Losing your hair can be worrisome. One minute you have a full head of hair, and you’re not bothered by the occasional strands that falls out; the next, your hair is thinning out. The days go by, and you can’t hide it anymore. You don’t know why this is happening or what you can do about it. This article explains what causes baldness in men and what you can do to delay the process.
Causes of baldness in men
The American Hair Loss Association reports that 95% of baldness in men is a result of a condition known as androgenetic alopecia. Apart from diet and other causes, this is the main reason for male pattern baldness – androgenetic alopecia is hereditary.
In men who suffer from androgenetic alopecia, their hair starts to get sparse as the hairline moves backwards, creating a ‘C-shape’ over time. This happens because their genes react to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a derivative of testosterone. Hair follicles continue to retract in this way because the genes are sensitive to the presence of DHT in the body. This situation continues until the hair follicles stop producing hair altogether.
Statistics from the American Hair Loss Association say that about 25% of men with androgenetic alopecia begin to lose hair before they turn 21. 66% of them will shed some amount of hair at the age of 35, and 85% will have lost most of their hair by the time they reach 50.
There are other causes of baldness besides androgenetic alopecia, and they come with other symptoms in addition to the loss of hair. In these situations, how hair loss occurs often differs from the more common male pattern baldness and is subject to reversal in some cases.
Nutritional deficiency
A shortage of vitamins and minerals can make you suffer from hair loss. It is sensible to follow a healthy diet rich in protein and vitamins to prevent hair loss because of this.
Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata occurs when the immune system attacks your healthy hair follicles, and they begin to fall out in small clusters on your head and in other parts of the body.
Telogen effluvium
Hair loss can also happen as a result of trauma or shock to the body. The hair usually grows back after some time, but the initial hair loss may result from an accident, extreme cases of stress and anxiety, surgery, and so on.
You can lose hair if you take certain medications. The hair loss is not usually permanent, and your hair can regenerate as soon as you stop using them. Such medications include immunosuppressants, acne drugs, anticoagulants, antifungal drugs, antidepressants and chemotherapy drugs.
Remedies for baldness
-
Drugs are effective in treating baldness. Finasteride is used in pill form, while Minoxidil can be applied as a lotion to the skin. Minoxidil cannot be bought without a prescription, unlike Finasteride. They can both take about six months for results to become visible.
-
Laser therapy is used to undo the shrinking in the hair follicles. It is not as complicated as surgery, and it is gaining acceptance as a treatment option as a result. It revitalises the hair follicles and encourages the distribution of beneficial substances to the root of hair growth.
-
Hair transplants are an effective treatment for baldness. You can opt for either follicular unit transplantation or follicular unit extraction. The former is done by taking strips of skin with hair in them and creating tiny pieces which are then grafted onto the affected area. The latter involves taking individual pieces of hair and implanting them into the scalp.
If you are considering opting for surgery to restore your hair, then getting a hair transplant in Turkey is an option well worth considering. Turkey is the main country people choose if they undergo a hair transplant, due to the relative low cost and proliferation of medical experts and state-of-the-art equipment.
It has been established that male pattern baldness is an inherited condition, but it can be limited if you take the right steps before the majority of your hair disappears.
Although Finasteride and Minoxidil must be used for an extended period before results start to show, if you use them early enough you will prevent total hair loss as you continue the treatment.
In addition, you can make some changes to activities that can lead to further hair loss like smoking, discontinuing drugs that encourage hair loss, and eating foods that have harmful effects on hair growth. You can engage in relaxation exercises to destress, and even try scalp massage to spur reversal or shrinking hair follicles.
You cannot prevent the onset of baldness, but you can delay the process as soon as you notice that it is happening. We recommend that you seek medical advice to determine the treatment option that’s best for you.
