Eva explains that this can be down to everything from diet to ill health, medications, stress and a depletion in stored vitamin and mineral levels.
“Male and Female Pattern hair loss is also incredibly common. In women this is where the centre parting widens allowing more scalp to be seen, the hairline thins and often the crown sits open and flat. There are 3 causes to this condition: genetic inheritance, sensitivity to male hormones and age. It is a very treatable condition that can be well managed with an ongoing treatment.”
Likewise, autoimmune conditions can often lead to hair loss. Eva tells me that the most common condition is called “Alopecia Areata, where the immune system attacks the hair at the root causing loss in circular patches”, with this having the potential to progress to total loss of hair on the head and even on the body.
Hair loss can also be caused by scarring autoimmune conditions such as Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, (FFA), a condition that “causes the hairline to recede and can cause recession right back to the crown”, with itching often being a common sign of these particular conditions.
It’s something we all likely already know, but more often than not thin hair is simply down to your genetics. While I had much thicker hair as a teenager, in my twenties I saw this thin out a lot just as my mum had.
Eva tells me that thin hair is “influenced by the diameter of the hair and the number of hairs that are growing from each follicle”.
She adds, “It’s also the number of follicles that you have on your head which is set by your genetics, and this can vary from an average of 100,000 to 150,000. Natural Blondes typically tend to have the most amount of hair follicles with red heads having the least amount.”
I guess blondes really do have more fun.
Beyond genetics, however, pattern hair loss also can lead to thin hair because these conditions see the hair miniaturise, making hair “thinner and thinner until it is unable to grow”.
In some cases, medications such as blood thinners, retinoids, antidepressants or anti-inflammatory treatments may cause hair thinning too.
What is Viviscal and who is it for?
Viviscal specialise in hair growth products that promote fuller, thicker hair, with their hair growth supplements for women having earned them fans such as Hailey Bieber along the way. Several studies in both men and women found the product increased the number of hairs and improved hair loss.
Trichologist Hannah Gaboardi explains “Viviscal is particularly effective for women experiencing thinning hair or hair loss due to stress, hormonal changes, or aging, while likewise proving useful in helping restore hair thickness postpartum.”
She adds, “If hair growth is slow or hair is brittle and prone to breakage, Viviscal can help improve hair strength and growth rate,” while “Women who have damaged their hair through over-styling, colouring, or heat can benefit from its nourishing properties.”
Essentially, Viviscal is most often used to treat:
- Women with thinning hair
- Postpartum fallout
- Women with poor hair growth
- Individuals recovering from hair damage