What every man should know about diffuse thinning and hair loss 

From Jeff Bezos to Dwayne Johnson and even your Uncle Mike, there are plenty of men who are more than happy to be hair-free. But that doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for you.

If you’ve been noticing more hair in the shower drain and less on your head, you might be wondering what it means.

Here is your simple, science-backed guide to diffuse thinning – what it is, why it happens and what you can do about it.

What is diffuse thinning?

We promised to simplify, so let’s start from ground zero. There are three main types of hair loss [3]: 

• Patterned hair loss follows a defined pattern; typically around the hairline, sides and top of the head
• Diffuse hair loss is spread evenly across the scalp
• Focal hair loss is sudden hair loss or bald patches in small, defined areas

So, diffuse thinning refers to hair thinning across your entire scalp [1].

While that might sound like you’re about to wake up bald, rest assured, it is a gradual process and often reversible with time or treatment.

What causes diffuse thinning?

The most common cause of diffuse thinning is a condition known as telogen effluvium. In non-medical terms, it’s called excessive hair shedding [1][2][3].

You might be wondering what counts as ‘excessive’. Well, most people shed between 50-100 hairs per day, so an excessive amount of hair loss would be more than this.

Experts generally say that dropping more than 200 hairs per day counts as excessive hair shedding.

Don’t worry – you don’t have to sit down and count them. A more practical approach is to consider what’s left on your head.

If it seems like more hair is falling than growing, we recommend checking in with a doctor or dermatologist.

How long does diffuse thinning last?

If your thinning hair is caused by telogen effluvium, then we have good news. This condition is usually short-lived, lasting less than 6 months [1].

For some people, it can last up to 9 months or more. In both cases, there is no specific treatment plan, but it can be helpful to check for underlying causes [2].

We know that in real-time, 6 months can feel very slow. So, we wanted to talk a bit more about the potential causes that you can explore with your doctor.

Later, we’ll also share some lifestyle tips for thicker-looking hair in the meantime.

Common culprits of diffuse thinning in men

Diffuse thinning usually begins a couple of months after a triggering event, such as [3][6]:

• Chronic stress
• Rapid weight loss
• Severe illness
• Major surgery
• Certain medications
• Vitamin deficiency

If your hair is thinning but none of these appear to be the culprit, then you may be dealing with male pattern baldness.

As with any medical condition, you should be working with your doctor or a dermatologist to find the cause and best treatment options.

Diffuse thinning vs. pattern hair loss: What’s the difference? 

A lot of men worry that diffuse thinning is a fast track to full-on balding, but that’s not always the case.

There are 3 key differences between diffuse thinning and male pattern hair loss that we think you should know.

Shedding vs hair loss

Diffuse thinning is usually caused by excessive shedding, which means that more hair is falling out than growing. The key factor here is that hair growth is still happening [2].

Pattern hair loss is when your hair stops growing, which means once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. Luckily, there are treatments available that can help slow down hair loss and stimulate hair growth [1].

You can explore your treatment options with the help of your regular doctor, get a referral for a dermatologist or consider a telehealth option like Pilot’s hair loss treatment.

Pilot offers the same highly effective medical treatments as traditional practices, with the added convenience of online support. Our Aussie practitioners will prescribe a personalised treatment plan that is discreetly shipped to your door.

All-over thinning hair vs patterned hair loss

The next difference to note is how your hair thinning progresses. We mentioned this earlier, but it’s good to reiterate.

While diffuse hair thinning happens all over the head, patterned hair loss follows a distinct, well…pattern [3].

Pattern hair loss usually starts with thinning around the temples, then progresses to the hairline and finally to the crown [5].

Most men with pattern hair loss who don’t start treatment will eventually lose hair on top but keep it around the back and sides of their head.

Genetic vs environmental causes

Finally, diffuse thinning and male pattern baldness generally have different causes. 

Diffuse thinning is usually related to some kind of environmental trigger – such as weight loss or stress. Male pattern baldness is caused by a combination of a genetic predisposition and hormonal factors [5].

Because the cause is different, the treatment plan will be too. We know we're repeating ourselves, but it's best to talk to your doctor about treating hair loss of all kinds.

Early signs and symptoms of diffuse thinning

There’s nothing too complex about the early signs of diffuse thinning. The first sign is usually that you find more hair in your surroundings but less on your head [7]. Some places to keep an eye on are: your hairbrush, clothing and the shower drain.

You might also notice that your overall hair density has changed. For example, you have a receding hairline or your part appears wider. In the case of diffuse thinning, these changes are often widespread across the scalp.

If you have thinning mostly on the temples or crown area, it’s more likely to be androgenetic alopecia – AKA male pattern baldness.

Diagnosing diffuse thinning

Realising that your hair is thinning is the easy part; diagnosing the underlying issue requires a specialist.

We do recommend going to see your doctor as soon as you notice hair thinning, as early treatment has the best chance of success.

The most common technique they use to diagnose hair loss is a simple examination. They’ll check your scalp, hair and sometimes nails too [1].

There are also a few more medical tests they might try, such as:

• Blood tests
• Hair pull test
• Trichogram
• Scalp biopsy 

Once you have a diagnosis for your hair loss, the next step is to discuss treatment options. 

Lifestyle changes to support hair health

No matter what kind of hair loss you’re dealing with, it takes time for the treatments to work. In the meantime, there are a few ways you can improve the look and feel of your hair.

Haircare and styling

You’d be surprised at how effective a good haircare and styling routine can be. The first step is checking your hair products.

Harsh chemicals, like hair dye, are a hard pass since they can lead to hair breakage and scalp irritation. You also want to make sure that you’re using products formulated with hair growth in mind.

The Hair Growth Booster Kit from Pilot is a great all-in-one option. It includes a gentle shampoo and conditioner, derma roller and hair growth supplement to strengthen hair and prevent thinning. 

Next, you can look at your hair styling. Some of the best haircuts for diffuse thinning are styles you already know – like a crew cut, faux hawk or pompadour.

Diet 

The link between diet and hair loss is still being investigated, but early research shows that vitamins and minerals may play a role.

So far, studies have found that lacking vitamin A, biotin, vitamin C, vitamin D, iron, zinc, or selenium could all be connected with hair loss [6]. 

Eating a balanced diet with all of these nutrients is important for your overall health. For a person with nutritional deficiencies, taking a supplement could be helpful.

Of course, your diet is not just about what you eat; it’s what you drink too. Some beverages, like your daily coffee, could be good for healthy hair growth. While others, like too much alcohol, can have negative effects.

While diet might seem like one you can tackle on your own, we always recommend talking with your doctor about your health – including hair concerns.

Smoking 

Sorry to break it to you, but smoking shows clear links to hair loss. It reduces blood flow to the hair follicles and amps up oxidative stress, both of which are bad for your hair growth cycle.

We know it’s not an easy habit to kick, but we also know that stopping smoking can help restore your hair. Combined with hair loss treatments, there is a good chance you can prevent further hair loss.

Myths about diffuse thinning

There is a lot of information about hair loss online – you’re reading some of it right now. But not all of it is based on scientific facts.

One study decided to find out what kind of myths are being spread by looking at online sources, including search engines and social media [4].

They found 2 main types of misinformation: relating to what causes hair loss and how to treat it.

Myths relating to the causes of hair loss included:

• Wearing hats causes hair loss
• Too much hair washing or brushing causes hair loss
• Your sex life and masturbation cause hair loss

All of these have limited clinical evidence to back them up, so we can leave them in the bogus basket.

Then there were the treatment myths, including natural remedies from onion juice to rosemary oil and coconut oil. While there is some evidence that these can improve your scalp health, that doesn’t mean they are a recommended treatment for hair loss.

Is diffuse thinning permanent?

We know it can be nerve-wracking when your hair starts thinning out. You might be wondering if you’re on a slippery slope to a shiny, bald head.

Rest assured that many types of hair loss, including diffuse thinning, can be reversed. Even though your hair is disappearing, the hair follicle is still viable. It’s just inactive [6].

Most treatments for hair thinning or loss focus on nurturing those follicles so they can kickstart growth again.

The only time that hair loss is truly permanent is if your hair follicles have been damaged, which can happen with some injuries or scalp diseases [6]. 

When to see a hair loss specialist

We know that the hair loss conversation is not one to look forward to. But the longer you leave it, the harder it gets.

Catching the early signs of hair loss, like diffuse thinning, can give you the best chance of maintaining most of your hair.

You might even be lucky and have temporary hair loss that resolves over time. But you’ll only know if you visit a hair loss specialist.

There are plenty of options, so it’s all about finding the right one for you. If you think Pilot is a good fit, get in touch for a consultation.

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