True or false: Losing hair is a normal part of aging?

Unfortunately, it’s true. While some hair thinning is a common part of getting older, it’s not always caused by age alone. A variety of factors (including certain medications, health conditions, changing hormone levels, genetics, and even nutrition) can contribute to hair loss. The good news is that understanding what’s behind your hair loss is the first step toward finding treatments or lifestyle changes that may help.

 

Hair Changes & Aging 

• Color Change 
  • Hair creates less pigment (melanin) as we age.  
  • While hair usually begins to gray around a person’s 30s, it’s tied closely to genetics and varies by person.  
• Hair Thickness 
  • Hair also becomes less full as we age.  
  • Hair strands become smaller, hair growth slows, and some hair follicles may stop making new hairs.  
• Age-related pattern baldness/Androgenetic Alopecia 

 

Contributing Factors 

• Diet: Do you eat a balanced diet? Some hair loss can be caused by nutrient deficiencies.  
  • Make sure you’re getting enough: 
    • Calcium 
    • Iron 
    • Protein 
    • Vitamin B12 
  • Want some help reaching your nutrition goals? Visit our blog post on Nutritionist Services.  
• Environment: Do you live in an area with severe weather or lots of sun exposure?  
• Family History: Does hair loss run in your family? 
• Grooming: Is your daily routine rough on your hair? Are you using strong chemicals or processes?  
• Health:  
  • Do you have inflammation or hormone changes?  
  • Are you on medication that can interfere with hair growth (e.g., blood pressure or cholesterol medications)?  
  • Have you recently had surgery or a long illness? 
  • Have you recently lost a lot of weight?  
  • When was your thyroid last checked? 
• Lifestyle: Do you smoke? Are you keeping your stress level under control?  
• Mental Health: Have you recently experienced a death of a loved one, or a stressful life event, like moving to a new area?  
• Menopause: Your body stops making as much estrogen and progesterone as it used to, leading to hair growing slower and shedding more.  

 

When to see your Doctor 

• Sudden or excessive hair loss 
• Sudden bald patches 
• Hair loss with a rash, flaking, or itchiness 
• If you’re concerned with the amount of hair you’re losing 

 

Hair Loss Treatments  

• Ordering a blood test to see if you have any nutrient deficiencies or other conditions that could be causing the hair loss.  
  • If your doctor identifies a nutrient deficiency, they may prescribe a supplement. 
• At-home medications to promote hair growth (e.g., Rogaine/Monoxodil, Propecia, etc.)  
• Anti-androgen medications (e.g., Aldactone/Spironolactone, Finasteride) work by blocking testosterone and other hormones that could be causing hair loss. 
• A doctor may recommend iron supplements if they think your hair loss may be caused by a deficiency or anemia (these are mainly prescribed to women).  
• Baby your hair. Make sure that ponytails and other hairstyles aren’t pulling on your hair and that you’re not over-processing your hair. This includes when drying hair- never tug or rub with a towel to dry.  

 

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