, medical conditions, and lifestyle factors can cause thinning hair. To help boost hair growth and fullness, options include hair care and lifestyle adjustments, topical treatments, and prescription medications or procedures recommended by a healthcare provider.
Post comments