Receding Hairline: How to Stop it?

As we become older, our hairlines usually move a bit higher above the forehead. Once the hairline recession has begun, it is challenging to stop it. If your hairline is receding, know that there are an increasing variety of therapies and treatments that can help restore the health and fullness of your hair.

Causes of Receding Hairline

It is important to understand the cause behind your receding hairline. While, in most cases, aging and inherited factors are to blame, receding hairlines can also occur due to the following reasons1:

  • Using excessive hair styling techniques, especially with the application of heat 

  • Styling your hair restrictively, such as constantly having your hair in braids or ponytails 

  • Dying your hair with chemicals, such as bleach and peroxide 

  • Consuming a diet high in saturated fats and preservatives 

  • Smoking cigarettes 

  • Struggling with inflammatory conditions of the scalp 

Treatments for Receding Hairline

Although there is no treatment for a receding hairline, there are health precautions and therapies that help prolong the appearance of fuller hair. The following is a summary of these treatments:

  1. Eating healthy 
    The appearance of your hair may improve if you consume a diet rich in antioxidants. Ingredients that combat oxidative stress include antioxidants. Several foods are high in natural antioxidants, including blueberries, spinach, kidney beans, and walnuts.

  2. Medication 
    Minoxidil2 (Regaine®) is the most popular over-the-counter (OTC) treatment for a receding hairline.  A 2015 study discovered that 40 percent of users have new hair growth as a result of using minoxidil3.

  3. Hair Transplant
    During a hair transplant procedure, hair is transplanted from the back of the head to the front of the head, close to the hairline. Your hairline may seem fuller thanks to these medically implanted hair transplants.

  4. PRP Treatment4
    Hairline receding can be treated with platelet-rich plasma treatment (PRP). During this procedure, a very little amount of blood is taken from your arms, and the platelet-rich plasma is sorted out by spinning the blood in a centrifuge. The plasma is then injected into the proper growth region on the scalp. As a consequence, the hair follicle is rejuvenated and restored, which promotes its development.

  5. Hair Care Products 
    While being gentle on your hair, certain shampoos and hair care products are designed specifically to stimulate the hair follicles. Typically, these shampoos do not include substances that strip the scalp of sebum (oil).

  6. Low-light Therapy 
    Lasers are used in low-level light treatment to promote hair growth on your scalp.  According to the experts, the light triggers your cells to start the anagen (growth) phase of hair follicles.

  7. Essential Oils 
    Essential oils can also be one way of promoting hair growth. For instance, Jojoba essential oil5 has been discovered to be an effective remedy for receding hairline. Prior to applying essential oils to the scalp, carrier oil should always be used.

  8. Scalp massage6
    Regular scalp massages might help your hair grow thicker and healthier. Increased blood flow around your hairline may be the reason scalp massage works to stimulate hair follicles. 

  9. Hairstyling 
    Changing the way you style your hair is a quick, low-cost strategy to combat hair loss. Numerous factors, such as excessive brushing, rough handling, and the usage of certain tight haircuts, can contribute to a receding hairline.

  10. Managing Stress and Anxiety 
    Stress7 has been linked to certain forms of hair loss. However, it can appear that reducing stress and anxiety is easier said than done.

When Should I Be Worried About My Hair?

Remember that some hair loss is natural. It is not mass hair loss. Consult your primary care physician or dermatologist if you have bald spots, patchiness, mass hair loss, or any other uncommon hair loss symptoms. A health issue may be present if you are losing your hair.

In conclusion, once the receding of your hairline has begun, there is no surefire strategy to stop it. However, there are now a lot more solutions available than in the past for strengthening the hair you already have so that it is less likely to fall out. A dermatologist or your primary care physician should always be consulted.  It's crucial to discuss with a doctor the best hair loss treatment strategy for you because different hair loss treatment methods will work for different people.

References:

  1.  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Onyenekenwa-Eneh/publication/279511811_RECEDING_HAIRLINES_PREVALENCE_IMPORTANCE_CAUSES_PREVENTION_AND_REMEDIATIONS_AMONG_NIGERIAN_CITY_WOMEN/links/5593da5b08ae1e9cb42a9709/RECEDING-HAIRLINES-PREVALENCE-IMPORTANCE-CAUSES-PREVENTION-AND-REMEDIATIONS-AMONG-NIGERIAN-CITY-WOMEN.pdf

  2.  https://www.proquest.com/docview/224825967?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true

  3.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25112173/

  4.  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2147/DDDT.S356858

  5.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691510001493?casa_token=Lb85e5tdxoIAAAAA:PF41fJ2JR-VuYqpNSm3_8tEW-AbNcC9mARBT5cfj4cq2FhChX5aDJn9ux7cWhvUdO1Ak4oxT6uk

  6.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740347/

  7.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022202X15309635