5 different reasons for thin hair in men
The reasons why men experience thinning hair can be very diverse. Here are some causes that can lead to your hair becoming increasingly thinner over time and eventually falling out completely. Because to properly treat hair loss, it's always necessary to get to the root cause.
Table of contents
- Stress attacks the hair
- Deficiency symptoms as a possible cause
- Medications and illnesses
- Avoid chemical hair care products
- Overacidification promotes hair thinning
- How to strengthen thin hair
- Hair transplantation as an effective solution
1. Stress attacks the hair
Thinning hair in men can be triggered by stress. Especially if you are exposed to significant stress or emotional strain over a prolonged period (several weeks or even months), this can lead to hair loss. Psychological stress can, over time, also manifest itself in physical symptoms. The result can be diffuse hair loss , in which your hair becomes increasingly thinner and sparser. Too much stress can disrupt or alter the hair cycle.
During a stressful situation, certain messenger substances are released by neurotransmitters. As a result, the hair follicles are negatively affected by too many so-called stress hormones , causing them to become inflamed. Hair growth is permanently disrupted, and eventually, the hair falls out. This usually starts a vicious cycle, because for many sufferers, the hair loss leads to further psychological stress, which usually exacerbates hair loss. To escape this vicious cycle, you should try to reduce or avoid stress . Some medicinal plants, such as passionflower or lavender, have a calming effect.
But various relaxation exercises or physical activities can also create a good balance between your body and mind . Yoga or autogenic training can also be helpful. Also, make sure you get enough sleep so that your hair roots can regenerate at night. Insomnia inhibits this important recovery phase. In the best case scenario, your damaged hair roots will recover once you're less stressed.
2. Deficiency symptoms as a possible cause
Thin hair in men can also be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. Important nutrients are needed for healthy hair growth. For example, an iron deficiency can lead to hair loss. Hair roots need various vitamins and minerals to produce healthy hair growth. If you eat too little fruit, vegetables, fish, and meat, your hair roots may not be receiving enough nutrients. Simply maintaining a balanced diet can often be helpful.
If that's not enough, you can also take dietary supplements . These should primarily contain zinc, folic acid, vitamin B, biotin, iron, calcium, iodine, and selenium. Vitamin C and vitamin B complexes, for example, promote hair growth. Furthermore, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids help make your hair look shiny. Only as long as the cells in your hairline are supplied with important nutrients can new and healthy hair grow.
3. Medications and illnesses
Various conditions can also cause hair thinning in men. These include thyroid problems . If the thyroid no longer produces sufficient hormones, this can lead to hair loss and thinning. Hair growth slows significantly, which is why more hair falls out than can grow back. The result is that your hair becomes increasingly thinner over time.
In addition, taking various medications can lead to hair thinning. In particular, various beta-blockers ( blood pressure lowering drugs ), anticoagulants, drugs to reduce blood lipids or pain and rheumatism medications can cause thinning hair in men. Beta-blockers, for example, often contain the active ingredients metoprolol and propranolol, which can lead to premature death of the hair roots. But common painkillers such as ibuprofen can also cause hair thinning over time. In addition, some antidepressants cause the hair roots to die. If your thinning hair is caused by a medication, in many cases the hair loss improves on its own after a while once you have stopped taking the medication.
4. Avoid chemical hair care products
Thinning hair in men can sometimes also be caused by chemical hair care products. Especially when hair products contain a lot of toxic chemicals , these can attack delicate hair and cause significant damage. For this reason, you should always make sure to avoid harmful ingredients in your hair care products.
Care products that also contain alcohol deprive the hair of valuable moisture. Many care products contain sodium lauryl sulfate, which has been proven to damage the follicles and thus inhibit hair growth. Incorrect styling , such as excessive heat, can also cause lasting damage to hair. Therefore, you should opt for natural care products , as these do not contain chemical ingredients.
5. Overacidification promotes hair thinning
The combination of an unhealthy diet, too little sleep, and too little exercise can lead to many bodily functions no longer functioning properly. Due to these circumstances, the body cannot always maintain its regulatory mechanisms. If, for example, your acid-base balance is disturbed, the result can be chronic hyperacidity in your body. This hyperacidity leads to a mineral deficiency . Your body then also uses minerals from your scalp to compensate for the deficiency. This results in a lack of minerals in your scalp, which eventually no longer suffices for healthy hair growth.
As a result, the hair becomes increasingly thinner and eventually falls out. To counteract this cause, the body's acid-base balance must be balanced. An alkaline diet can often eliminate excess acidity. In addition, it may be necessary to take additional high-quality mineral supplements. You can also undertake a deacidification program.
How to strengthen thin hair
Sometimes genetics is responsible for thin hair. In this case, your hair lacks volume and lies flat on your head even at a young age. But in this case, you don't have to resign yourself to the suffering—this applies even if you're not currently considering surgery.
There are now high-quality shampoos specifically tailored to men's thinning hair. They add volume to the hair by wrapping itself around it like an additional layer. These care products are also enriched with vitamins that provide your hair with nutrients from the outside. However, you'll need to be patient when using them. Results are usually only visible after regular and long-term use of the respective product.
When it comes to thinning hair, diet shouldn't be neglected . As already mentioned, a balanced nutrient supply can also alleviate symptoms. However, if bald patches are already visible, you should definitely consult a specialist.
Hair transplantation as an effective solution
If you're suffering greatly from your increasingly thinning hair, you should first try to determine the cause of your hair loss . Hair loss is usually accompanied by a loss of self-esteem and quality of life. However, reducing stress, adjusting your diet, or stopping medication, for example, isn't always helpful. In cases where the hair roots have already been irreversibly damaged , new and healthy hair growth can no longer occur.
The only permanent solution for thinning hair in men is a hair transplant. Using the gentle and innovative FUE method, hair follicles can be harvested from the back of your head. After these have been prepared, they are reimplanted into the areas of your scalp affected by hair loss. By transplanting the hair roots, healthy growth can eventually occur even in bald patches.