Causes Of Hair Loss In Man - Facts

It's true that men are more likely to lose their hair than women, mostly due to male pattern baldness.

What is Male Pattern Baldness?

Male pattern baldness, also called androgenetic alopecia. More than 95% of hair thinning in men is male pattern hair loss. About two out of three men experience hair loss by age 60, and most of the time it's due to male pattern baldness. This type of hair loss, caused by a combo of genes and male sex hormones, usually follows a classic pattern in which the hair recedes at the temples, leaving an M-shaped hairline.

Who is at Risk?

Male pattern baldness can begin in your teenage years, but it more commonly occurs in adult men with the likelihood increasing with age. Genetics play a big role. Men who have close relatives particularly on the maternal side with male pattern baldness are at a higher risk.

What Causes Male Pattern Baldness?

Genetic: Male pattern baldness is both genetic, and associated with the male sex hormones called androgens. Androgens have many functions, one of which is to regulate hair growth. 

Each strand of your hair grows out of a little hole in your skin called a follicle. Normally, an individual strand of hair grows for two to six years, goes through a resting stage for several months, falls out, and is replaced by a new hair strand. With male pattern baldness, the hair follicle becomes smaller. It grows shorter and finer strands, and eventually stops growing hair altogether. It is due to the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) acting on genetically-susceptible scalp hair follicles that causes them to become progressively smaller and eventually disappear.

These causes can also take part in hair loss

1. The relationship between food and hair is simple. Hair is made up of a protein called keratin. So, it's essential that you include sufficient protein in your diet. A low-protein diet forces your body to save the available protein for other purposes, like rebuilding cells, thus depriving hair of it.

2. Stress is driving their bodies to produce more androgens.Dr Ferrari squarely puts the blame on stress. "While genetics plays a key role in balding, a stressful lifestyle can play havoc,".

3. Here's one more reason to quit smoking. The carbon monoxide that you inhale, prevents the blood from transporting oxygen and key nutrients to hair follicles. Nicotine narrows the blood vessels, further stalling fresh hair growth.

4. Alcohol is known to suck the body of its iron supply, impeding absorption of zinc. Booze also causes dehydration, stopping the body from absorbing vital nutrients. Since hair is almost one-fourth water, excessive alcohol will invariably leave it brittle.

Can Hair Loss be Prevented?

There is no known way to prevent male pattern baldness. An unproven theory is that stress may cause hair loss by increasing the production levels of sex hormones in the body. You can reduce stress by participating in relaxing activities, such as walking, listening to calming music, and spending more quiet time.

 Simple lifestyle changes such as, getting seven hours of sleep, having a glass of water every hour (strands are made up of minerals, which only water can replenish) and eating protein-rich foods at regular intervals can bring about an 80 per cent change."

"Nutrition is vital for hair growth. No other part of the human body grows at the rate of half an inch per month, except bone marrow, so you must feed it,"

Feed hair with...

• Vitamins B3, B5, B9, and E (found in orange, spinach, chicken, fish, broccoli and soya beans)
• Zinc (wheat, dairy, oats and egg yolk)
• Magnesium (milk, tuna, banana, cashews)
• Iron (fish, leafy greens, fortified cereals, and beans)
• Green tea is effective because it blocks out Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone that causes hair loss. 

Techniques to Address Hair Loss

• Wig or Hairpiece
• Weaves
• Medications
• Hairstyle
• Hair Transplant