No-panic guide to thinning hair

Fine limp hair is as British as a wet Bank Holiday weekend. A stoic attitude can be applied to both, though thankfully thinning hair can be transformed with a bit of energy and know-how. The right hair care and styling products can make a little hair go a long way.

However, what if your crowning glory is starting to look considerably thinner than it used to, or is shedding noticeably? Not only can thinning hair be alarming and spark health fears, it's also a confidence knock, as our hair is so much a part of our femininity and sexuality.

A degree of hair loss is normal. A hair grows, on average, a centimetre a month and its total growth phase can last from two up to seven years, depending on your genetic make-up. The longer your growth phase, the longer you will be able to grow your hair. When it has reached its optimum growth, it sheds and a new hair grows in its place (each hair follicle will produce around 20 new hairs in its lifespan). As all the hairs on your head are at different stages at any one time, you'd notice this normal shedding when you wash, brush or run your fingers through your hair.

Just as some shedding is normal, there are also normal age-related changes which can make hair look thinner. For example, the number of follicles able to grow new hairs declines naturally, which also coincides with a shortening of the growth phase in most of us as we get older. The diameter of the hair fibre gets smaller too, so the truth is that at 40 you simply don't have the fullness of hair you had at 20.

The time to seek help is when you experience sudden hair loss, more shedding than is normal for you or obvious hair thinning. The causes can be many and varied - the stress of divorce or bereavement can be enough to do it for some, according to Dr David Fenton, consultant dermatologist at St John's Institute of Dermatology, not to mention genetic factors, certain prescription drugs such as anti-coagulants and antidepressants and weight loss.

Often the problem corrects itself in time, but don't be afraid to seek medical help via your GP, and ask to see a dermatologist (they do hair as well as skin). Alternatively, visit a trichologist - see www.trichologists.org.uk for details.

Here's our guide to some of the most common causes and treatments for hair thinning

And find out how to add volume to thinning hair, as well as cope with hair loss due to illness or medication

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