What are the early signs of baldness and how do I prevent them

You may have noticed your hair seems to be thinning, or your hairline is starting to recede. Don’t panic yet - this could just be the early signs of androgenetic alopecia, also known as pattern baldness. The good news is that catching it early gives you a much better chance of treating hair loss.

Here’s a quick look at some of the most common early hair loss signs to watch out for:

• Your frontal hairline is retreating, especially at the temples
• Thinning hair on the crown of your head
• More hair than usual left in your brush, shower drain or on your pillow
• A widening part line on your scalp

While we at Oxford Online Pharmacy can help support you if you start losing your hair, we don’t actually offer ways to prevent baldness before it starts. But spotting those first subtle signs is so important so you can take action right away.

Let’s take a closer look at recognising the signs of hair thinning so you know what proactive steps to take next.

Key takeaways:

• Look for early signs of hair loss, like a receding hairline, thinning on top of your head, increased shedding, and a widening part.
• Identify contributing factors like genetics, hormones, medications, and medical conditions. Make lifestyle changes if needed.
• Explore hair loss treatments like medications, PRP therapy, laser devices, and hair transplants. See a doctor to customise a plan.
• Take action ASAP at the first signs of balding for the best chance to stop hair loss and regrow hair. Time is of the essence.

Recognising early signs of hair loss

Early hair loss signs

Keep an eye out for the very first clues that your hair may be thinning. Here are some of the most common earliest signs:

• Your frontal hairline is receding, especially at the temples. This is a classic early sign of androgenetic alopecia or pattern baldness. Pay close attention if your temples seem to be moving backwards.
• Diffuse thinning hair on top of your head or a widening part line on your scalp. Look closely at your crown and the top of your head in the mirror. If this area seems less dense than it used to be, it could be an early warning.
• Finding more hair than usual left in your comb, the shower drain or on your pillow. Count the hairs you lose when brushing or washing on a typical day. It's normal to lose 50-100 hairs a day. Shedding more than that could signal a problem.

Noticing these subtle changes in your hair can be worrying. But catching hair loss early means you have the best chance to keep your locks. Consider telling a loved one about your concerns. And think about booking an appointment with your doctor or healthcare provider to explore solutions right away. The sooner you take action, the better.

Hair loss causes and contributing factors

There are a few key reasons why you may start to lose your hair or experience thinning. Being aware of what causes hair loss can help you identify any reversible factors.

Genetics often play a major role. Male and female pattern baldness runs in families. If your father or brother experienced baldness, you are more likely to as well. Studies looking at twins estimate that 80% of cases of male pattern baldness stem from genetics. Hormones also impact hair growth cycles. An imbalance or change in hormones due to puberty can trigger hair loss or you might need to look for products to treat menopausal hair loss.

Issues like nutritional deficiencies, autoimmune disorders and thyroid disorders are some of the systemic causes of hair loss (reasons for hair loss that come from inside your body) that may contribute to excessive shedding.

Medications like blood thinners, birth control pills, chemotherapy and anabolic steroids are linked to increased hair fall as a side effect as well. Making lifestyle changes like managing stress better, adjusting your diet and getting enough sleep may help.

How can you tell if you are balding early?

Start getting familiar with your own hair health and what’s normal for you. Look closely at your scalp and how much hair you typically shed versus now.

Compare your current condition with your family history to gauge your risk based on genetics. If hair loss runs in your family, be extra alert to any changes. Get your hormone levels checked by a doctor if you suspect an imbalance.

Consult a dermatologist at the first signs of balding to identify the cause. A doctor can check for infections and conditions through exams, blood tests or a scalp biopsy.

Getting an accurate diagnosis will help find suitable treatment options. Stay vigilant about changes, and don’t wait until it’s too late.

Actionable steps after identifying early Hair Loss

Exploring available treatments and solutions

If you’re noticing early signs of baldness, there are treatments you can explore to stop hair loss and encourage hair regrowth. Here are some options to ask your doctor about:

• Medications like Finasteride tablets or Liquid are commonly prescribed to treat male pattern baldness. Taking Finasteride (Propecia) helps by stopping a certain chemical that can cause hair loss. But how long does Finasteride take to work? As with any treatment, you need to be patient. Most men start to notice a difference after 3-6 months of daily use.
• Topical Minoxidil (Regaine solution or foam) helps by improving blood flow to your hair roots. And if you're wondering how long Minoxidil takes to work, it takes the treatment 8-12 weeks to start working, but you should see a significant change around the 4-month mark.
• PRP or Platelet-Rich Plasma - They take parts of your blood that help healing and growth and inject it into your scalp. It wakes up your hair follicles.
• Low-level laser devices - These beam low-level lasers onto your head to support those hair follicles with light energy.
• Hair transplants - This surgery takes hair from around the back of your head where it’s thick and plants the follicles into the balding areas up top. This can permanently get your hair back.

The best solution depends on what’s causing the hair loss and how much thinning you have. Seeing your doctor for a diagnosis is important so they can match you with the right treatment. Don’t wait until it gets really bad - take action early on for the best chance of bringing your hair back.

Making informed decisions

If you’re thinking about treatments for early balding, here are some tips:

• Learn all about your choices - Look into how each one works, the side effects, costs, time it takes, and what you can expect. Figure out the pros and cons.
• Talk to your doctor - Get professional guidance on which options fit your unique situation best. Ask plenty of questions.
• Adjust as needed - Re-evaluate treatments over time and make changes based on evolving needs and outcomes.
• Being informed allows you to thoughtfully consider treatments for your hair loss. Work closely with your doctor to make the most suitable decisions just for you.

Take the next step with Oxford Online Pharmacy

If you’ve noticed early signs of hair loss, take action now to explore treatment options. Here’s how Oxford Online Pharmacy can help:

• Complete a free online consultation - This allows our doctors to assess your specific hair loss and needs.
• Choose a treatment - Select the option you feel is right for you after the consultation. We offer trusted solutions like Finasteride and Minoxidil.
• Our doctors will safely prescribe your selected treatment if suitable, and our pharmacy will dispense and deliver it.
• Get support - Contact our advisors anytime for guidance on treating hair loss. We’re here to help.

Don’t wait - take the first step by starting your online consultation today. The sooner you act, the better your chances of keeping and regrowing hair.

FAQs

What does the beginning of hair loss look like?

The earliest visible hair loss signs often start with a receding hairline, especially at the temples and frontal region. You may also notice gradual thinning of hair on the top or crown area of your head. Look for a widening part line on your scalp as well. More hairs than normal falling out and being left behind on your brush or comb and in the shower drain are other common early indicators. Overall, you’ll notice a loss of hair density in areas of your scalp that used to have thicker, fuller hair growth.

Is my hair thinning or am I paranoid?

It can be hard to tell sometimes if your hair is truly thinning or if you’re just being paranoid. Look through older photos to compare your hairline and density from year to year to assess changes over time. Examine areas of your scalp very closely under bright lighting to see if hairs look less dense. You can also keep track of how many hairs you shed when brushing and washing on a daily basis - counting substantially more than 100 per day is a red flag. If you are still unsure about changes, make an appointment with your doctor for an evaluation.

Can you stop balding if you catch it early?

Yes, research shows that starting treatments at the very first signs of balding provides the best chance of stopping further hair loss and regrowing healthy hair. Options like medications, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, microneedling, supplements, and even hair transplantation surgery can potentially stop balding if implemented early enough when hair follicles are still viable.

References:

NHS (2024). Hair loss

Chin H. Ho; Tanuj Sood; Patrick M. Zito. (2024). Androgenetic Alopecia

Richard L. Lin,Lilit Garibyan,Alexandra B. Kimball &Lynn A. Drake (2016). Systemic causes of hair loss