Male Hair Loss Tips

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What should I know about hair loss?

Losing hair?

Often we wait too long before becoming proactive about hair loss. It is caused by internal factors in our body and usually not caused by topical products. As soon as you notice the loss of more than 50-150 hairs a day, it is best to see a doctor.

If advised, a doctor will order tests to see if you have any vitamin deficiencies. Sometimes severe stress is a major factor, but don't treat this by yourself. The sooner you see a professional the sooner you can begin to prevent any further loss.

   
Does wearing caps or hats contribute to hair loss?

Hair Loss and Hats

You're not suffocating your scalp by wearing a baseball cap or cowboy hat and you're not stifling hair growth—those are myths. Pattern baldness is linked to genetics, not your wardrobe.

Some people scapegoat hats by attributing baldness to poor blood flow to the scalp. True, some people inadvertently pull hair out of their follicles when removing a cap or hat, but such hair loss is negligible. If you're a cool dude in a cap, wear it.

   
Why do hair follicles on the sides and back of the head continue to grow hair?

Hair Loss Pattern

Just for spite. Male hair loss usually starts with a receding hairline followed by thinning on the crown. The two balding areas often connect, exposing skin in the shape of a horseshoe.

Hair follicles are still alive on the top of the head, but they're no longer growing hairs. Hair follicles on the back and sides of the head, however, aren't affected by DHT, an enzyme that shrinks hair follicles. They continue to grow hair at a normal rate. Then, you get the monk look.

   
Which parent passes on the "bald" gene?

Male Hair Loss Gene

Sons can stop blaming their dads when they start balding prematurely because new research suggests male hair loss may be caused by their moms' genes. German scientists have discovered a gene on the X chromosome (which men inherit from their mothers) that plays a crucial role in male hair loss.

A man going bald is therefore likely to take after his maternal grandfather. The gene in question affects the androgen receptor (a protein that helps activate male hormones). Certain changes in the gene may result in receding hairlines and thinning of hair at the back of the head. Man, moms get blamed for everything!

   
What are some of the false and real causes of male hair loss?

Hair Loss: Real Causes

If your body's starving your hair is NOT the first to go. The human body must be seriously devoid of vitamins before it turns to hair for nutrients. Sailors with scurvy lost their hair because they lacked the necessary vitamins found in citrus fruits, but that's rarely a problem today.

Balding men who swallow zinc pills as a hair loss treatment are wasting their time. Doctors say there's no proof zinc prevents hair loss or slows pattern baldness. Besides genetics, hair loss can be caused by thyroid disorders, iron deficiency, rheumatoid problems (such as lupus), chemical exposure to the scalp, and fungal infections.

   
What kind of results can I expect from laser treatment for hair loss?

Hair Loss Treatment: Laser Therapy

Laser treatment is a non-surgical, hair loss treatment that uses therapeutic light to improve the cellular function of hair follicles. It is often suggested for men in the early stages of hair loss, because they have the best chance to obtain and maintain a healthy head of hair. Purported results include elimination of persistent hair loss, thickening of existing hair, and new hair growth from viable hair follicles.

The therapy is reportedly painless, without side-effects, and patients may resume normal activities immediately. Surgeons who perform laser therapy claim the benefits continue long after the treatment program is completed and patients do not require a lifetime of continued use to maintain results.

   
Do products like Rogaine and Propecia actually grow new hair?

Hair Loss Products

Rogaine and Propecia are two popular male hair loss products. Here is how they work:

Rogaine is an over-the-counter hair loss treatment, generically known as minoxidil. A topical cream, it must be applied to the scalp twice a day. Rogaine does help grow new hair, but it's not 100% effective. Almost everybody who uses minoxidil will grow some hair. About one in three hair loss patients who use minoxidil get good cosmetic results.

Finasteride, commonly sold by prescription as Propecia, inhibits the enzyme that converts testosterone in DHT (a hormone that causes hair loss). Propecia pills are taken once a day. They are effective in preventing further hair loss, but really don't work very well in terms of bringing hair back. If you're loosing hair and hating it, it's worth a try, right?

   
How common is male hair loss?

Hair Loss

Male pattern baldness affects about 40 million men in the United States. Thinning hair can greatly alter a man's appearance, making him look years older than he really is. Male hair loss has three main causes:

• An inherited tendency toward baldness
• Male hormones
• Increasing age

With the economic environment being highly competitive, many male professionals are exploring discreet ways to remedy or even reverse the effects of hair loss. Two such options are therapeutic laser therapy and surgical hair transplant.

   
Why is my hair getting thinner?

Reasons for Thinning Hair

Afraid of thinning hair? Join the club. If you're a woman over 50 and you've had a few kids and they're driving you nuts, your hair SHOULD be falling out. If this isn't the case, however, find out what is.

Some of the most common reasons for hair loss are hormone imbalances caused by thyroid problems, the side effects of medicines, poor diet, and STRESS. Eating healthy will help—so will using special volumizing hair care products.

*Getting a good haircut and maintaining an attractive hairstyle is helpful.

   
How is a surgical hair transplantation performed?

Hair Loss Treatment: Surgical Transplantation

Thinking about a hair transplant? Examine the situation carefully. Surgical hair transplantation may be an effective option for men who have had extensive hair loss over a prolonged period of time. The hair loss treatment takes a few hours. Healthy hair follicles are taken from the back of the head and transferred to bald or thinning areas. This usually starts at the front hair line and moves up to the crown.

If you're contemplating this hair loss treatment, choose a board-certified surgeon. You want the final result to have a natural appearance and not look like an obvious surgical procedure was performed or, worse yet, like you're wearing a toupee.

   
What causes male hair loss?

The Hair Loss Hormone

It's basically genetics. Doctors report that men genetically predisposed to hair loss secrete more of an enzyme called type-2 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme changes testosterone into another hormone called DHT that actually shrinks hair follicles.

Over time, the follicles on the crown and front of the head produce thinner and fewer hairs and eventually none at all. Hereditary pattern baldness affects more than half of American men by age 50. You're not alone. There are things you can do however, so don't worry!

*Be sure to research and treatment or procedure thoroughly before deciding on one. And, it helps to speak to more than one specialist.

   
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