The Guru Guide to Thinning Hair
The Root Cause
The two most common types of hair loss are:
Androgenic Alopecia
For this condition, blame your parents as it’s genetic. Androgenic Alopecia occurs when hair follicles are sensitive to normal levels of androgens (a group of hormones that includes testosterone and androstenedione). “In response, follicles progressively and gradually shrink and produce hairs that are slightly finer and shorter,” say Anabel Kingsley, president of Philip Kingsley and a practicing trichologist. “Anything that impacts hormone levels—like stress, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), menopause and certain birth control pills—can make this worse.” The effects compound over time, and the result is significant, diffuse thinning.
Telogen Effluvium
If you’re suffering from excessive daily hair shedding (aka Telogen Effluvium), you can’t actually point the finger at Mom and Dad. Telogen Effluvium occurs as a reaction to an internal disruption, such as illness, a poor diet, rapid weight loss, stress, certain medications, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid imbalances or pregnancy. Telogen Effluvium starts 6 to 12 weeks after the event that triggered it. Some good news: “Telogen Effluvium is not progressive,” Kingsley says. “Once you identify the cause and fix it, hair loss will stop, and hairs will grow back as before.”
There’s a third type of hair loss that’s also widespread— Alopecia Areata, which manifests in patches. It occurs when the immune system attacks certain hair follicles in the anagen (or growth) phase of the hair lifecycle. Currently, there’s no proven treatment, but, in many cases, hair will spontaneously grow back on its own. “Avoid buying products that claim to regrow patchy hair loss—they do not work,” Kingsley says. “The only treatments that may be effective are solely available by prescription.”
To figure out which condition you might have, “We always advise starting with a self-assessment,” says Debby Vellozzi, head of product development for Virtue Labs. “Talking to your dermatologist, gynecologist or a functional medicine practitioner can also be helpful.”
Some questions to ask yourself:
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Have I experienced recent changes in my health or am I taking any new medications?
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Has my diet changed or am I facing higher levels of stress?
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Is there a history of hair loss in my family and/or might I be experiencing hormonal fluctuations due to pregnancy, childbirth, perimenopause or menopause?
Goal-Getters
Before
After
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4 months of Virtue Flourish Nightly Intensive Hair Rejuvenation Treatment use
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4 months of Virtue Flourish Nightly Intensive Hair Growth Treatment use
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6 months of Virtue Flourish Nightly Intensive Hair Rejuvenation Treatment use
Treating hair loss successfully requires a multi-pronged approach. “Good nutrition and gut health, stress management and a topical solution that encourages new hair growth—while improving the health of the hair you have—provide a good starting point,” says Vellozzi, who recommends new Virtue Flourish Density Booster as a daily treatment. Another everyday option is Phillip Kingsley Tricho 7 Daily Scalp Drops.