Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes of Hair LossReceding Hairline CausesPreventionDiagnosisReceding Hairline TreatmentPsychological Effects
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types of Hair Loss
Receding Hairline Causes
Prevention
Diagnosis
Receding Hairline Treatment
Psychological Effects
This article will discuss what causes a receding hairline, how it’s diagnosed, and what treatments are available for the condition.
Peter Dazeley / Getty Images
Hair loss, such as a receding hairline, can affect men or women, but it’s more common in men. For example, in one study involving 535 women and 419 men aged 17 and older, hair loss was prevalent in 67.1% of the men and 23.9% of the women. Hair loss is usually linked with aging, but younger people can also experience hair loss and a receding hairline.
Male Pattern Baldness
Having a receding hairline doesn’t always mean that a person will be entirely bald later on. However, it can be an early sign of a condition calledmale pattern baldness(also called androgenetic alopecia or AGA).
Usually, there is a distinct pattern that occurs when a male loses his hair. The loss commonly occurs in progressive steps, which may include:
Female Pattern BaldnessIn women, the pattern of hair loss is usually very different than in men. Usually, females do not have the typical receding hairline that happens at the beginning of male pattern baldness. Instead, women commonly experience thinning on the top and crown of the scalp.
Female Pattern Baldness
In women, the pattern of hair loss is usually very different than in men. Usually, females do not have the typical receding hairline that happens at the beginning of male pattern baldness. Instead, women commonly experience thinning on the top and crown of the scalp.
Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia
There is no cure for frontal fibrosing alopecia, but medications that slow the loss of hair may be effective in some cases, especially in the early stages of the condition.
Traction Alopecia
Traction Alopecia is a gradual hair loss resulting from constant pulling (from the hair being pulled back into a ponytail, pigtails, or braids). Limiting hair-pulling hairstyles can prevent the condition.
Losing hair happens as part of anormal cyclefor most people. It is normal to lose approximately 100 hairs a day.The hair slowly and gradually falls out, then new hair grows back again. But in some circumstances, the cycle doesn’t work the way it should.
With a receding hairline, the hairbegins to fall outas a result of damage to hair follicles. Under normal circumstances, as hair naturally reaches its maturity stage, strands fall out and new ones replace it. But when the hair follicles become damaged, there is a risk of scarring and the risk that hair will no longer regrow.
Genes are the most common cause of male- and female-pattern baldness (also known as androgenic alopecia).
Hair loss is usually related to one or more factors, including:
In addition, other factors that may cause a receding hairline include:
Shampoo Ingredients That Can Cause Hair Loss
Physical or Emotional Stress
Stress can be a major causative factor linked to hair loss. The name for stress-induced hair loss is telogen effluvium. The condition results in shedding large amounts of hair each time the hair is combed or shampooed.
Telogen effluvium may not be noticeable until long after a stressful event is over. It can take up to eight months before the hair loss subsides. Losing hair due to stress is usually temporary, but it can become chronic (long-term) in some instances.
Receding Hair Loss Prevention
There are some preventative measures that can be taken to prevent hair from falling out. These include:
Note, if the cause of a person’s receding hairline is hereditary, it cannot be prevented.
To help make a diagnosis, your dermatologist may order a scalp biopsy. A small sample of scalp tissue is removed to evaluate the tissue for scalp conditions.
Your doctor may also order a blood test to screen for medical issues. Some conditions, such as thyroid disease, can cause hair loss.
Treatment of a receding hairline depends on the cause. If a condition such as thyroid disease is causing a person to lose their hair, the treatment would involve treating the thyroid condition.
If an immune disorder (such as alopecia areata) is the cause of hair loss, steroid injections in the scalp may help. Olumiant (baricitinib), an oral medication, is now approved to treat severe alopecia areata.
Rogaine (Minoxidil)
Commonly,Rogaine (minoxidil)is used to slow down hair loss, or in some instances to reverse it.
Keep in mind that typically Rogaine is only effective for a receding hairline that is linked to male pattern baldness. It may not work for other types of hair loss.
Also, Rogaine is known for being more effective at restoring your hair in small batches rather than large areas. Early use of Rogaine will likely produce the best results.
A study looked at the effectiveness of Rogaine treatment for male pattern baldness. It found that 5% topical minoxidil was more effective than the 2% minoxidil or a placebo for new hair regrowth. In fact, men grew 45% more hair at week 48 than those who used the 2% topical minoxidil.
Other Types of Treatment
Other treatment options may include:
Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any regimen of drugs or supplements.
Psychological Toll of Hair Loss
The emotional reaction to losing one’s hair can be very significant. Studies and surveys have evaluated the impact that the loss of hair has on emotional health. One such survey of 2,000 men in the United States discovered that there may be a close association between a man’s work identity and his hair.
In the hair census, as many as eight in 10 men who were surveyed reported that the look of their hair was important and made them look professional and feel confident.
A dermatologist spokesman toldBBC News, “The researchers say, hair loss is a common disorder and it can cause considerable damage to emotional health, including loss of self-esteem and confidence.”
Summary
Both women and men can have receding hairlines. Men often have a condition called male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia or AGA). For women, a receding hairline may be due to frontal fibrosing alopecia, or scarring of the scalp. A variety of factors can lead to hair loss, including genetics, medications, hormones, and stress.
Treatment for a receding hairline may include medication such as Rogaine, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, or surgical hair restoration.
A Word From Verywell
Although having a receding hairline commonly causes concern for both men and women, many people have discovered that there is hope. New medical treatments and procedures on the horizon may help to slow down the process of a receding hairline.
Talking with a dermatologist or other healthcare provider can help you understand the cause of the condition and find treatment options.
Hair Loss in Women
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Salman KE, Altunay IK, Kucukunal NA, Cerman AA.Frequency, severity and related factors of androgenetic alopecia in dermatology outpatient clinic: Hospital-based cross-sectional study in Turkey.An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(1):35-40. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175241Penn Medicine.Male pattern baldness.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Female pattern baldness.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss types: Frontal fibrosing alopecia overview.University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Traction alopecia: A type of hair loss.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Do you have hair loss or hair shedding?American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss: Who gets it and causes.Malkud S.Telogen effluvium: a review.JCDR. 2015. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/15219.6492PR Newswire.FDA approves first systemic treatment for alopecia areata.Suchonwanit P, Thammarucha S, Leerunyakul K.Minoxidil and its use in hair disorders: a review.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2019 Aug 9;13:2777-2786. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S214907MedlinePlus.Finasteride.HSS.Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.Additional ReadingChew,E., Tan,J., Bahta, A., Liu,X…Hillmer,A.(2017).Differential Expression between Human Dermal Papilla Cells from Balding and Non-Balding Scalps Reveals New Candidate Genes for Androgenetic Alopecia.Journal of Investigative Dermatology.Ji Young Oh, J., Park, M., Kim, C. (2014).Peppermint Oil Promotes Hair Growth without Toxic Signs.Toxicological Research. (4): 297–304.Lee, B., Lee, J., Chu, Y., Kim, C. (2016).Hair Growth-Promoting Effects of Lavender Oil in C57BL/6 Mice.Toxicological Research.Mayo Clinic Staff.Hair Loss.MayoClinic.org.Olsen EA., Dunlap FE., Funicella T., Koperski JA…Trancik RJ. (2002).A randomized clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men.The Journal of American Academy of Dermatology.The American Academy of Dermatology Staff. (2010).Dermatologists can help women win the fight against common forms of hair loss.AAD.org.Westbrook, I. (2018)Potential new cure found for baldness.BBC News.com.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Salman KE, Altunay IK, Kucukunal NA, Cerman AA.Frequency, severity and related factors of androgenetic alopecia in dermatology outpatient clinic: Hospital-based cross-sectional study in Turkey.An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(1):35-40. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175241Penn Medicine.Male pattern baldness.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Female pattern baldness.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss types: Frontal fibrosing alopecia overview.University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Traction alopecia: A type of hair loss.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Do you have hair loss or hair shedding?American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss: Who gets it and causes.Malkud S.Telogen effluvium: a review.JCDR. 2015. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/15219.6492PR Newswire.FDA approves first systemic treatment for alopecia areata.Suchonwanit P, Thammarucha S, Leerunyakul K.Minoxidil and its use in hair disorders: a review.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2019 Aug 9;13:2777-2786. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S214907MedlinePlus.Finasteride.HSS.Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.Additional ReadingChew,E., Tan,J., Bahta, A., Liu,X…Hillmer,A.(2017).Differential Expression between Human Dermal Papilla Cells from Balding and Non-Balding Scalps Reveals New Candidate Genes for Androgenetic Alopecia.Journal of Investigative Dermatology.Ji Young Oh, J., Park, M., Kim, C. (2014).Peppermint Oil Promotes Hair Growth without Toxic Signs.Toxicological Research. (4): 297–304.Lee, B., Lee, J., Chu, Y., Kim, C. (2016).Hair Growth-Promoting Effects of Lavender Oil in C57BL/6 Mice.Toxicological Research.Mayo Clinic Staff.Hair Loss.MayoClinic.org.Olsen EA., Dunlap FE., Funicella T., Koperski JA…Trancik RJ. (2002).A randomized clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men.The Journal of American Academy of Dermatology.The American Academy of Dermatology Staff. (2010).Dermatologists can help women win the fight against common forms of hair loss.AAD.org.Westbrook, I. (2018)Potential new cure found for baldness.BBC News.com.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Salman KE, Altunay IK, Kucukunal NA, Cerman AA.Frequency, severity and related factors of androgenetic alopecia in dermatology outpatient clinic: Hospital-based cross-sectional study in Turkey.An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(1):35-40. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175241Penn Medicine.Male pattern baldness.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Female pattern baldness.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss types: Frontal fibrosing alopecia overview.University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Traction alopecia: A type of hair loss.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Do you have hair loss or hair shedding?American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss: Who gets it and causes.Malkud S.Telogen effluvium: a review.JCDR. 2015. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/15219.6492PR Newswire.FDA approves first systemic treatment for alopecia areata.Suchonwanit P, Thammarucha S, Leerunyakul K.Minoxidil and its use in hair disorders: a review.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2019 Aug 9;13:2777-2786. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S214907MedlinePlus.Finasteride.HSS.Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.
Salman KE, Altunay IK, Kucukunal NA, Cerman AA.Frequency, severity and related factors of androgenetic alopecia in dermatology outpatient clinic: Hospital-based cross-sectional study in Turkey.An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(1):35-40. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175241
Penn Medicine.Male pattern baldness.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Female pattern baldness.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hair loss types: Frontal fibrosing alopecia overview.
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Traction alopecia: A type of hair loss.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Do you have hair loss or hair shedding?
American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss: Who gets it and causes.
Malkud S.Telogen effluvium: a review.JCDR. 2015. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/15219.6492
PR Newswire.FDA approves first systemic treatment for alopecia areata.
Suchonwanit P, Thammarucha S, Leerunyakul K.Minoxidil and its use in hair disorders: a review.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2019 Aug 9;13:2777-2786. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S214907
MedlinePlus.Finasteride.
HSS.Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.
Chew,E., Tan,J., Bahta, A., Liu,X…Hillmer,A.(2017).Differential Expression between Human Dermal Papilla Cells from Balding and Non-Balding Scalps Reveals New Candidate Genes for Androgenetic Alopecia.Journal of Investigative Dermatology.Ji Young Oh, J., Park, M., Kim, C. (2014).Peppermint Oil Promotes Hair Growth without Toxic Signs.Toxicological Research. (4): 297–304.Lee, B., Lee, J., Chu, Y., Kim, C. (2016).Hair Growth-Promoting Effects of Lavender Oil in C57BL/6 Mice.Toxicological Research.Mayo Clinic Staff.Hair Loss.MayoClinic.org.Olsen EA., Dunlap FE., Funicella T., Koperski JA…Trancik RJ. (2002).A randomized clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men.The Journal of American Academy of Dermatology.The American Academy of Dermatology Staff. (2010).Dermatologists can help women win the fight against common forms of hair loss.AAD.org.Westbrook, I. (2018)Potential new cure found for baldness.BBC News.com.
Chew,E., Tan,J., Bahta, A., Liu,X…Hillmer,A.(2017).Differential Expression between Human Dermal Papilla Cells from Balding and Non-Balding Scalps Reveals New Candidate Genes for Androgenetic Alopecia.Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
Ji Young Oh, J., Park, M., Kim, C. (2014).Peppermint Oil Promotes Hair Growth without Toxic Signs.Toxicological Research. (4): 297–304.
Lee, B., Lee, J., Chu, Y., Kim, C. (2016).Hair Growth-Promoting Effects of Lavender Oil in C57BL/6 Mice.Toxicological Research.
Mayo Clinic Staff.Hair Loss.MayoClinic.org.
Olsen EA., Dunlap FE., Funicella T., Koperski JA…Trancik RJ. (2002).A randomized clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men.The Journal of American Academy of Dermatology.
The American Academy of Dermatology Staff. (2010).Dermatologists can help women win the fight against common forms of hair loss.AAD.org.
Westbrook, I. (2018)Potential new cure found for baldness.BBC News.com.
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