There have been several medical breakthroughs in the past decade & clinical researches have established effective treatment options even for androgenetic alopecia. So, yes, hair can grow back after thinning- hair regrowth is definitely possible. To be precise, your hair can grow back when hair follicles are intact, even if they’ve been temporarily dormant.
The interesting thing about the hair follicle is that it is self-regenerating, mostly. However, you still need to be proactive if you want to fight hair thinning and see positive results. The first step towards that is to know why hair starts to fall out.
The science behind hair fall
Normally, the cycle of growth and replacement is natural for hair follicles, but things can go wrong sometimes. Pattern baldness occurs when your hair follicles start to miniaturize.
The new hair shaft that is produced, becomes thinner and smaller with each hair cycle. This refers to miniaturizing. In the process, some follicles become too weak to generate hair and end up in a dormant state. After a few years of dormancy, follicles can stop producing hair.
Common causes
Hair loss has become a common problem these days. Statistically, around 6 out of 10 people start noticing the issue, by the age of 35. Whether or not you can regain a thicker mane largely depends on what is causing your hair to thin in the first place. Seek medical help for a proper diagnosis.
The underlying cause for a receding hairline is always different from one person to the other. Apart from age, hormones, nutritional deficiency, and medication, here are some of the common causes:
Androgenetic Alopecia:
This is the most common hair loss condition among women and men. In men, it usually causes hair loss patterns on the crown of the head and temples. Women, on the other hand, experience an overall thinning of the hair. The disease has to do with genes and a hormone derivative called DHT.
DHT causes the follicles to shrink which leads to thinner and shorter hair production. Low-level laser therapy has shown impressive results in cases of androgenic alopecia.
Alopecia Areata:
In this case, a person suddenly develops extremely patchy hair loss. This autoimmune condition happens when the immune system goes on attack mode and starts affecting cells in a growing follicular bulb.
If only the hair bulbs are attacked, follicles often tend to regenerate as and when the immune system is controlled.
Telogen Effluvium:
You can get this type of hair thinning if you’re going through prolonged mental stress or have just come out of serious surgery. This condition is purely stress-related which takes your head into a rampant shedding mode.
Treatment Options for hair regrowth
Not many people go for hair transplants as a means to combat this problem. Moreover, due to busy schedules, you may not be ready to commit to an in-clinic treatment.
So, what are your alternatives?
Pills:
You can opt for prescribed & FDA-approved medication like minoxidil and finasteride and treat androgenic alopecia. They work as DHT blockers and help regrow lost hair. If minoxidil fails to work for female pattern hair loss, spironolactone (women-only) is often prescribed as an alternative.
However, they all come with potential side effects like skin irritation and contact dermatitis among many others.
Home-remedies:
Store-bought hair fall shampoo, essential oils, and eating hair-healthy food might also encourage hair regrowth. However, home remedies lack scientific backing and may not be as effective. Also, there has been plenty of research on herbal remedies, but none have yet been approved by the FDA.
LLLT Treatment:
Low laser light therapy has recently become a hugely popular alternative to combating thinning strands. Clinical studies show that it is a highly effective & safe treatment for androgenic alopecia for men and women. You will find several FDA-cleared laser-based devices like laser caps, combs, and bands that are appropriate for home use.
These non-invasive devices use light energy to stimulate the hair follicles with consistent power at an optimum wavelength which revives the natural growth pattern of your hair. Follicular stimulation promotes collagen production and blood circulation which increases hair thickness and growth.
Hair specialists like the Cleveland Clinic recommend Theradome helmets as effective at-home laser treatment for hair. Capillus is another popular brand for caps using laser-only technology. Compared to LED lights, the higher energy density of lasers proves to be more effective for intense hair follicle stimulation.
Final Thoughts
As I’ve mentioned above, there are quite a few treatment options for thinning strands and hair fall. However, thinning hair can be reversed only when you intervene early. The chances of getting effective results become thinner, the longer you wait. That is also true in the case of LLLT devices, but be sure to check comparisons if you choose to go for this option.
All in all, please remember that hair takes time to grow, irrespective of the treatment option you choose. It is crucial to be consistent and not give up too quickly. It may take a minimum of 3 to 6 months before you see any positive changes.
