Can You Prevent Hair Loss Before It's Too Late?
There's no shortage of pricey oils, gadgets, and OTC supplements promising to reverse shedding once it starts. But can you prevent hair loss before it even begins—especially if it runs in your family?
This is a fair question, since treating hair loss is notoriously difficult. As SELF previously reported, there really aren't any science-backed solutions proven to fully reverse balding and make your hair thicker—despite a market saturated with convincing gimmicks and 'clinically proven' labels. So early action probably sounds like the smartest move…but whether you can actually prevent thinning or balding entirely is more complicated than you'd think.
'The short answer is sometimes it's possible, but not always,' Hope Mitchell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Mitchell Dermatology in Ohio, tells SELF. That's because 'hair loss is complex and multifactorial, meaning there are many different types and causes. Some are 'preventable,' others are not.'
Below, derms break down what, if anything, you can do to lower the risk.
Hope Mitchell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Mitchell Dermatology in Ohio
Dara Spearman, MD, board-certified dermatologist and owner of Radiant Dermatology Associates in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD, Director of the Laboratory for Inflammatory Skin Diseases at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City
Some types of shedding are more preventable than others—mainly, ones associated with factors within our control. There's traction alopecia, which happens when repeated physical pulling on the hair causes damage, usually along the frontal hairline. And in this case, the fix is fairly simple, according to every derm we spoke with: Avoid tight updos like braids, extensions, weaves, slicked-back ponytails, and snug buns—all of which cause chronic tension and weaken your follicles permanently.
Excessive heat and harsh chemicals are also common aggravators you'll want to avoid if you're hoping to preserve thickness, Dr. Mitchell says. Specifically, we're talking about curling and straightening irons, along with straightening and relaxing treatments—over time, they can irritate your scalp and make it more likely for you to develop trichorrhexis nodosa, a condition in which weak points along the hair shaft cause your strands to break off.
Similarly, anyone who wants to hold onto healthy, strong strands for as long as possible should focus on maintaining supportive lifestyle habits. According to Dr. Spearman, that means regularly getting enough sleep and eating a nutrient-rich diet consisting of vitamin D, omega-3s, zinc, and vitamin B. Of course, none of this will guarantee you'll maintain a full scalp forever, but still, these tweaks can help give your hair a fighting chance.
Hereditary hair loss, technically called androgenetic alopecia, is one of the most common types in women—and it's also one of the hardest to treat. 'It's not truly 'preventable,' in the sense that we can't stop it entirely,' Dr. Mitchell says (you know, since it's genetic). 'However, we can often slow down the process or at least preserve hair density if we start treatment early.'
Many dermatologists will recommend starting oral or topical minoxidil (Rogaine) early, even before you notice obvious thinning. While this treatment has primarily been studied for addressing existing thinning (rather than preventing it), the idea is that because minoxidil works by lengthening the hair's growth phase, it may delay the onset of overall thinning, Dr. Spearman says.
'When the cause is genetic, there are also in-office treatments that can lower or slow down the risk,' she adds. For example, 'microneedling is a technique used to stimulate blood flow, which can promote growth.' Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, a process that involves extracting plasma from your blood and injecting it into the scalp, may also be used preventatively. Still, even these pricey options aren't 'one and done' solutions to dodge your dad's receding hairline, Dr. Spearman points out. You'd likely need a multifaceted approach that may require you to also use minoxidil and spironolactone consistently—and even then, results aren't a given.
In some cases, autoimmune disorders like alopecia areata can trick your immune system into attacking healthy body tissue, leading to patchy bald spots. 'This is not something we can prevent,' Dr. Guttman-Yassky says (since it's often hereditary or linked to other chronic conditions like psoriasis, thyroid disease, or vitiligo). That said, 'it is something that can be treated more effectively the earlier you see a doctor,' she adds.
Early intervention, in this situation, might involve corticosteroids (like hydrocortisone and prednisone) to calm inflammation and curb your autoimmune response. There are also medications called immunomodulators that help your immune system work more effectively. 'Time is of the essence,' Dr. Guttman-Yassky adds. 'So you'll have a much better chance to grow your hair if you get treatment within the first three and a half or four years of catching it.'
For the most part, though, preventing hair loss entirely is challenging and in most situations, not realistic. And rather than getting your hopes up with 'quick' fixes promising to delay the inevitable, the smartest thing you can do to get ahead of it is to see a dermatologist early on, if you can. They can identify the type of shedding you're dealing with, then walk you through your options—which to be clear, won't guarantee you'll keep every strand on your head. But a professional's expertise is your best shot at holding onto as much as you can, for as long as you can.
Related:
Who Really Needs a Scalp 'Detox'?
Can a Hair Gloss Treatment Actually Make Your Hair Healthier?
How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?
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Originally Appeared on Self
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