Receding hairline: what should I do to avoid going bald?

Hair loss can affect men and women of any age, although androgenic alopecia affects men to a much greater extent. Knowing if you are suffering from accelerated hair loss that can lead to alopecia is key to finding a solution as soon as possible and preventing further loss.

To begin with, it should be stated that we all lose hair every day of our lives. Some people keep most of their hair into old age, though they are the minority. Most people, over the years, lose density and thickness or suffer total hair loss. But we all lose between 100 and 120 hairs a day.

However, the important thing is not how much hair falls out, but how much it regenerates. It is natural that with age our follicles lose vigour and stop generating hair, to a greater or lesser extent.

So how do you distinguish androgenic alopecia from the simple action of time? Your hairline can begin to recede in your twenties, but not pose an aesthetic problem until decades later.  Genetic predisposition is key when it comes to whether this becomes alopecia or not.

Why am I going bald?

As we said, androgenic alopecia is behind most cases of alopecia, both male and female. So much so that up to 80% of men suffer from it at some point in their lives, and 20% of women.

Therefore, the most likely cause of baldness is twofold: it depends on hormonal and genetic factors. 

It is usually the father’s genes that contribute to this type of hair loss, which involves progressive miniaturisation of the follicular units, causing hair loss from the frontal area to the crown, and is exacerbated by the effects of androgens. This male hormone, which women also have to a lesser extent, gradually weakens the follicles, which get shorter and thinner, until they end up dying.

How can I tell if I will become bald by looking at my receding hairline?

The appearance of a receding hairline, which is just hair loss in the area around the temples, is the first symptom of alopecia. It usually begins between the ages of 20 and 30, and it’s possible that at a certain point, it comes to a stop and no more hair is lost. But it is important to detect it in order to monitor it and go to a specialist who can help you decide if you should start a treatment to stop its progress.

However, if you notice that in addition to the receding hairline (when you pull your hair back and a “V” shape is formed), your forehead is becoming wider and your hair is thinning at the crown, it is highly likely that you will go bald. If you add to that an excess of grease or dandruff, hair loss when washing or combing it and discomfort in the scalp, it is time to go to hair health specialists to stop that incipient androgenic alopecia.

In short, baldness in men usually begins with the loss of density at the temples, the famous receding hairline. It is also possible that the hair loss occurs first and most profusely around the crown.

At what age can your hairline begin to recede? 

Although it usually starts from the age of 20, it can start as early as age 18. In rarer cases, the hairline can begin to recede earlier or decades later, but normally it’s between 20-30 years old, accelerating with age.

Types of receding hairline

The receding hairline can be more or less pronounced and is easier to notice when the hair is cut short. Therefore, rather than there being different types of receding hairline, there are degrees of alopecia, which in the male pattern are measured on the Norwood-Hamilton scale. 

In grades 1 and 2 the loss of density is slight and occurs mainly on the frontal line. In grade 2, you will start to notice less hair around the hairline, something that until then would have gone unnoticed. As we advance in the degrees, the loss becomes greater and comes to affect areas like the crown.

Five Signs That I May Be Suffering From Alopecia

If you suspect that you’re beginning to suffer from alopecia, check if any of the following situations apply to you. In any case, since it is vital to identify androgenetic alopecia as soon as possible to stop it and avoid total hair loss, it is always best to consult an expert.

1. You notice your hair getting thinner and weaker, with less “quality” and shine.
2. Miniaturisation of the hair causes a progressive loss of density.
3. You detect dandruff and excess grease. This is caused by thinning hair, which causes the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum.
4. There is more hair than usual on the pillow when you wake up.
5. More hair falls out than before when you wash it, dry it, comb it, move it with your hand, etc.

It’s advisable to regularly check on the state of your hair to identify suspected alopecia as soon as possible. If you are over 20 years old and a man, it is very likely that the first symptoms of baldness will occur. A trichologist can help you determine the most appropriate treatment.

Are there any ways to prevent a receding hairline?

The best way to prevent the start of a receding hairline is to have healthy habits. This means eating a complete diet, rich in biotin and vitamins A, B, C and D, as well as avoiding a sedentary lifestyle, alcohol and tobacco, and always using quality hair products. 

What shampoo should I use if I’m going bald? If you notice that your hairline is receding, it is advisable to incorporate an anti-hair loss shampoo into your daily routine such as Prevent-HA from Insparya. Rich in hyaluronic acid and seaweed, it not only prevents hair loss it also strengthens weakened, thin, and brittle hair. It repairs, regenerates, and revitalises. Apply it with gentle circular massages to stimulate blood circulation and facilitate the nourishment of the follicles. It is also advisable that you pay attention to the subsequent drying, which should always be done with a soft towel and without rubbing, avoiding the dryer as much as possible or using it cold.

In short, what you should do to avoid becoming bald is maintain a healthy lifestyle with a nutritional diet and daily physical activity in which stress is minimised. Add the use of a good shampoo and our mesotherapy and PRP and you will be doing your part to mitigate hair loss or at least delay the process.

How to combat the first symptoms of alopecia?

If you notice hair loss, don’t be alarmed, the science is on your side. Starting to get a receding hairline doesn’t mean that you will be totally bald in a few months. What’s more, you can put a brake on it and fix it, for example, with a hair transplant, as we mentioned before. This way, you will achieve a very natural effect in a simple and painless process.

However, to stop the receding hairline, which is often the first symptom of alopecia, the doctor who examines your case may suggest a pharmacological treatment, such as Minoxidil or Dutasteride, or in the case of Insparya, capillary mesotherapy with these two drugs for a direct effect on the follicular unit. Other treatments can be added to this like platelet-rich plasma (PRP), as well as Low Laser Therapy, either individually or together to enhance the effects. With this you will be able to nourish and revitalise your hair as it begins to show signs of ageing, even postponing hair loss. 

What techniques can be applied?

Hair transplantation is the definitive solution for a receding hairline and alopecia.It is a safe technique that does not leave scars, and it cannot be rejected by the body since the patient’s own hair is used. At Insparya, we use the FUE technique, with which we extract follicular units from the donor area (nape and sides) to transfer them to areas that have lost hair.

What is the hair implantation process like?

To begin with, the expert will diagnose your alopecia and evaluate the donor area, to determine if it has enough density to cover the areas with alopecia. Once the patient knows what to expect and the intervention is designed, the treatment day is scheduled. 

The hair transplant is performed in a single day, thanks to Insparya’s BotHair Dual Extraction Device. Our experts, after administering local anaesthesia, proceed to perform the extraction. It is undoubtedly the most delicate phase, in which we obtain the follicular units with great care but at great speed, thanks to the experience and skill of our team. The follicular units are obtained via micro-cuts that do not leave any marks.

Once this is done, they are classified according to the number of hairs they contain, while preserving the follicular units in a solution at a low temperature so they don’t deteriorate. Then, the implantation of the follicular units is carried out, a key phase to achieve a natural result that’s tailored to the patient’s expectations.

Our team will guide you in the post-operative care process, which is very important for the success of the transplant. If you have any questions about the intervention, the technology or the results, book an appointment in one of our clinics now and we’ll analyse your case.