Over 30 million women experience a widening hair part—where thinning hair occurs and bares the scalp along the partline. While it might be comforting to know you’re not alone if experiencing this type of thinning, it’s still beyond frustrating to deal with. The good news is that pros say there are spot-specific solutions for a widening part that help address this type of thinning hair. Scroll on for answers on how to stop your part from widening any further.

The first thing to note is that this type of thinning hair is actually called female pattern hair loss (FPHL), which is a progressive, hereditary condition. Yet other factors such as telogen effluvium—a disruption in the hair growth cycle where hairs enter the resting (telogen) phase and fall out—or scalp conditions like psoriasis, as well as excessive hair damage from styling can also contribute, says Kristina Collins, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Austin Skin in Austin, TX.

What’s more, hormonal changes like thyroid conditions, polycystic ovary syndrome or menopause, in addition to stress, nutrient deficiencies, viral illnesses, medications, or other medical conditions may play a part as well. It’s no wonder why so many women over 50 experience this type of thinning since most are dealing with so many of these contributing factors.