If you have noticed your hairline slowly recede over time, it is normal to panic and assume it may be male pattern baldness. And while these fears are not unfounded, seeing as a receding hairline is among the first signs of hair loss, it is, for the most part, a natural part of ageing. As such, it does not always mean you will lose your head of hair. Luckily, there are ways to prevent your hairline from receding any further and even restore lost hair.
Why your hairline recedes over time
A receding hairline or hair recession is when the hairline moves further up the head, driven by many factors such as ageing, genetics, or male pattern baldness. It is characterised by the hair thinning slightly near the temples or the hairline itself slowly resembling a U, V, or M shape when viewed from the top down.
This type of hair loss differs from widow’s peaks or other naturally uneven hairlines, which are believed to be solely hereditary due to your family history. Although a receding hairline can develop at any point in life, this change becomes noticeable as early as your 20s up to your late 40s.
The culprit behind this hair recession is almost always attributed to a male sex hormone called DHT or dihydrotestosterone. DHT plays a key role in a person’s development from childhood to adolescence but becomes less critical as one gets older. In some men, their DHT hormones can bind to receptors in their scalp and shrink their hair follicles.
Over time, this process inhibits the affected hair follicles from creating new hair, causing increased hair fall and eventual hair loss. The hair follicles at the hairline near the temples are typically the first to get affected by this miniaturisation.
Tips on managing hair recession
Although there is no silver bullet treatment to fully stop a receding hairline, there are treatments and health strategies that can help your hair look fuller for longer. These include:
1. Eating a healthy diet
Studies have linked hair loss and hair shedding to many nutritional deficiencies, such as iron, zinc and protein. Thus, following a healthy diet rich in essential nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants helps prevent these hair-related issues, promotes consistent hair growth, and helps your hair look fuller and healthier. When changing your diet, make sure to choose foods rich in the following vitamins and minerals, as they are essential to healthy hair growth:
- Iron
- Zinc
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin A
2. Lower your DHT levels
Seeing as DHT is the root cause of hair recession (and male pattern baldness, for that matter), blocking the hormone using medication is the most effective way to stop your hairline from receding any further. One of the most effective prescription drugs for this is finasteride, which prevents DHT-related hair loss and stimulates new hair growth.
3. Switch to a hair loss prevention shampoo
Although the shampoo you use will unlikely keep hair recession at bay by itself, that does not mean it cannot help treat and prevent hair loss. For instance, many hair loss shampoo products contain active ingredients like saw palmetto ketoconazole that may help prevent DHT from further affecting your hair growth.
Conclusion
A receding hairline is arguably the most common hair loss problem men face as they age. But more often than not, this change is natural and does not always mean you have male pattern baldness; to make sure for yourself, getting a proper diagnosis is the best way to verify. And with the many prevention tips and treatments at your disposal, including simple hair wigs for men to more complex hair transplants, your hairline receding should not pose much of an issue in the way of your appearance and confidence.
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