Hair loss in men is common, and there usually is one reason it occurs. Diffuse thinning, however, can happen to people occasionally, no matter your gender or age, and we want to explain what the condition is and how it can affect you.
Diffuse Thinning: What Is It?
Consistent, temporary thinning across the scalp can sometimes result from diffuse thinning. Rather than male pattern hair loss slowly causing men’s hair to thin and lose hair at the hairline or crown – the areas it affects typically first – diffuse thinning can cause all the hair on your head to look thinner and nearly completely bald on parts of your scalp.
Thankfully, the condition is not permanent and usually lasts around half a year. However, you can still address the concern with different products that support healthier growth, like a DHT-blocking shampoo.
The Signs of Diffuse Thinning
There are a few ways to spot whether you’re experiencing diffuse thinning. First, check your pillow each morning to determine whether more hair is found on the pillow from your sleep than usual. You should also inspect your shower floor and drain to see if more strands are found there or on a comb or brush if you use one.
On your head, you might feel that your strands aren’t quite as thick as before. If you run your fingers through your hair, you could notice the difference or even see more of your scalp than before by inspecting it in the mirror. It can be challenging to know because hair thinning occurs over a long period, and you might confuse diffuse thinning with male pattern hair loss as a man. Still, diffuse thinning can be identified by a professional.
The Causes of Diffuse Thinning
Similarly to male pattern hair loss, diffuse thinning typically occurs when DHT is shrinking your hair follicles by binding with them, making it harder for your hair to grow healthy strands. Everybody has a hair cycle that contains a resting period and a growth period; when DHT is present on the scalp, it reduces the amount of time your hair spends in its growth (anagen) stage and increases how long it spends in its resting (telogen) phase, leading to worse hair growth that looks thin and can eventually cause hair loss.
What to Do About Diffuse Thinning
There are helpful steps you can take to fight this problem. Contacting a hair loss specialist to determine the severity of your hair loss and determine if diffuse thinning is the problem should be the first action.
For many men, prescribed medications like Finasteride and Minoxidil are the best choices to combat hair loss. Finasteride is proven to help the body resist the conversion of testosterone to DHT in the body. In contrast, Minoxidil revitalises your scalp to increase the blood flow and oxygen to the area.
A DHT-blocking shampoo can target the DHT hormone on your scalp and protect it against the negative consequences it causes. Using this should be part of your daily routine, and you’ll hopefully see thicker hair after consistent, regular use.