Thinning Hair and Hair Loss at the Temples.

One of the things that you’re more likely to notice when meeting people is their hair. This conveys their personality, style, and will dictate their overall look. As an individual grows older, a healthy-looking and silky mane is becoming more important than ever.

For older women in the 20th century, perceptions are changing, and it’s becoming increasingly essential for them to maintain a well-managed and groomed style to avoid a more negative perception that’s often related to aging. Some may begin to experience some hair loss as they age, specifically during the menopausal stage. Thinning and loss are becoming common as one approaches the age of 50.

The overall problem can be distressing to many, and this is why there are treatments and techniques used to combat this hair loss. In some cases, women’s hair thinning at the temples can be a problem, but with the right products, they can be avoided. There’s a medical term for baldness, and this is often called alopecia. A complete form of baldness is called alopecia totalis.

Hair fall can be distressing.

More about Hair Loss on the Temples

Some people may experience hair loss at any point in their lives, which does not necessarily come with old age. While the falling or thinning may happen in the 40s or 50s, some may start to feel it in their teenage years due to genetics.

One of the most visible is losing hair at your temples. This is the region behind your eyes, between the forehead and ears, or the side of the head. This can happen due to several reasons. When experiencing this, you may need to consult your physician to look for underlying causes and get the right treatments.

People can lose up to 100 hairs a day through regular thinning or shedding. An increased amount of falling strands when you comb them is one of the first signs of an issue connected to hair loss. This can also be shown by receding hairlines that usually affect the temples.

When this happens, this may usually be the result of a so-called widow’s peak. The V-shape may be present and common in men, but they can show up with women as well.

Kim Sang Ho in Missing Nine (2017).

Common Causes

Various factors and conditions can result in hair loss on the temples. There’s the most common cause called androgenetic alopecia or male-pattern baldness. Know more about androgenetic alopecia on this page here. This is a genetic factor, and the loss can usually manifest first above one’s temples.

Meanwhile, many women may experience female-pattern baldness, resulting in the hair becoming less dense than before. In some cases, many may find their scalp starting to become visible, and they may typically have receding hairlines as a result. Other more common reasons why these changes are happening are the following:

• More Stress
• Changes in hormones during pregnancy
• Cornrows or tighter ponytails
• Side effects of specific treatments and medicines
• Smoking and drinking
• Deficiencies in various vitamins like B and D

Like males, most females may have a genetic pattern that will cause baldness. Many factors are involved, and it can be hard to predict whether an individual will get this in the future. However, some indicators are more likely such as when one’s parents suffer from these same cases. Another thing is that a hormone-secreting tumor can make matters worse.

Hwang Jung Eum in She Was Pretty (2015).

How to Prevent this from happening?

Hair loss that is usually associated with one’s genetics, like the female or male-pattern baldness can’t be prevented. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to minimize the impact and maintain your look. Some of the things to do are:

• Avoid pulling and twisting the strands in a rough manner
• Don’t use treatments like hot curling irons that cause damages
• Steer clear of hairstyles that will pull back the strands very tightly
• Do yoga and more activities that will decrease your stress levels
• Eat more foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and proteins
• Cooling caps may help your situation if you’re under treatment for chemotherapy

You may be experiencing a severe case already, and you find that your temples are nearly balding. If this is the case, it’s best if you could consult a dermatologist who can give you medications and treatments. Some medicines regrow the strands, while others may prescribe topicals to stimulate the follicles to grow again.

SHINee's Min Ho showing some signs of receding hair back in 2015.

What’s the Difference Between Thinning and Receding Hairs?

Despite what many people believe, not all of this baldness looks the same. Some have thin and balding spots, especially at the temples, indicating that the follicles are affected. If this is hereditary, you may notice a gradual occurrence of this phenomenon as you age. The first thing to do is to know which type you’re experiencing so you can go to the bottom of the issue.

If the loss of the strands is gradual and slow, one may think about a female-pattern hair loss involved in all of these. However, if this happens after a few months of giving birth, then it might be the telogen effluvium in action. A dermatologist near you may administer blood tests, look at your scalp, and talk more about your symptoms.

Jung Ji Hyun in My Love from the Star (2013).

What Does the Shedding Indicate?

You may be panicking because you’re losing a lot of strands in a short period of time. This might be natural if you are undergoing chemotherapy or after surgeries. Other factors may be childbirth, physical, or emotional traumas because of the intense stress that you’re feeling.

Some seemingly inconsequential actions like changing the brand of your birth control may throw your body into a frenzy and may take a toll later in life. If you are into a rough patch lately, the stress may be the culprit for the shedding you’re experiencing. The good news is that the strands that you’re sleeping on the floor today will eventually come back. You have to focus on your recovery, mental health, and stress levels to lessen the increase of hormones like cortisol in your body.