The most common cause of male pattern baldness is rooted in genetics. If baldness runs in your family, then your chances of hair loss are very high. However, there are other causes of hair loss and these include diet, illness, medication and stress.
Men can start losing their hair as early as adolescence and it can take anywhere from as little as five years to more than twenty years to go bald. It is called male pattern baldness because the hair loss follows a similar pattern.
First the hair recedes and becomes thinner on the top of the head which eventually develops into bald patches. The hairline will continue to recede and the bald patch will become larger until a horseshoe line of hair remains on the sides and back. Some men will even lose it and go completely bald.
Male pattern baldness is extremely common and affects about half of men over the age of fifty. In practically all cases of common male pattern baldness, the cause is linked to the male hormones testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Testosterone is converted to DHT by the hair follicles and for unknown reasons, hair follicles in the scalp can become sensitive to DHT and will begin to shrink over time. This results in thinner and thinner hair until the hair follicle stops functioning completely.
The trick to slowing hair loss is to catch it as early as possible because you are more likely to respond to any treatment than if you are already almost completely bald. There are two aspects of dealing with male pattern baldness and it is firstly to stop hair loss and secondly to promote hair growth. So what can you do?
improve your diet
Regardless of what other options you have, this is one of the first things you can try to improve your diet. If your diet is lacking in certain nutrients, vitamins and minerals it can contribute to hair loss so it is important to correct any dietary deficiencies.
Taking fish oil can prove to be beneficial as fish oil contains essential omega 3 fatty acids which are essential for healthy hair and hair growth. Most people today do not get enough Omega 3 in their diets and one of the first signs of this is poor hair growth and poor condition of the hair, skin and nails.
see your doctor
Sometimes certain diseases or medications can cause hair loss, so it is important to rule these out as possible causes before starting any treatment for hair loss. Your doctor will be able to advise you on what types of treatment may be suitable for you.
There are many hair loss treatments in the market today, but unfortunately most of them will not work, so don’t shell out your hard earned money for something that won’t make a difference.
Of all the treatments available, there are two that have been clinically shown to produce results and these are Finasteride and Minoxidil.
Propecia (finasteride)
Studies have shown that while Finasteride can be quite successful in stopping male hair loss and helping new hair grow in some men, it is not suitable for women. It works by helping to inhibit the conversion of DHT but testosterone levels are not affected if one is concerned that this will affect their manhood.
By lowering the DHT levels, the hair follicles will stop shrinking and go back to normal. It can take six months or more to see any results and the treatment is only available on prescription but you will need to continue the treatment daily because if you stop the hair may start to fall out again.
About eighty percent of men who use Finasteride will see some positive effect, provided they start treatment early enough.
Rogaine (minoxidil)
Minoxidil was originally used to treat high blood pressure, but since it was discovered that one of its side effects was to promote hair growth, it has been used for hair growth for both men and women. Used as a treatment for hair loss.
No one fully understands the exact mechanism involved or why it works to promote hair growth, but about fifty percent of men will have a slowing of hair loss, with fifteen percent having some hair. Will look at the growth again and some will not notice any difference.
Again you need to continue the treatment daily and it will take a few months before you see any results.
other options
In addition to the risks to health in general, prolonged stress can promote hair loss, so take steps to reduce your stress levels and learn to relax.
It is worth remembering that an increasing number of men are choosing to shave their heads even when they are not going bald; It has become fashionable and catchy to some extent. However, some men find it extremely bothersome and may consider hair transplants or wearing a wig if they don’t see results from anything else. If this is the case with you too, the first thing to do is talk to your doctor or consult a specialist for advice.
Source by David Mcevoy
