Noticing more hair in the brush, a widening parting or less density at the temples or crown is unsettling, and it is very common: around half of men and a significant number of women experience thinning by middle age. There are several causes, some of which are treatable and some of which need a medical check first, which is why the first step is always working out why.
Why hair thins
The most common cause is hereditary hair loss, androgenetic alopecia, in which hair follicles gradually shrink under the influence of hormones, producing finer, shorter hairs until they stop producing at all. In men it shows as a receding hairline and thinning crown; in women as a widening parting with the hairline usually preserved.
Other causes include a temporary shedding after illness, surgery, childbirth or significant stress (telogen effluvium), which usually recovers on its own; low iron, vitamin D or B12; thyroid problems; hormonal changes around the menopause; and some medications. Some of these are easily corrected once found, which is why a blood test from your GP is a sensible early step.
What helps
For hereditary thinning caught early, while the follicles are still producing hair, PRP scalp treatment can slow loss and thicken the hair that remains. Platelet-rich plasma is prepared from a small sample of your own blood and injected into the scalp, where its growth factors stimulate the follicles. A course of three sessions a month apart, with maintenance a couple of times a year, is typical. PRP works best alongside prescription topical or oral treatment from your GP, and we will suggest you discuss those.
PRP cannot bring back hair from follicles that have already closed, so the earlier treatment starts the better the result. Where thinning is advanced, hair transplant surgery is the only option that restores lost hair, and we can advise on when that is worth exploring.
What a consultation involves
We will look at the pattern and extent of thinning, ask about your history and any recent changes, and recommend blood tests through your GP if they have not been done. If PRP is suitable we will plan a course and take photographs to track progress.
