Environmental factors  --including weathering and grooming habits – may play a role in causing age-related alopecia, according to a new report in the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology.

The report, called What Ages Hair?, suggests that aging of hair is determined by an interplay of many factors including weathering, grooming habits, UV exposure, hair color, androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and other age-related thinning. Authors included an advisory board of 12 experts in hair fibers and hair loss.

“Choice of hair care products is important to the overall health of scalp and hair,” they write. “Currently, there is no evidence-based data to suggest that hair care products are efficacious for more than healthier hair fibers [and] further study should be done to determine if use of these products can provide healthier scalp conditions, slow the progressive hair loss process, due to AGA and/or age-related thinning."

In particular, report authors point out Minoxidil foam and solution has proven efficacy for AGA and advisors and may be useful treatment option for age-related thinning as well.

Steps that promote healthy hair and may help stave off hair loss include:

• Shampoo daily with mild shampoo which is less irritating to the shaft
• Apply shampoo to soaked hair with fingertips and rub gently
• Avoid frequent perming
• Avoid frequent application of permanent dyes
• Avoid frequent bleaching
• Comb hair root to tip when dry
• Use wide-toothed combs and brushes with rounded tips
• Avoid frequent use of hair dryers