How Can You Tell If You Have a Receding Hairline?

Written by Dr. Griffin

Hair loss presents differently in each individual, but a receding hairline is something many people will have to deal with at some point in life. The problem commonly occurs in men as they age, although younger men can experience it as well. A hair transplant for a receding hairline at our Philadelphia-area practice can help patients to restore a more youthful hairline and a fuller head of hair. But when exactly can you determine if your hairline is receding and whether you should seek help?

Continue reading to learn more about what causes this problem and some common signs of a receding hairline to watch for. 

We lose hairs every day, but each strand that falls out is eventually replaced with a new strand during the hair growth cycle—unless something disrupts the cycle, such as damage or degradation to the follicles. When the follicles are damaged or the hair growth cycle has been disturbed, a receding hairline may result.

This issue can occur because of a hereditary trait, medications, scalp infections, stress, a poor diet, hot oil hair treatments, excessive hairstyling, hairstyles that pull the hair very tight, hormonal changes, or a combination of factors. Although male pattern baldness may not always be the case, a receding hairline is often an early sign of this common hereditary condition. When hair loss occurs in men, there is usually a distinct progression that includes a receding hairline. 

Sometimes it’s difficult to tell if you have a receding hairline in the beginning stages, and you might assume that you’ve had your current hairline forever. In this case, you might miss the signs of a receding hairline until it’s too late to do anything about it.

A hairline is described as receding if it’s “moving higher” and revealing more of your forehead or temples. You can look at photos of yourself taken years ago and compare them to recent ones. Another way to tell if you have a receding hairline is to consider how your hair behaves. If your hair starts to fall differently on your forehead, doesn’t provide as much coverage, or look as good as it used to, it could be thinning or receding. You may be shedding more hairs than normal or noticing thinning areas on the scalp. 

Want to find out more about the benefits of a hair transplant for a receding hairline? The Philadelphia area’s Griffin Hair Restoration Center team can provide more information. Call us at (215) 561-9100 or submit a contact form if you would like to discuss hair restoration options with us.