Many men suffer from various types of hair loss. Male pattern balding is by far the most common type, affecting men from as early as their 20s. Attitudes to hair loss have shifted over the years as more treatment options became available. Depending on your circumstances, you can choose surgical or non-surgical options to reverse or slow down hair loss. In this hair article, you will learn about some of the top causes of balding and whether you can still do something about it. Read ahead to learn more.
Top Cause of Balding in Men
Hair specialists use the Norwood scale to provide a diagnosis for hair loss in men. It helps surgeons to tell how far your condition has progressed and the treatment options available to you. According to America’s top hair loss group, the American Hair Loss Association (AHLA), androgenetic alopecia is the cause in 95% of hair loss cases in men.
Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) is a genetic trait, which causes men to develop a receding hairline plus thinning on the crown. The cause is the sensitivity of the hair follicles in the crown and temple areas to a by-product of testosterone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
How Does DHT Cause Hair Loss?
Due to a reason that’s not fully understood, the hair follicles on the crown and around the temple areas are susceptible to the effects of DHT. DHT causes these hair follicles to undergo a process known as miniaturisation. Miniaturisation results in follicles shrinking over time. As the hair follicles grow smaller in size, its lifespan becomes smaller and smaller. Eventually, the follicles become dormant and are no longer capable of producing hair. As a result of this ongoing process on your scalp, you will see a gradual thinning of hair, and eventually, baldness ensues. Below are the two most common patterns of hair loss:
- Hair begins to recede from the front of the hairline, pushing the hairline further backwards.
- Thinning begins on the top of the head and around the temples, eventually leading to the formation of a horseshoe on the scalp.
The Norwood classification system is used to assess the degree and progression of male pattern balding. The seven stages of the classification system measure the severity and pattern of hair loss.
Treatment Options for Hair Loss and Balding in Men
A timely diagnosis of male pattern hair loss is important to help make sure it doesn’t progress to permanent hair loss. Usually, if you have a history of balding in your family, you will see the telltale of hair loss happening. As described above, it may be your hairline gradually creeping back, or hair thinning around the temples. You can take preventative steps to stop your hairline receding further. There is no cure for hair loss but several proven treatments that will help restore your hair.
Minoxidil is an over-the-counter topical hair loss treatment that comes in liquid, foam and shampoo foam. You must apply the product on your scalp twice daily to achieve the desired results. Also known as rogaine, minoxidil will help regrow or slow down the rate of hair loss.
Rare side effects of using minoxidil for hair loss include irritation to the scalp or unwanted growth elsewhere on your face and hands. Rogaine works in many cases, but it may not be the right solution for you.
Finasteride is another effective treatment for hair loss in men, but you will need a doctor to write a prescription. It is an oral drug which you must take daily for it to be effective. It’s been proven to slow down hair loss and may also help with new growth. An unwanted side effect that discourages some men from taking this medicine includes reduced sex drive.
You can also combine both medications to get the most benefits, stabilising hair loss and maximising regrowth.
Hair Transplant Surgery
Hair transplant surgery is another option for hair restoration in balding men. There are many types of hair transplant surgery, and the most popular ones are the Follicular unit transplant (FUT) and Follicular unit extraction (FUE). FUE involves extracting individual grafts from a donor area and implanting them into the balding area. The other option is FUT which involves harvesting a strip of hair from the donor area and then dissecting the strip into grafts for transplanting.
Transplant surgery offers a long term solution to hair loss, but it’s not the right solution for everyone. If you delay taking action about your hair loss, there may not be enough donor hair available to make a transplant effective.
Taking Action against Hair Loss
The top cause of hair loss in men is a hereditary condition known as male pattern balding. You can turn to medical or surgical solutions to slow down hair loss or restore hair permanently. Medical solutions offer temporary respite, and you have to take them to continue enjoying the benefits. Hair transplant surgery offers a longer-term solution. If you are suffering from hair loss and unsure about what to do, booking a consultation with Vinci Hair Clinic is the first step. Don’t delay further, go ahead and pick up the phone to get in touch with Vinci Hair Clinic today.