Age-related hair thinning: what causes it and how to slow it?

Cause No. 3: A degrading dermal environment.

As hair thins with age, the scalp undergoes structural changes. Over time, the dermis atrophies. Connective tissue weakens as elastic fibers degrade. The vascular and lymphatic networks decline. These changes, seen in the skin, directly affect the hair growth. In addition, the decline of certain proteoglycans, such as versican, exacerbates this situation. Present in the dermal papilla of anagen follicles, versican is essential for maintaining follicular activity, cell cohesion, and hydration of the extracellular environment via its ability to bind hyaluronic acid. A decline in its expression could impair hair regeneration and intensify hair thinning.

Cause No. 4: Inflammation that becomes chronic.

Another factor in hair aging is low-grade chronic inflammation, known as inflammaging. This silent inflammation alters dermal fibroblasts, especially papillary and reticular fibroblasts involved in communication with the follicle. Transcriptomic studies have shown that these fibroblasts, as they age, express more pro-inflammatory genes, lose their capacity to interact with other skin cells, and enter into a state referred to as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). This inflammatory environment disrupts the signals needed for proper follicle function and hair cycle, thus promoting progressive follicle miniaturization.

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

There is no miracle solution for hair thinning.

Although some drug options exist, such as 5α-reductase inhibitors like finasteride, these treatments aim to slow androgen-related hair loss in younger men and do not specifically target hair thinning. Minoxidil stimulates the anagen phase of the hair cycle and increases follicle density. However, these treatments require continuous use and are available only by prescription.

Faced with growing demand, several nutritional supplement companies have developed multi-active formulas, combining plant extracts, vitamins, peptides, amino acids, trace elements, and vegetable oils to target multiple biological pathways at once: inflammation, oxidative stress, the Wnt signaling pathway (involved in follicular morphogenesis and stem cell maintenance and activation), and nutritional deficiencies. Some of these formulas were tested in clinical studies—noncomparative or small scale—that showed benefits for hair density or reduced hair shedding. Yet the diversity of ingredients and combinations complicates comparisons and calls for caution in result interpretation.

Advice : If you want to slow hair thinning, we recommend protecting your hair from the external factors listed above, starting with UV rays.