Temple hair loss is the thinning of hair near the temples and is usually but not always the earliest sign of hair loss in both men and women. Since the temples and hair frame the face, hair thinning can drastically affect your appearance. Fortunately, there are many available treatments for temple hair loss. In this article, we’ll discuss the signs of temple hair loss and outline the best treatment methods.
Signs of Temple Hair Loss
Temple hair loss tends to begin gradually and subtly, so it is best to be familiar with the signs to address the problem early on.
When this type of hair loss begins, it will target the temples and they will recede giving you an M-shaped hairline. You will also notice that the hair around the temples is thin and falls very easily if you pull lightly on it. What is happening is that your follicles are miniaturizing, a process where hair follicles shrink and produce weak thinner hair. You will also notice hair shedding when you comb your hair while washing it, and even on your pillowcase.
Early signs of hair loss for women will be different, while they may not have a pronounced M-shaped hairline, they will notice so patches and hair thinning around the temples that make the hairline less regular. Likewise, hair loss in women will begin in the middle and they may begin to notice their parting getting wider.
What Causes Temple Hair Loss?
Temple hair loss is a symptom of androgenic alopecia, a condition where hair follicles respond negatively to androgens, like dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Over time, DHT will cause the hair follicles to shrink. But why does this only affect some people, and at varying degrees, and not others?
This is where we consider genetic factors, as in some people have more DHT-resistant follicles than others.
For women, many factors whether alone or in combination can cause hair loss. Some of these include stress, high androgen levels, irregular hormones, poor diet, and irregular sleep.
How to Treat Temple Hair Loss in Men?
Some of the best treatments for male hair loss include Minoxidil, hair transplantation, and Finasteride. They’re scientifically proven but only a hair transplant will give you a permanent solution.
Whereas minoxidil and finasteride may stop and even reverse hair loss, they are more like preventive methods. Likewise, their effects will stop if you discontinue the treatment, and hair loss will begin again.
In other words, in the advanced stages of hair loss, a hair transplant would be more suitable and its effects life-long. This is because a hair transplant works by extracting DHT-resistant hair follicles from the back of the head to balding areas. The hair follicles will thrive and grow in their location and will still preserve their hair-loss traits.
In terms of side effects, minoxidil, which is a solution you apply directly to the scalp has little side effects. These include scalp dryness, but you can combat that by moisturizing your scalp. Similarly, a hair transplant has little to no side effects. If you choose a reputable clinic and surgeon to perform the micro-surgery, you can recover in a few weeks.
On the other hand, Finasteride blocks androgens from not just attacking your hair follicles, but all over your body. This change in your hormones can cause a low sex drive and erectile dysfunction.
How to Treat Androgenic Alopecia for Women?
For women, options like Minxodil and Finasteride are available, but hair loss will resume once you discontinue treatment. It is best to address the problem from within. However, you should note that you cannot use these treatments when pregnant or breastfeeding as they can adversely affect the development of the fetus/baby.
You can fix hormonal imbalances from conditions like PCOS, through natural remedies such as marjoram tea. The plant is scientifically proven to regulate hormones in women. One study showed that marjoram tea was found to have some effects on hormone and insulin levels. It significantly lowered levels of DHEA-S, a hormone linked to stress and metabolism. For insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), marjoram tea didn’t show a significant reduction when compared to the placebo group. It is advisable to drink it in the form of tea twice daily and effects will begin to appear gradually and over time.
In Conclusion
Temple hair loss can be distressing, but fortunately, modern treatments offer you solutions to manage the condition. Early hair loss can be managed through Finasteride and Minoxidil for both men and women. But these medications only have effects while you’re using them.
A hair transplant is the only permanent solution to androgenic alopecia and temple hair loss. It is suitable for both men and women with advanced hair loss. However, women can see better results through natural remedies such as marjoram or medical remedies that target their hormonal imbalances.
