My hair woes began when two significant life events coincided – entering my 30s and after having my first child about 8 years back. I remember being in utter despair as I peered at my receding hairline and widening expanses of scalp every time I looked in the mirror.
Suffering from hair loss and hair thinning can be extremely distressing. It often feels like nothing you do can reverse the situation, and you start to dread every hair wash because of the amount of hair that ends up clogging the drain.
First, it’s important to know that hair thinning and hair loss are not exactly the same thing. “Hair thinning is often one of the early symptoms of hair loss,” says Dr Evelyn Tay of Shine Dermatology.
“Thinning hair refers to either the reduction in the density of hairs on the scalp, and/or an actual reduction in the calibre of the hair shaft leading to thinner and finer hairs. This results in the hair looking less full and voluminous. Hair loss, on the other end, refers to a decrease in the number of hairs on the scalp. This can lead to bald patches, a widening of the hair parting or a receding hairline,” says Dr Tay.
Hair loss can be acute. This is when you find significant amounts of shedded hair when you comb or brush your hair, and on your pillow after sleep or in the drain after a shower, says Menuka Ghosh Rai, senior manager of education for hair loss and hair care brand, Nioxin. In chronic cases, the hair shedding is usually not as dramatic but you might notice a reduction in the thickness of your ponytail (for those with long hair), a receding hairline or an increase in the width of your hair parting.
If hair loss is localised in conditions like alopecia areata where small bald patches appear on the scalp, the bald spots are often detected by one’s hair stylist.