For many people, turning 40 marks a new chapter filled with personal growth, wisdom, and becoming more in tune with yourself. But for many, it also comes with physical changes like hair loss.
53% of men in their 40s have moderate to severe hair loss, and many women, too. Hair loss is a natural part of aging, but it can be unwelcome for many and affect self-esteem. Fret not – we’re here to help.
Aaron Chen, MD, and the hair restoration experts at Hair Doc, located in Cow Hollow, San Francisco, can help replenish your hairline no matter what degree of hair loss. Sometimes, it’s hard to understand why hair loss happens, so read on and discover five common causes after 40.
Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers and play an important role in many processes like metabolism, reproduction, and mood. Your hormone levels can get imbalanced when you reach 40 and beyond, resulting in unwanted hair loss.
Androgen hormones, like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), are called “male hormones” but are found in men and women. Testosterone decreases about 1% every year after 40. DHT is an offset of testosterone and tends to decline with age as well.
Testosterone and DHT play a significant role in hair loss by shrinking hair follicles, which produce thinner, weaker hair before halting growth. Medications like finasteride work to block DHT from binding to receptors, which keeps hair follicles from shrinking.
Diet is an essential part of your hair health and overall health. 92% of Americans have at least one vitamin or mineral deficiency. The vitamins and minerals you consume can contribute to hair follicles and hair growth cycle.
Here are vitamin deficiencies that may lead to hair loss:
A balanced diet with adequate essential vitamins and minerals promotes healthy hair growth and prevents hair loss. If you think vitamin imbalances are affecting your hair, meet with your primary care provider or a nutritionist to test your blood levels and improve your hair health.
You’ve probably heard a lot about how genetics are tied to hair loss and rightfully so. 80% of men who experience hair loss had a father who also lost their hair.
Hair loss linked to genetics occurs in a predictable pattern as either male pattern baldness (MPB) or female pattern baldness (FPB). MPB often starts in your 20s or 30s with m-shaped hair loss at the front of your scalp. FPB generally starts after menopause with a widening of the part due to hair recession.
You might consider a hair transplant to improve hair loss from MPB or FPB drastically. Dr. Chen performs hair transplants using two methods: follicular unit transplant (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE).
Both methods are surgical procedures in which hair follicles are moved from a donor area (typically the back or sides of the scalp) to a balding or thinning area to restore hair growth. In FUE, individual hair follicles are extracted directly from the scalp, while in FUT, a strip of the scalp is removed, and follicles are harvested from that strip before being transplanted.
Thyroid problems are common and will affect more than 12% of Americans at some point in their lives. Women are 5-8 times more likely than men to develop a thyroid problem and generally experience it after menopause.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of the neck that regulates heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Hyperthyroidism occurs when the gland produces too much thyroid hormone, speeding up the hair growth cycle and producing thin and fragile hair.
Hypothyroidism occurs when the gland produces too little thyroid hormone. This can cause changes in your hair cycle by halting the growth phase and extending the hair-shed phase. This kind of hair loss is often experienced as overall thinning and may improve once your thyroid hormone levels are regulated.
Did you know that one-third of Americans live with stress? Whether it results from work, family, or a health concern, we all deal with stress regularly.
Stress is directly linked to hair loss. Research conducted by Dr. Ya Chieh Hsu and his team found that mice exposed to stress increased their corticosterone levels and reduced hair growth. Stress may also inhibit hair regrowth and cause your immune system to attack hair follicles.
Practicing meditation or yoga is a great way to lower stress and improve your health. Your body and your hairline will thank you!
Are you bothered by hair loss? Let’s improve your hair growth today. Call 415-907-7354 to schedule a consultation or book online.
Disclaimer: Photos used in this article are models and may or may not have had treatment.
