How to Prevent African-American Hair Thinning

Though the human scalp boasts over 100,000 growing hairs at a time, losing even a few prematurely can be difficult. For African-Americans and other ethnic groups, hair can be a personal, social, cultural and even political statement. Hair thinning then becomes a considerably more distressing problem to manage.

Hair thinning is not only a problem among African-Americans and the textured hair community, but remains a scourge among the general American public, as well. The New York Times estimates that Americans spent nearly $176 million on hair-thinning treatments last year alone.

Gradual hair thinning is a normal part of the aging process, says Dr. Alan Rockoff, medical author for MedicineNet.com. Problems arise, however, when hair loss is sudden, hair begins to shed faster than it is growing in, or when the scalp gradually produces slightly thinner hair shafts prematurely. To prevent the problem of hair thinning in African-Americans, we must first examine the causes of thinning in this demographic. The causes of hair thinning among African-Americans and others are many and varied.

Medical Reasons

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, hereditary thinning is the most commonly diagnosed form of hair loss, affecting 30 million women and 50 million men in the United States. Dr. Michael Lehrer, a member of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania, cites childbirth, major surgery, illness, severe emotional distress and certain medications as other common medical causes of hair thinning. According to the American Academy of Dermatology's article "What Causes Hair Loss," patients who are being treated for arthritis, depression, gout, heart problems and high blood pressure are often on medications that have hair thinning as a side effect of treatment. Notably, many of these illnesses disproportionately affect African-Americans. Hair thinning brought on by medical conditions tends to subside on its own once the medical condition has been resolved.

Dr. Marta Rendon, the Head & Shoulders Global Celebrity Dermatologist, recommends seeing a dermatologist to diagnose the cause of hair loss. "A simple biopsy can help physicians pinpoint changes within skin cells of the scalp. A blood work-up can also aid diagnosis of the condition, as well as a physical examination, which establishes any predisposition to hair loss and can aid in distinguishing the different causes of hair loss."

In "What Causes Hair Loss," the Academy suggests that sudden hair thinning is often illness-related, while gradual thinning is often a sign of a genetic cause. While many of the causes of African-American hair thinning are beyond an individual's control, there are several things that can be done to reduce the impact of hair thinning in this demographic.

To Prevent Thinning in African-American Hair:

Properly Manage Your Diet

Avoid crash dieting and excessive weight-loss programs. According to American Academy of Dermatology experts, hair loss may occur three to six months after losing more than 15 pounds. This hair thinning is only temporary.

Ensure that you are getting the recommended daily allowance of iron, B-vitamins and other protein in your diet. Healthy bodies produce healthy hair. Since hair is roughly 80 to 90 percent protein, a diet that is high in protein is sure to keep the strands thick and growing. Folic acid and other B-vitamins are needed for cell regeneration at the follicle level. These dietary supplements are important for growing strong hair. Deficiencies in these vitamins and minerals can lead to visible hair thinning in two to three months, the Academy projects. Great sources of protein include meats, nuts, eggs and fish. Iron can be found in clams, oysters and cow's milk.

Consider Your Hairstyling Choices

The richness of African-American culture lends it to a plethora of ever-evolving hair styles. Unfortunately, common African-American cosmetic styling choices, like repeated chemical relaxer services, thermal styling, tight weaving and braided styles, thin and break the hair. Hair-thinning prevention efforts in African-Americans should be focused in this area because this is where individuals are best able to take proactive steps to effect change.

Though several forms of hair thinning exist, traction alopecia is perhaps the most widely known among African-Americans with thinning hair, dermatology researchers explain. Avoid wearing hairstyles that place tension on the hair shaft. Years of wearing hair in a style that pulls on it, such as a ponytail, cornrows or braids, can cause traction alopecia, notes the Academy.

Regular chemical relaxing and permanent coloring can also cause irreparable damage and breakage to the hair fiber. Chronic breakage over time can lead to an overall thinning of the hair. If you choose to continue using chemical relaxers, reduce your number of chemical applications each year by spreading them out over time. If you relax the hair every eight weeks, consider extending that to 10 or 12 weeks. If you must color your hair, consider using semi-permanent colors or hair rinses that only deposit color. Many hair rinses contain proteins that coat the hair shaft and can temporarily increase its fullness and thickness.

Thermal styling tools can also contribute to diffuse breakage that can thin out the hair over time. Limit the use of blow-dryers, hot curlers and flatirons to preserve the hair's natural thickness.

See a Dermatologist

Visit your dermatologist when you first begin to notice thinning. An early diagnosis may be able to help you stop hair thinning in its tracks.

References:
American Academy of Dermatologists. What Causes Hair Loss? AAD.org

American Academy of Dermatologists. Hair Loss Fact Sheet. AAD.org

Lehrer, M. Hair Loss.MedlinePlus.

Callender, VD., McMichael, AJ., & Cohen, GF. Medical and Surgical Therapies for Alopecias in Black Women. Volume 17 Issue 2, Pages 164 - 176.

Rockoff, A. Hair Loss in Women. Medicinenet.com