A receding hairline is a common phenomenon both men and women experience as they age. Men are more susceptible to receding hairlines. In fact, it is one of the first signs of male pattern baldness and can be caused by a variety of factors.
In case you noticed you are having receding hairlines, it may be due to the following:
1. Age
Hair loss comes with aging. There are thousands of hair follicles on the surface of the scalp, each growing their own hair. As these hairs fall out, new ones replace them. When the hair follicles become damaged for any number of reasons, the result can be hair loss and a receding hairline.
2. Hormonal changes
Hormonal changes may be the trigger for hair loss in both men and women. A hormone called DHT may have a link to male pattern baldness, as it causes the follicles to shrink to the point that no hair can grow in them anymore.
3. Family history
Do you have a family history of baldness? Family history plays a role in receding hairlines. Men with a family history of baldness may be more likely to lose their hair. The loss may even follow a similar pattern as previous generations.
4. Medications
Some medical procedures or treatments may also cause hair loss. A typical example is chemotherapy, which often causes a person’s hair to fall out.
5. Stress or illness
Stress or illness may lead to sudden hair loss called telogen effluvium. People usually experience this as an unexpected shedding — where they lose much more hair than usual in a short period. Luckily, this hair loss often reverses itself without treatment.
6. Lifestyle choices
There may also be a link between particular lifestyle choices and hair loss. People who smoke may experience hair loss faster than people who do not smoke. There may also be a link between receding hairlines and diet. For example, people who do not get enough protein in their diets may lose more hair than people who eat enough protein.