Everything You Need To Know About Mens Hair Loss
Starting to lose some hair on top? Don’t worry, you’re definitely not alone! As sad as it may be, it’s completely natural. Around 40% of men experience some kind of noticeable hair loss by the time they’re 35, rising to 65% of over 60’s. Research also shows that British men are the most likely in Europe to worry about going bald! We did a little bit of research to find out more about male pattern baldness. So if you ever wondered what actually causes your hair-loss and if there’s anything that you can do about it, this article is for you!
What Factors Can Cause Hair-Loss?
Unfortunately about 85% of men will have hair thinning by the time they’re 50, so it’s completely natural if you’ve started losing some hair. Almost all hair loss in guys results from male-pattern baldness, a genetic trait, that comes from your parents. A hormone called DHT causes hair follicles to shrink. Eventually they get so small that no hair can grow in them.
Another reason that may cause hair loss is alopecia, a condition where a person loses patches of hair from random parts of their body. In extreme cases this may affect all of the hair on the body. Alopecia is thought to have hereditary and autoimmune factors (where the body mistakenly attacks itself).
Other causes can include certain illnesses, stress, too much vitamin A or not enough protein. There is good news though, hair loss that isn’t caused by male pattern baldness is often reversible.
Hair-Loss Myths
Wearing hats too often can lead to hair loss? The answer is no, wearing hats will not put you at a greater risk of baldness. So unless you’re sporting a swimming cap every day (sorry swimmers) then there’s really nothing to worry about.
Can stress lead to baldness? Yes, it can, but stress-related hair loss usually only occurs in extreme cases. Even if that happens, the hair usually grows back once you reduce the stress.
Washing your hair too much can lead to hair loss? We probably know that feeling of mild panic in the shower when you can’t help but notice the hair falling out from your head. Don’t panic, because it’s actually quite natural! The average person has around 100,000 hairs on their head, and around 50-100 of these will fall out every day, regardless of whether you’re shampooing or not.
Hair-Loss Medication
Sadly, there’s no cure for male pattern baldness, but some medications can help to slow it down. For example, Minoxidil is an FDA-approved, over-the-counter treatment that you can apply to your scalp. It will slow down the rate of hair loss and for some men it can even help to grow more hair. However, once you stop using it, hair loss returns.
Another medication that can help is Finasteride. This prescription pill slows down your body’s DHT assembly line. It works in the same way that Minoxidil does, but some experts believe that it’s better. Like minoxidil, it works only while you’re using it.