What causes male hair loss? Learn about the scientific reasons why as well as popular and effective treatment solutions.
According to the American Hair Loss Association, more than two-thirds of men in the United States of America will experience appreciable hair loss by the age of 35. By the age of 50, this number grows to 85%.
Hair loss is very common for men in the United States. However, not many people know what causes male hair loss.
To learn everything you need to know about male hair loss, keep reading. We’ve lined up all of the scientific facts you need to know about the condition. Plus, we’ll tell you some of the most effective treatment options you can use if you’re experiencing hair loss.
What Causes Male Hair Loss?
Hair loss is also known as alopecia. The condition can affect your scalp as well as the rest of your body.
Some people experience hair loss temporarily. However, most experience long-term, chronic hair loss.
You can recognize that you’re experiencing hair loss by several different symptoms:
• Slow thinning of your hair over time
• Circular bald spots
• Patchy bald spots
• Scaling skin on your head
• Loosening hair
• Full-body hair loss
Note that these symptoms can occur wherever hair is located on your body. This is not necessarily contained to your scalp.
The causes of male hair loss are plenty and varied. Knowing the causes can help you identify if you’re at risk for developing male hair loss or even help you prevent some hair loss.
Heredity Passage
Hair loss is a heredity condition. This means that the gene for hair loss is passed through family genes.
Heredity passage of hair loss is the most common way to develop the condition. Androgenic alopecia is the name of this hereditary form of hair loss. It is marked by gradual patterns of hair loss and also known as male-pattern-baldness and female-pattern-baldness.
Heredity hair loss forms with age. In men, it appears as a receding hairline and bald spots. In women, it appears as thinning hair at the crown of the head.
If you do have a family history of hair loss, you do have options. For one, you may not have issues with hair loss even if you do have a family history. Don’t stress yourself out with the idea of losing your hair unless you actually are losing it.
Also, you can equip yourself with the knowledge you need to address your hair loss early. Keep reading to learn more.
Hormonal Changes
Another way of developing hair loss is through hormonal changes. There are all kinds of diseases and conditions that can cause temporary and permanent hair changes.
Hormonal changes come in many forms. From hormonal changes during pregnancy to hormonal changes due to a thyroid disorder, people can suffer hair loss. Changes also occur during miscarriage and childbirth.
There are also several medical conditions that can cause hair loss. These include alopecia areata, trichotillomania, hypothyroidism, and more.
Some people even develop a scalp infection like ringworm. This can also cause hair loss.
Supplements and Medication
There are many medications that cause hair loss. These include common medications for conditions like cancer, high blood pressure, depression, and arthritis.
Hair loss is a common side effect of medications like these because of those hormonal changes we previously discussed. In order to treat various conditions, these kinds of medications have to alter your hormone levels.
For example, blood pressure is partially controlled by a hormone called vasopressin. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may put you on a medication to reduce the amount of vasopressin that your body makes. This changes your hormone levels which may change your hair growth pattern.
Radiation Therapy
One of the most popularly known forms of hair loss comes from radiation. These treatments are usually given to those who have active cancer. However, they are given for several different medical conditions.
Radiation therapy causes changes in the chemical composition of the roots of your hair. This change may only be temporary, but it does change the chemical composition of your hair permanently.
Many of the patients who undergo radiation treatments experience a different hair type from what they had prior to the treatment. For example, someone with thin, straight hair may now have thick, curly hair.
It is possible for some patients undergoing radiation therapy to not lose hair. However, it is most common for patients to lose hair and then have a new type of hair grow back.
Stressful Times
People that are experiencing extremely stressful situations may also incur some hair loss. As we mentioned earlier, hair loss comes with hormonal changes. When humans experience stress, their hormones change accordingly.
Stressful times can cause a general thinning of your hair as well. These effects are usually temporary and happen gradually over time.
The effects of a physical or emotional shock can last several months after the event actually happens. This is simply because your body needs that time to recover from the hormonal changes that come with the stress that you’re experiencing.
Harmful Hairstyles
There is a condition called traction alopecia. This kind of hair loss is caused by the pulling and rubbing of hair.
Traction alopecia can occur when hairstyles are so tight that they pull hair out and cause tension between the strands. This often happens with cornrows, ponytails, braids, and similar hairstyles.
Your hairstyle can seem harmless, but it can actually be pulling your hair out without you even knowing. While most hair loss of this kind is short-term, you could develop scarring. Scarring on your scalp can lead to long-term hair loss.
Hair Treatments
When you’re getting your hair done at the salon, you should be careful of what your hairstylist is using. He or she may be using harmful products that can cause hair loss.
Heat is a big problem when it comes to caring for your hair. For example, hot-oil hair treatments could cause permanent hair loss.
Next time you’re getting your hair done, be sure to double-check that the products that your hairstylist is using are safe.
Changes With Age
As most people know, hair simply changes with age. These changes are expected (and dreaded) by most men.
These changes are natural and not harmful. However, many men experience self-confidence issues when these changes arise.
Even if hair loss doesn’t run in your family, you may experience it. Most people do experience some kind of hair changes as they grow older. Most often, this is seen as hair thinning.
Sometimes patients experience hair loss because their hair follicles simply stop growing hair. This kind of hair loss is chronic.
Over time, this means that you won’t be able to replace lost hairs as they fall off. Keep in mind that hairs fall off naturally. Those naturally falling hairs won’t be replaced either.
What Are Treatments for Male Hair Loss?
There are many different kinds of treatments for male hair loss. Some are more invasive than others. There are also treatments of different cost ranges.
Depending on how bothersome and severe your condition is, you may or may not choose to treat it. Even if you aren’t thinking about getting treatment for your male hair loss now, it is useful to have this information for the future.
One of the most popular hair loss treatments is scalp micro-pigmentation. It is a revolutionary method of addressing hair loss, no matter what the cause. If you’re looking to find a solution for your hair loss, you may want to consider the treatment.
Scalp Micro-Pigmentation
Scalp micro-pigmentation has been compared to micro-blading. Micro-pigmentation is the act of tattooing several small dots of the patient’s scalp.
This method creates a shadow that is custom-made for your skin’s color and your hair color. Instead of making you grow hair back on your scalp, it creates an illusion that hair is growing.
There is little upkeep of your hair after using this technique. Plus, it can be a permanent change for those who choose to have the method done.
Many patients who have experienced hair loss have had micro-pigmentation done. The technique may work on people who’ve lost their hair for all kinds of reasons. From cancer patients to chronic stressors, micro-pigmentation could solve your hair loss issues.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to perform scalp micro-pigmentation, you should consider completing scalp micro pigmentation training. Whether you’re a haircare specialist or not, you can learn how to perform the scalp micro-pigmentation technique.
What Do I Do Now?
Now that you know what causes male hair loss and how you can address the condition, it’s time to put your skills to the test. Whether you’re currently experiencing hair loss or believe that you may develop the condition in the future, you now know the necessary information to understand and deal with it.
Male hair loss is a common condition. You are not alone.
These resources will help you get through any issues you, your friends, or your family has. You can make the best of this condition by understanding it.
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