At What Age Does Hair Loss Start & Can it Be Reversed?
Are you noticing the part in your hair getting wider, or large clumps of hair falling out in the shower? This might be making you feel very concerned. Many women, just like you, come to me with the same hair loss questions: What age does hair loss start? Is it normal to already be thinning at my age? And can I reverse it somehow?
I’m going to answer all these questions for you in today’s post. Because yes, hair loss can start sooner in life than you think, and yes, there are ways to slow down or even reverse the process, depending on the causes of your hair loss. Let’s get into it.
7 Common Causes of Hair Loss
While many factors contribute to hair thinning and loss, let’s discuss the top seven most common causes.
As a reminder, some hair loss is a normal part of the hair growth cycle. But take note if you notice a lot more falling out in the shower for a while, or visible thinning on the scalp.
Age
Age is a common risk factor for hair loss. As we age, we experience a decrease in the number of anagen follicles and hair thickness, causing our hair to get thinner and more frail.
But there are other reasons age increases our risk of hair loss, like certain medications, illnesses, or hereditary predispositions we have.
Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic Alopecia, better known as male or female pattern hair loss, is the most common cause of hair loss. Surprisingly, nearly 50 percent of men and women are affected by this condition.
This disorder is genetic and involves the body’s excessive response to androgens. People can start experiencing androgenetic alopecia at any time after puberty, and since it is a progressive condition, the risk increases with age.
Intense Stress (Telogen Effluvium)
A sudden, intense period of stress can cause a condition called telogen effluvium. When the body is undergoing severe stress, your hair prematurely enters the telogen phase, or shedding phase of the hair cycle. This can cause thinning hair on top of the head, which typically grows back on its own three to six months after the initial stressor.
Alopecia Areata
Another less common cause of hair loss is alopecia areata, an immune system-related disease that attacks hair follicles and causes the hair to fall out. This condition can affect hair on any part of the body, but primarily affects the head.
Hormonal Changes & Childbirth
Major hormonal changes, such as decreased estrogen due to factors like childbirth, birth control, thyroid imbalances, and menopause, can cause hair loss. The good news is most new mothers will regrow their hair within the first year after giving birth.
Scalp Infection
A scalp infection called folliculitis causes inflammation of the hair follicles. This bacterial or fungal infection leads to the hair follicle falling out in the late stages. Topical antibiotic treatments can cure this condition, so it’s best to treat it early on before follicle loss.
Cancer Treatment
Chemotherapy drug treatments can cause hair to thin or fall out. This hair loss can start in 2-3 weeks after starting the treatment.
Age-Related Hair Loss
There are many reasons why an individual might experience the loss of hair density or fullness, but age-related hair loss is one of the most common and well-known.
As we age, our bodies may go through many different events and changes:
Changes in hormones, especially DHT and estrogen levels
Illnesses or cancer treatments
Certain medications
Hereditary male or female pattern baldness
Severe stress or grief
Many of these factors can cause the hair to get thinner, finer, and lose volume. And in many cases, we simply stop producing hair after our 60s.
What Age Does Hair Loss Start?
Let’s deconstruct the myth that hair loss only starts in old age and only affects men. Neither of these are true! Females can start developing female pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) as early as their 20s and 30s. But this progressive condition usually becomes an issue for most women in their 50s.
Other factors like childbirth, telogen effluvium, and birth control can cause temporary hair loss in a young woman’s 20s and 30s.
Of course, age-related factors also play a major role in hair loss. As much as 40% of women and 53% of men experience balding by the age of 65.
This significant hair loss in old age is usually a multifaceted process. A combination of androgenetic alopecia (which is genetic), aging itself, and hormonal changes caused by menopause leads to such a high percentage of people who experience thinning and total hair loss by their 60s.
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Can You Reverse Hair Loss? Age-Related Hair Care Tips
So now that you know more about what causes hair loss and what age it can start, you’re probably wondering: can it be reversed? That is the question! And sadly, the answer is … nuanced. It depends on the root cause of the hair loss.
As of now, there is no cure for hereditary female pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia). But there are plenty of steps you can take to slow this process down as you age, which I’ll get into below.
And if you’re dealing with a case of stress-induced telogen effluvium or sudden hormonal changes from childbirth, have no fear. Your hair thinning will improve in due time. Some of these tips can even help speed up the regrowth process.
1 - Holistic, Protein-Rich Diet
Give your body a leg-up by providing it with all the nutrients it needs to keep growing healthy hair. Nutrition is so important for the strength, shine, and vitality of our hair as we age. By loading up on foods dense with healthy fatty acids, protein, vitamins and minerals, we can bolster our hair against the effects of aging.
Incorporate some of these nutrient-rich foods into your diet for healthy hair:
Fatty fish like salmon
Avocados
Olive oil
Seeds & nuts
Lean meat like chicken and turkey
Eggs
Blueberries
Leafy greens like spinach
Multivitamin supplements
2 - Hair Care Supplements
Nourishing hair supplements can be useful for anyone at any age who wants to maintain beautiful, healthy hair. But those experiencing temporary hair loss due to things like intense stress, childbirth, or oral medications can especially benefit from high quality hair care supplements.
There is incredible data supporting the benefits of Viviscal Pro oral supplement. Controlled studies show significant hair growth for women experiencing thinning and hair loss.
I also recommend the Nutrafol line of hair care supplements for my clients. They offer different supplement types with varying nutrients that fit your unique needs, so browse around to find the one that fits your life. Consult with your doctor before starting on a new supplement.
3 - Consistent Daily Hair Routine
No matter your cause of hair loss, maintaining consistency with your daily hair care habits is key. Hair growth is not rapid; it requires patience and consistent effort over months and years to yield results.
With advancing age, our hair tends to become thinner and less elastic. To avoid drying out your hair and causing breakage, I’d recommend not washing your hair as often as you might be used to. You should thoroughly cleanse your scalp a couple times a week to keep healthy follicles, but you only need to shampoo once every 2-4 days.
You should also focus on consuming lots of nutrients daily in the form of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Make sure to get as much quality sleep as possible, and get regular exercise. Believe it or not, all these things are part of a consistent daily routine for healthy hair.
4 - Medical Treatments
If you’re experiencing a form of hair loss that’s irreversible, like female or male pattern hair loss, certain treatments may still help slow the progression of your condition and preserve the health of your hair.
Laser devices like the Capillus Laser Cap utilizes an effective LLLT (low-level laser light therapy) method to stimulate hair regrowth.
Minoxidil is also proven to work for both men and women experiencing hair loss.
Get An Individualized Hair Loss Treatment Plan
By now, you have a better understanding of how age plays into hair loss. It’s evident that hair loss can be complex. The treatments and solutions vary greatly, depending on the root cause of your hair falling out.
It can be a big challenge to address age-related hair loss, which is why it’s advantageous to consult an expert Certified Trichologist specialized in hair loss solutions.
We can thoroughly assess your hair with an in-depth evaluation, identify your unique symptoms, and get you started on a highly individualized hair care plan.
You’re not on your own in this journey to slowing or even reversing your hair loss. Get in touch to schedule a 1:1 in-person or virtual consultation with me for the best advice on how to manage your specific condition. Don’t wait–let’s address your hair loss head-on!
