Many people are surprised to experience changes to their appearances, such as thinning hair or hair loss. This condition can happen to both women and men, and it can have many potential external and medical causes. Below are four reasons why your hair may be thinning over time.

4 Reasons Your Hair Changes 

1. Age

As you grow older, your scalp begins to create thinner hairs or stops making hair altogether. Senescent alopecia, or age-related hair loss, is a common symptom of growing older and is likely caused by lowered amounts of hormones. Some individuals experience this condition during middle-age, while others notice hair loss at age 65 and up.

2. Pregnancy

Around 40 to 50 percent of people who are pregnant experience telogen effluvium or hair shedding. This condition is temporary and often occurs around one to five months after being pregnant. While growing a fetus, the body is flooded with hormones that prevent hair loss, but once these levels fall, you may lose a lot of hair at once or shed follicles for three to four months. This condition rarely causes baldness, and normal hair growth should return within a year.

3. Length

Hair grows in regular cycles. Each strand may remain connected to the head for about six years and grow slowly as it gets longer. During this process, the follicles will grow toward the surface, making the hair more likely to fall out. Eventually, the strand will fall out, and the follicle may start growing again. For people with hair loss, the follicles can disappear, causing scalp baldness in men.

4. Medication

Many individuals experience hair loss after they start taking certain prescription medications. Beta-blockers, lithium, and amphetamines are common causes of this condition. Individuals undergoing cancer treatment like chemotherapy can also experience extreme hair loss since the treatment targets all dividing cells. 

If you’re concerned about hair loss, contact New-U in Rochester, NY, for help. The solution center has been open since 1987 and offers FDA-approved treatments to improve hair health and thickness. Call the Rochester-area hair loss specialists at (585) 272-7320 or visit the website to learn about their hair restoration services, including surgical and laser options for men and women.