Hair Loss In Men
Causes of Hair Loss
Nearly 40 million men are suffering with hair loss currently in the United States. While baldness may be common, it is a condition that often destroys confidence, quality of life, and even interpersonal relationships. Most men who lose their hair would go to extreme measures to hide it or resolve it.
CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS
Ninety-five percent of hair loss in men is caused by the genetic condition androgenetic alopecia. We commonly call refer to it as male pattern baldness. The remaining 5% of hair loss cases are caused by one or some combination of the following:
- Sleep deprivation
- Stress
- Infection
- Drug use
- Poor circulation
- Malnutrition
- Chemotherapy
- An accident (such as a burn)
- Alopecia areata
CURES FOR HAIR LOSS
Among these causes, most are easy to get control of. For example, stress, sleep deprivation, and malnutrition will cease to be the cause of hair loss with a daily B vitamin, sufficient sleep, and a balanced diet. More serious ailments, such as poor circulation or infection, can easily be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Amid the most severe of alternate causes, like and chemotherapy and alopecia areata, there is no cure. Hair loss from such origins must run its course.
As for male pattern baldness, there is an array of treatment possibilities—from oral medications to topically applied creams to the various surgical options. Hair transplantation is widely recognized today as the paramount solution—and the only permanent one. This would also account for solving baldness due to a burn or accident.
MALE PATTERN BALDNESS
Pattern baldness begins with androgen receptors—infinitesimal things within our hair follicles. They are inherited through either the maternal or paternal X chromosomes and either fend off baldness or are too weak to do so.
Possibly as early as late teen-age years, the body starts converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) through its combination with the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. This hormone metabolite is present in everyone, and once it is made it assails the hair follicle. At this point, if the androgen receptors are genetically weak, DHT will begin to miniaturize the hair to the point of “peach fuzz” or of breaking off. This eventually leads to noticeable thinness or baldness of the hairline, mid-front, and vertex.
The main options for hair restoration in the case of male pattern baldness are:
- Rogaine (Minoxidil)
- Propecia (Finasteride)
- Hair restoration surgery, specifically hair transplantation
Implementing one or more of the three options listed above typically depends on age, level of baldness, and general health.
TEMPORARY CONCEALMENT OF HAIR LOSS
There also exist temporary options to conceal hair loss. Besides the obvious hat or hairpiece, various cosmetic products may aid in hiding hair loss—by giving the appearance of fuller hair. Such products include keratin-based powders like Toppik or DermMatch, and hair-thickening creams like COUVRé. A few drawbacks to these products are that they can’t be used in adverse conditions (for instance, while swimming, playing sports, or in heavy wind/rain), they may appear unnatural in direct sunlight, and they may be messy. However, as a quick fix for a photo shoot or special event, they may be the perfect solution.