Half of the male population
will have suffered some degree of hair loss by the time
they reach 50. The most common form of hair loss in
men is male pattern baldness which is hereditary and
which typically is where the hair recedes from the front
to the back plus a loss of hair around the crown of
the head. Unfortunately, it can happen to men as early
as their twenties. If women have hair loss, it will
usually be later in life and their pattern differs because
their hair becomes thinner all over and they rarely
lose their frontal hairline.
The average human head has about 100,000 hair follicles
and each of these follicles will produce about 20
individual hairs in your lifetime. The average hair
loss is around 100 strands a day. So you would think
you had enough hair to keep you going for your lifetime.
What causes excessive hair loss?
There can be a number of reasons why we lose our
hair:
o After a major illness or surgery, we may lose a
large amount of hair. This is a temporary problem
because of the stress of the illness or surgery.
o Hormonal problems are another cause – an overactive
or underactive thyroid can cause hair loss. Usually
the treatment to correct the thyroid problem will
correct the hair loss problem too.
o If male or female hormones are out of balance, hair
loss can occur. Correcting the imbalance may stop
the hair loss.
o Women may suffer from hair loss about 3 months after
giving birth. This loss is also related to hormones
because during pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones
keep the hair that would normally fall out. When hormones
return to normal levels after the birth, that hair
will then fall out and of course it may seem excessive.
But the normal cycle of growth and loss will start
again.
o A poor diet can be responsible for hair loss.
o Stress can be another cause as well as after a sudden
weight loss.
o Even medications can cause hair loss – these
include anticoagulants (blood thinners) gout medicines,
chemotherapy, too much Vitamin A, birth control pills,
or antidepressants.
o Fungal infections can cause hair loss in children.
o Hair loss may be the result of or even an early
sign of disease such as lupus or diabetes.
o Women may develop female pattern baldness where
the hair can become thin over the entire scalp.
o Finally, as we have said before, male pattern baldness
is the most common cause of hair loss in men and this
trait is usually inherited. Both parents contribute
to their offspring’s chance of going bald. In
male pattern baldness, hair loss typically results
in a receding hair line from the front to the back.
An additional bald patch may develop on top and the
trigger of this type of baldness is DHT. DHT is a
powerful sex hormone that also promotes the growth
of body and facial hair. Although not fully understood,
DHT initiates a process of follicular miniaturization
where the width of the hair shaft is gradually decreased
until it either resembles fragile fuzz or is non existent.
What can be done about baldness?
o Fortunately baldness has, in recent years, been
given a more macho image because of the fashion for
very short or even completely shaven heads among men.
o There are medications available that may help slow
or prevent the development of common baldness. These
are called Rogaine and Propecia. The former is available
for both men and women and without prescription. The
later is on prescription and for men only. It may
take up to 6 months before you can tell if one of
these medicines is going to work.
o There are many options in the market place from
companies or clinics that transplant hair or sell
hairpieces.
o Other companies offer natural products for hair
re-growth.
Contact your doctor to see if there is something
he can do to stop your hair loss. He will question
you about your diet, any medications you have been
taking as well as how you take care of your hair.
If you are female, he will also ask you questions
about your menstrual cycle, your pregnancies and the
menopause. He may take a blood test or a biopsy of
your scalp. If he can possibly help you, he will.
If your hair loss is permanent and you are therefore
unable to reverse the process, you have the opportunity
to research the different options available and come
up with the solution that suits you.
