Why Is My Hair Getting Thinner? Common Causes Explained

The ponytail that you tie up no longer feels as big as before. You find your hair parting much wider than before. Or maybe you’re just noticing more hair on your pillow and shower drain.

In case you ask yourself “Why is my hair getting thinner?” just because you’re losing more hair than before.

Thinning of hair occurs either due to an increase in the number of strands that shed, due to the regrowth of finer hair strands, when hair growth is affected by poor nutrition, and even when hair is continuously subjected to styling and is damaged.

It's all about identifying the change and when it happened.

Here’s what the most frequent hair loss triggers entail and how to deal with them.

Hair Fall, Hair Thinning or Hair Breakage?

However, these three terms are usually interchanged, but they do not mean the same thing.

Hair loss, or hair shedding, means that hair strands have been shed from the scalp. Shedding of hair is common during the growth process of hair, although excessive shedding may cause hair to look less thick.

Hair thinning simply means that you have lost hair density either overall or strand by strand. Common symptoms include increased parting of the hair, more scalp visibility, thinner ponytail, or loss of volume.

Hair breakage occurs due to breaking of hair along the shaft. Heat treatment, chemicals, tight hairstyles, and handling hair roughly can make hair appear to be thin despite the follicles growing hair. 

This is important since the factors responsible for hair thinning and those responsible for breakage are not always the same.

1. Hormonal Changes Can Affect the Hair-Growth Cycle

The role of hormones in different stages of hair growth is why hormonal imbalances can be included in the list of major reasons for hair loss. (1)

The most significant example in this regard is the occurrence of hair loss in women after childbirth. As there is a sudden reduction in pregnancy hormones, an increasing number of hair which were in the growing stage are pushed into the resting stage.

Postpartum hair loss will often show up in the form of thinning of the hair all over the scalp; whereas, female pattern baldness may be seen in widening of the parting at the mid-scalp line.

Pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause, and some other hormonal imbalances can affect the hair growth cycle as well.

For more on hormone-related hair changes, explore our blog: https://healthetc.life/blogs/news/hair-loss-in-women-hormonal-nutritional-stress

2. Nutritional Gaps Can Affect Hair From Within

Hair growth needs sufficient protein, calories, vitamins, and minerals. However, all nutrients may not have an impact on hair thinning for every individual—the important factor is the presence of deficiency or lack of sufficient intake. (2)

For instance, changes in hair due to biotin occur only in cases where there is deficiency of biotin. Inadequate iron may cause loss of hair in the absence of enough iron in the body. Deficiency of zinc may impact hair growth as well.

This is why taking a high-dose supplement just because it has “hair vitamins” does not always solve the problem.

Supporting Hair Nutrition With Health Etc Hair Health Gummy

If your hair routine needs nutritional support from within, Health Etc Hair Health Gummy is formulated as a daily hair-health supplement combining biotin, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, grape seed extract, and soya isoflavones.

This product formulation contains nutrients like biotin, zinc, iron, folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin B3, B6, C, D3 and E, as well as amino acids like L-lysine, L-arginine, L-tryptophan and glycine.

The reason why this kind of formulation is important to hair growth is because of its wide spectrum of nutrition instead of only concentrating on one ingredient like biotin.

Explore Health Etc Hair Health Gummy

The recommended dose is 1 gummy each day after meals and should be thoroughly chewed before swallowing. For optimal nutritional benefits, consistency is key, using this supplement for 3-4 months at least is essential.

3. Stress Can Affect Your Hair Months Later

Another often unconsidered factor that leads to hair loss is excessive physical or psychological stress. (3)

Severe sickness, an operation, weight loss, intense psychological stress, or any other form of physical stress may result in telogen effluvium, which causes more hair to transition to the resting stage.

The key is the delay; the hair does not fall out right after the stressful situation happens. This is because the hair follicles are going to be in the resting phase for weeks or even months before they fall out.

Therefore, in the case of hair loss, rather than focusing on the current situation alone, it would be better to review the past few months.

For a closer look at how hair follicles connect to healthy hair growth, explore: https://healthetc.life/blogs/news/follicle-connection-how-hair-gummies-work-at-the-root

4. Genetics Can Cause Gradual Hair Thinning

In some cases, the reason behind your hair thinning might actually be genetic. (4)

Genetic hair loss can occur in both males and females. In women, this type of hair loss is characterized by general thinning without having a bald spot on the head.

Some signs that you might have include:

• The center is getting wider.

• The scalp is becoming more visible on the head.

• A thinner ponytail.

• Skinny hair strands.

• Lesser hair volume.

Because this can occur gradually, taking pictures of your receding hairline and crown periodically can assist you in determining if there is indeed a change in density.

If such patterns are observed among your family, then genetics could be one of the reasons for the hair loss.

5. Your Hair Routine Could Be Causing Breakage

The loss of hair does not have to begin on the scalp.

Straightening, curling, bleaching, colouring, chemicals, extensions, and tight styles can damage the hair shaft.

This can result in breakage, which can make your hair look thin, even though the number of follicles has not changed.

The simplest sign is what kind of hair you are losing.

Uneven and short hair strands: more indicative of breakage.

Whole strands coming out from the scalp: indicative of shedding.

Preventable hair breakage can be minimized by decreasing exposure to heat, eliminating tight hairstyles, nourishing the ends, and being gentle with wet hair.

6. Your Scalp Health Can Be Part of the Problem

Hair grows from the scalp, which means that anything going on in the scalp should not be neglected. (5)

Itchiness, reddening, flaking, inflammation, heavy dandruff, or sensitivity on the scalp along with hair thinning may signal problems with the scalp.

If your scalp is constantly irritated, changing your shampoo from time to time will not help you.

It can be determined by a dermatologist whether you have a certain problem on your scalp that causes your hair to fall.

What Should You Do If Your Hair Is Getting Thinner?

Hair loss is not a one-size-fits-all problem because different causes may call for a different remedy.

Here are some basic facts:

Consider your nutrition. Ensure that you have sufficient protein intake and consume foods rich in nutrients. If needed, include dietary supplementation using products such as Health Etc Hair Health Gummy in your regimen.

Take care of your hair. Limit heat exposure, chemical treatment, and harsh brushing.

Look after your scalp. If you notice constant itching, scaliness, redness, or inflammation, do something about it.

Monitor the difference. Measure the density of your parting line, crown, and ponytail over several months, not daily hair fall.

Look back. Reflect on any changes that may have occurred during the past few months, whether related to stress, health, weight, eating habits, hormonal balance, medications, or lifestyle. 

This approach is often more productive than just trying another hair product.

When Should You Get Hair Thinning Checked?

The loss of a couple of strands of hair does not mean there is a problem.

However, a professional hair loss assessment is worthwhile if you notice:

• Sudden hair thinning

• Excessive hair loss

• Visible bald spots

• The widening of a parting line

• A persistent problem with hair loss

• Irritated, itchy, scaly, or painful skin on the scalp

• Loss of hair after suffering from an illness

Determining the cause is important because the right hair thinning solution will depend on it.

References

1. Hormonal Effects on Hair Follicles - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7432488/#sec2-ijms-21-05342

2. Diet and hair loss: effects of nutrient deficiency and supplement use - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5315033/#sec1

3. Psychology of Hair Loss Patients and Importance of Counseling - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8719979/#sec2

4. Genetic Hair Disorders: A Review - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6704196/#Sec9

5. Scalp Condition Impacts Hair Growth and Retention via Oxidative Stress - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6369642/#sec1-2