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Hair problem
Thinning hair, meaning less density all over the head, is a common complaint in men and women. It usually has more than one cause and is not always a recent loss. Here we explain how it differs from localised thinning, what may be behind it and what the doctor assesses.
Reviewed by Dr Michelle Campagnoli, clinical director
How to recognise it
Here, the loss of density is not concentrated in one place: the hair looks weaker and with less body all over the head. These signs help you understand whether it is your case.
Tick what you recognise
Tick the signs you recognise in your case. This is not a diagnosis, it is only meant to give you an idea.
Do you recognise some of these signs? There may be more than one cause behind thinning hair. Only a medical assessment can say for certain.
Several signs match an overall loss of density. It is worth looking for the cause with the doctor, because the way forward depends on it. Only a medical assessment confirms it.
Book an assessment consultationSudden, heavy hair loss, a painful scalp, sores, marked scaling, redness or patches that appear quickly should be seen without delay, because they usually have another cause.
Parting. It may look wider, and the scalp shows more along it.
Top of the head. Lower density here is usually noticed first, especially in direct light.
Sides and temples. In overall loss, they also become thinner, unlike thinning that is concentrated only at the front.
Why it happens
It is almost never just one thing. Choose a cause to see what makes it worse and what helps.
Genes are the most common cause of loss of density, in men and in women: the follicles gradually shrink and the strand becomes finer. There are usually cases in the family and the progression is gradual.
Letting years go by without an assessment while the follicle keeps shrinking.
Getting assessed early, because it is easier to monitor the progression than to recover what has been lost.
Hormonal changes, such as those of the menopause or polycystic ovary syndrome, may contribute to finer hair. The doctor requests hormonal tests only when they are useful.
Putting it all down to age and not investigating a hormonal change.
Understanding, with the doctor, whether there is a hormonal cause to monitor.
Low iron, protein or zinc and thyroid conditions can make the hair thinner, and in some cases correcting the cause helps the hair recover. The doctor assesses whether tests are worthwhile.
Taking supplements on your own, without knowing what is missing.
Tests for iron, vitamins and the thyroid, when the doctor considers them useful.
A period of stress, an illness, surgery, a very restrictive diet or certain medications may make more hair fall out than usual. Never stop a medication without speaking to the doctor who prescribed it.
Stopping medication on your own because you think it is the cause.
Telling the doctor what changed before the hair started to thin.
Some people lose hair diffusely over months or years without an obvious trigger, especially women between 30 and 60. It does not usually lead to going bald, but it may coexist with another cause, so an assessment is advisable.
Assuming it is just stress and postponing the consultation.
A consultation to look at the whole picture and understand whether there is more than one cause.
Overall, localised or acute
Not all thinning hair is the same. Telling loss across the whole head apart from localised thinning or acute shedding helps in choosing the way forward.
What it looks like. The hair becomes finer and has less body all over the head, and the scalp shows more, with no single area standing out.
How it progresses. It may be gradual, over months or years, or follow a difficult period, with possible recovery when the cause is resolved.
What the clinic does. The doctor looks for the cause or causes, examines the scalp and proposes a plan.
Follow-up. Progress is seen through reviews over a few months.
What it looks like. The thinning is concentrated on the crown, at the hairline corners or along the parting, or else the hair suddenly falls out in large amounts.
Warning. Pain, sores, marked scaling, redness or patches that appear quickly call for prompt assessment.
What the clinic does. The doctor identifies the pattern and points to the most likely cause.
Tell the doctor at the consultation. Where it started, how long ago and what changed: it helps in choosing.
Is your hair getting thinner and thinner? Book an assessment consultation, so the doctor can understand what lies behind it and what can be done.
Book an assessment consultationWhat the clinic can do
The plan depends on the cause and is always designed for you and monitored over time. These are the treatments the doctor may propose, after seeing your case. Results vary from person to person and science continues to study these treatments, so the doctor explains what is known and what you can expect before any decision.
Regeneration
Vitamins, amino acids, minerals and hyaluronic acid, which may help nourish the scalp and support finer hair.
Suitable when
the hair is finer and the doctor considers scalp nourishment appropriate.
Find out more→
Regeneration
Platelet-rich plasma, obtained from your own blood, which may help stimulate the follicle in some cases. The doctor first assesses whether it is appropriate.
Suitable when
there is a loss of density and the doctor considers stimulating the follicle appropriate.
Find out more→
Advanced regeneration
Regenerative solution that may help support the follicle and strand thickness, with a variable response.
Suitable when
the doctor considers it useful to reinforce the plan with a regenerating active ingredient.
Find out more→What about treating the cause? When there is a deficiency, a thyroid change or a medication to review, treating the cause comes first. The doctor explains the options after the assessment and, if useful, the tests. Results are gradual.
What the journey looks like
No treatment starts without an assessment consultation with the doctor. This is how it works.
The doctor asks since when the hair has been thinner, whether there are cases in the family, what changed at that time, and about medication and diet.
Examines the scalp and strands with trichoscopy, to see whether the hair is finer or whether there is another pattern.
If useful, requests tests, for example for iron, thyroid and other vitamins, and explains what to expect.
Combines the treatments that make sense with care at home, treats the associated causes and reviews the hair after a few months.
Day to day
Caring for the hair gently and for the body as a whole counts, alongside the doctor's plan. These are the kinds of care that matter most.
The golden rule
Thinning hair has several possible causes, and what helps with one may not help with another. Understanding what is going on with the doctor avoids spending time and money on random solutions.
Hair is made of protein.
In practice: include eggs, fish, pulses or yoghurt at every meal.
Fine strands break easily.
In practice: brush slowly, with a soft-bristle brush, and avoid pulling.
Sun and pollution also damage it.
In practice: protect the scalp from the sun and wash with a mild shampoo.
It helps to find the cause.
In practice: note when it started, any illnesses, new medications and stressful periods.
Cutting calories and nutrients worsens hair loss.
In practice: eat enough and favour nutrient-rich foods.
A very hot hairdryer, straightening and bleaching make fragility worse.
In practice: use moderate heat and space out colouring.
Taking several supplements on your own may not solve anything and can do harm.
In practice: speak to the doctor before taking supplements, especially iron.
It may be more harmful than the hair itself.
In practice: always speak to the doctor who prescribed them.
Who will look after you
At Luxmed, the first step is always an assessment consultation with Dra. Michelle Campagnoli. She looks for the cause of the thinning hair, requests tests if useful and designs the plan with you.
Hair medicine
From what comes from the genes to what changes with life.
Read the article →
Hair medicine
What the doctor may request and why.
Read the article →
Hair medicine
Small habits that respect finer hair.
Read the article →Other hair problems
Book a consultation
Choose how you prefer to get in touch. We will arrange the assessment consultation with Dr Michelle Campagnoli.
New Life Miraflores, Algés · Office Center, R. Santa Teresa do Menino Jesus n.º 6, 9.º C, 1495-048
Your details are used only for this contact. Any treatment depends on a prior medical assessment.
Not necessarily. Thinning hair describes less density; hair loss is what happens when the strands fall out. One can occur without the other, and the doctor works out which is your case.
There is usually more than one cause: heredity, hormones, deficiencies, thyroid, stress, medication or chronic shedding. Only a medical assessment says which weighs most in your case.
In overall loss the hair thins all over the head, and not in just one area. For the crown and the hairline corners, see the dedicated pages, and the doctor confirms the pattern at the consultation.
It depends on the cause. When the cause is resolved, such as a deficiency or temporary shedding, the hair may recover gradually. When it is hereditary, the aim is to monitor and support the hair. The doctor explains what is realistic for you.
Results are gradual and depend on the cause. The doctor explains what to expect in your case, and nothing is decided before the assessment.
Depending on the case: hair NCTF, hair PRP, hair exosomes and follow-up of the associated causes. None is chosen before the assessment consultation.
Often, yes. The doctor may request tests for iron, thyroid, vitamin B12 and zinc, among others, because deficiencies and thyroid changes may contribute in some cases.
As soon as you notice that your hair is thinner, because it is easier to understand the cause early. Sudden hair loss, a painful scalp, sores or patches that appear quickly should be seen without delay.
It can. A period of stress or an illness may make more hair fall out, and recovery is usually gradual once the cause passes. If it continues, an assessment is worthwhile.
They help care for the hair, but on their own they rarely resolve the cause. Supplements only make sense when a deficiency is confirmed, so it is best to speak to the doctor.
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This page is based on the sources below and was reviewed by Dr. Michelle Campagnoli. Last updated on .
The assistant does not give diagnoses or replace a consultation. The plan and cost of any treatment are set at the medical assessment.