My Hair is Thinning and There's Hair Loss Near my Temples'

Name: Judith

Question: I'm worried and need some advice. My hair is thinning with especially noticeable hair loss near my temples. Is there anything I can do to make my hair thicker?

Answer: Hi, Judith. There are various potential reasons for thinning hair in women so we would advise you to have an individual consultation - either in person or online - in order to obtain a confirmed diagnosis.

Obviously the appropriate hair loss treatment will be decided once the cause has been established.

The following information regarding causes of hair loss which have symptoms the most consistent with those you describe may be helpful in the meantime, however.

Female Pattern Hair Loss - this is the diagnosis that most accurately fits the details you have given regarding your shedding. It is an extremely common permanent, genetic women's hair loss condition - not to mention one that can be effectively managed with clinically-proven treatments.

This causes thinning hair at the top of the scalp, from hairline and temples to crown, and a general drop in hair density. Symptoms women notice first tend to include decreased volume, thinning at the temples and their parting becoming wider.

A topical hair loss solution known as high strength minoxidil is both MHRA-licensed and FDA-approved for the treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss. This stimulates localised hair growth and can be used in conjunction with various hair growth supporting products.

These include the FDA-cleared LaserBands which use targeted low-level laser therapy to promote regrowth and stronger hair at home, and Hair Vitalics for Women - specially-formulated food supplements containing key vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanical extracts such as biotin, zinc and selenium to promote the maintenance of normal healthy hair growth.

Telogen Effluvium - this is a temporary condition which causes intensely thinning hair from all over the scalp. The hair fall generally becomes noticeable around three months after being triggered and can affect up to 30 per cent of a person's scalp hair at once.

Some issues that can spark this problem include nutritional deficiencies, emotional or physical stress, an underlying medical condition or side effects from prescription medication.

This temporary hair loss can last up to six months, with hair growth returning to normal naturally once the underlying issue has been addressed though, Telogen Effluvium treatment is also available to help speed this process along.

Telogen Effluvium may trigger the premature onset of Female Pattern Hair Loss in those with the relevant genetic predisposition, or exacerbate the condition if it is already present, as both issues can occur simultaneously. Where this is the case, both conditions can also be treated at once.

There are a range of temporary, cosmetic hair loss concealer products, such as microscopic fibres and coloured hair sprays that are used to make hair look thicker by colouring in the scalp so it is less obvious.

These are applied at least once daily and may be used to fake fuller hair in the meantime but they will not stop hair loss or treat thinning hair so the underlying problem will not be addressed, which is problematic in the case of Female Pattern Baldness as this condition gets gradually worse over time.

As before, the first step to treating hair loss is to identify the cause so we recommend having a consultation as your next move.