Hair thinning with age: what causes it and how can it be slowed?

Cause No. 3: A deteriorating dermal environment.

If hair thins with age, it is in part because the scalp undergoes structural alterations. Over time, the dermis atrophies, connective tissue weakens as degraded elastic fibres accumulate, and the vascular and lymphatic networks diminish. These skin changes affect the hair growth. Moreover, the reduction of certain proteoglycans, such as versican, worsens this condition. Found in the dermal papilla of anagen follicles, versican is essential for follicle activity, cell cohesion, and hydration of the extracellular environment via its ability to bind hyaluronic acid. A decrease in its expression could impair hair regeneration and accentuate hair thinning.

Cause No. 4: Inflammation that becomes chronic.

Another factor in hair ageing is low-grade chronic inflammation, known as inflammaging. This silent inflammation alters dermal fibroblasts, especially papillary and reticular ones that communicate with the follicle. Transcriptomic studies show these ageing fibroblasts express more pro-inflammatory genes, lose their ability to interact with other skin cells, and enter a state known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). This inflammatory environment disrupts signals needed for proper follicle function and the hair cycle, promoting the gradual miniaturisation of the follicle.

Besides internal factors, external elements such as UV exposure, pollution, smoking, nutritional imbalances, and harsh products can accelerate hair thinning.

No single effective solution exists for hair thinning.

Although some pharmaceutical options exist, such as 5α-reductase inhibitors like finasteride, they aim to slow androgen-related hair loss in younger men and do not target hair thinning. Minoxidil is an example. It stimulates the anagen phase of the hair cycle and increases follicular density. However, these treatments require continuous use and are subject to medical prescription.

Faced with growing demand, several companies offering oral supplements have developed multi-active formulas that combine plant extracts, vitamins, peptides, amino acids, trace elements and vegetable oils. They target inflammation, oxidative stress, the Wnt signalling pathway (involved in follicle morphogenesis and stem cell maintenance and activation) and nutritional deficiencies at once. Some have been evaluated in clinical studies—mainly small or non-comparative trials—and have shown benefits for hair density or shedding reduction. However, the diverse ingredients and combinations make comparisons difficult and call for cautious interpretation.

Advice To slow hair thinning, we recommend shielding your hair from the external stressors listed above, starting with UV rays from the sun.