Damage to your scalp, whether caused by environmental, topical, or nutritional factors, can have an adverse effect on normal hair production. Although some hair loss is caused by genetic and hormonal factors, these other causes of hair loss often go unnoticed. This is unfortunate since, while genetic hair loss has yet to be cured, thinning hair due to scalp problems is often highly treatable, and even reversible. The most effective thin hair treatments are ones that isolate and treat the factors contributing to decreased hair production.

There are three stages in the cycle of hair growth, and at any given moment all three are occurring on your head. The first stage is the initial growth phase. This accounts for up to 85 percent of your hair. The second stage entails the final growth, as well as the destruction of the lower follicle. The final stage is the inactive rest period before the hair is shed. Problems that interfere with the health of the scalp can undermine the middle stage, cutting it short. As a result, hairs at the end of the final stage are being shed more rapidly than replacement hairs are growing in. This causes the appearance of thinning hair.

Goals of Thin Hair Treatments

Nutritional problems, as well as some illnesses and medications, can seriously restrict the circulation in the scalp. This can result in an inefficient growth cycle, incapable of producing enough strong new strands to create the appearance of a healthy head of hair. The buildup of residues, styling products, and chemicals on the scalp can also prevent normal hair production, as follicles can become clogged and weak, and new hairs become too weighed down to grow without breaking. A lack of moisture in the scalp, as well as poor vitamin and mineral distribution, can also account for thinning hair.

Thin hair treatments address these situations, eliminating non-genetic barriers to normal hair production. Nioxin shampoos and conditioners cleanse the scalp and follicles, gently stripping away any chemical buildup and residue, without putting additional stress on the scalp or the hair. Along with several other supplemental products, they also work to distribute and sustain moisture throughout the scalp, encouraging an efficient hair growth cycle. Topical treatments can also be used to apply needed vitamins and nutrients directly to the scalp, giving it the ability to produce strong hairs that remain intact throughout the entire cycle.