Taking the Mystery Out of Balding and Thinning Hair

Dr. Constance Odom, MD

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Constance Odom, MD

Dr. Constance Odom, MD

About

Constance Tambakis Odom, MD graduated in 1987 with her Doctorate of Medicine from the New York Medical College, and was an Anesthesiologist Resident from 1988 to 1991 at the Brookdale Medical Center PGY II (CA-I)-PGY IV (CA-III). She is Board Certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology since 1998 and American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine since 2002. Constance Odom, MD is affiliated with the American Medical Association, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, American Society of Anesthesiology, Georgia Society of Anesthesiology, Hellenic Medical Society of New York, North Carolina Society of Anesthesiology, and Society of Ambulatory Anesthesia.

Credentials

Medical Director At:

• Nu Image Medical
• MetroMedispa P.A.

Staff Anesthesiologist at:

• Betsy Johnson Regional Hospital in Dunn, NC
• Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, NC
• Duplin General Hospital in Kenansville, NC

Director of Anesthesia Services at:

• Jacksonville Surgery Center in Jacksonville, NC

Written by our editorial team.

Last Edited 3 years ago · 4 min read

Many fear that the aging process will bring balding and hair thinning, and though there is truth to this assumption, it isn’t just growing older that can cause you to lose your hair. Men and women alike struggle to maintain healthy hair throughout their life, and a number of factors can influence their success. Thanks to breakthroughs in research and medications, it is possible to reverse conditions of hair loss. The earlier you can take advantage of these treatment plans, the greater your chance of success in saving your hair.

Taking Notice

It might surprise you to know that few people recognize the earliest signs of problems with hair growth and loss, especially considering how often people are looking at their reflections. It is estimated that men look at their reflection around 23 times a day, while women only take a peek at their looks around 16 times a day. Even if you aren’t around a mirror all day, the number of selfies and photos getting snapped with smartphones and digital devices puts appearance at the forefront of many activities. There are lots of early signs, but these aren’t always the same between individuals, making it more difficult to recognize when you are headed for serious hair trouble. The following three signs are some of the most easily recognized and earliest appearing.

1. Change in Your Hairline. For men and women, the changes in the hairline will be slightly different, but this is the place to start looking. For men, baldness begins with a shift from your flat or mildly receding hairline into an obvious M-shape around your temple and crown. It may start subtly with thinning but gradually progress to a total loss. Women can also develop an M-shaped hairline, but it might be more difficult to notice when the hair is worn down and around the face. Pulling hair back into a ponytail or bun could reveal that thinning or loss has started. Looking at photographs may give you an indication that something is going on, especially if you can compare photos taken a few months or years apart. Photos give you the advantage of someone else’s point of view, rather than just the reflection you see each morning.
2. Thinning of Your Hair. Though thinning may occur around the hairline, many people have diffuse thinning. Loss occurs all over the scalp or in specific areas like the crown. Many people aren’t able to see the back of the scalp in the mirror, but extreme conditions of thinning are often felt and noticed when trying to style your hair. Some loss occurs in patches, particularly when a medication is a leading factor. Stress can also create an overall thinning.
3. Noticeable Loss During Maintenance. Though it seems like a lot, it is completely normal for an individual to lose anywhere from 75-100 hairs a day. It’s probable that shampooing and conditioning will cause four or five hairs to fall out, just as will blow-drying, combing, and the entire styling process. Seeing a few hairs on the shoulder area of your shirt or pillowcase isn’t cause for alarm either. However, when you notice that your shedding starts to become frequent and excessive, there could be an increased risk of a serious condition developing.

Taking Action

When you have been alerted to the problem, your next step is to take action. Prevention is possible in some cases of hair loss, but early intervention can prevent total loss and balding. One of the ways that has been most effective at keeping hair from falling out is blocking the production of DHT. This is an androgen hormone and the one that is associated with creating male characteristics. Women also have this hormone in their body, but not to the extent of males. With too much DHT in the scalp, researchers have found that it causes the hair follicles to shrink and stop producing hair. Whenever a hair falls out, this means the follicle doesn’t replace it. Over time, the result is a scalp that doesn’t have hair growing.

NuDew is an effective product at blocking the production of DHT. This medicated formula combines finasteride, minoxidil, and ketoconazole. The fact that this product combines three medications is one of the key benefits of NuDew. Working together, the product is able to address loss from a preventative and restorative position.  Ketoconazole is an antifungal medication that is used for conditions of the skin or scalp, and it has been directly linked to improving hair growth. Finasteride has been an FDA-approved drug on the market for several years for men who are struggling with alopecia. This medication is a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. This means it keeps testosterone from breaking down into the harmful DHT that is associated with baldness. It has been shown to be safe for long-term use. Minoxidil is a formula that works to reduce the rate of loss an individual experiences. When it originally came on the market, it was only approved for use in men. However, it has now been deemed safe for women to use as well. Both finasteride and minoxidil may also encourage the growth of new hair, though results vary by individual.

Taking Preventative Measures

Using Nu Dew is a highly recommended way to make sure your condition of balding or thinning doesn’t get any worse. However, there are some things that you can do throughout your normal routine to help protect your hair. While hairs have growth patterns that are fairly regular and have a lot to do with genetics, factors like the environment, hair products, nutrition, stress levels, medications, and hairstyles can impact how healthy your hair is. Hair is grown from a follicle under the scalp, which are the cells that create growth. Cells require healthy blood supply and adequate nutrition to function and develop correctly, so a poor diet with very little nutrition can sabotage how strong and healthy your hair may grow. How you style your hair and the products you use on a daily basis can also impact how well your hair can hold on. Harsh chemicals strip your hair of its protective nutrient-rich oils, and unnatural styling and high-heat settings can tug and pull on dry, brittle hair. There are some medications that have a hand in creating balding, with chemotherapy and cancer treatments being some of the most damaging. Stress is another factor that few realize can have a damaging effect on the hair. Stress causes hair follicles to go dormant, so when loss occurs more naturally, the hair strand isn’t replaced. Those who deal with severe stress are also more likely to have a poor diet, keeping their hair strands from being strong and resistant to damage.

Taking Control

Those who experience total balding and noticeable thinning often struggle with their appearance and feeling the pressure to take control of their situation. Though you should never feel bad about yourself or believe that beauty is what is seen on the outside, you do have the ability to take control of your hair problem. Whether you need to change your lifestyle to be more supportive of your hair needs or you need to schedule an appointment to get your own prescription of Nu Dew, you have to power to cultivate great hair and feel confident about who you are.

Nu Image Medical® offers a new and futuristic approach to achieving optimal health and wellness. The company has been a weight loss, anti-aging and wellness provider since 2004 and offers medically supervised programs for medical weight loss, peptides, erectile dysfunction, scream cream, and hair loss (NuDew) 

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your physician about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Nu Image Medical may not offer the medications or services mentioned in this article.