Hair loss in men, also known as male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia, is a common condition that can be influenced by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. Here are some of the key factors that contribute to hair loss in men:
Genetics: The primary cause of male pattern baldness is genetic predisposition. If you have a family history of baldness, especially on your mother’s side, you are more likely to experience hair loss.
Hormones: Hormones play a significant role in hair loss. Specifically, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a derivative of the male hormone testosterone, is believed to contribute to hair follicle miniaturization and eventual hair loss in genetically susceptible individuals. DHT shrinks hair follicles, making it difficult for them to produce healthy hair.
Age: Hair loss tends to increase with age. It often begins in the late teens or early twenties and progresses over the years.
Hormonal Changes: Some medical conditions, such as hormonal imbalances, can contribute to hair loss. Conditions like thyroid disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and certain adrenal gland disorders can disrupt hormone levels and lead to hair loss.
Medications: Certain medications can cause hair loss as a side effect. This includes medications like chemotherapy drugs, anticoagulants, beta-blockers, and some antidepressants.
Poor Nutrition: A lack of essential nutrients in your diet, particularly iron, zinc, and protein, can contribute to hair loss. Nutritional deficiencies can weaken hair and make it more prone to breakage.
Stress: High levels of stress can lead to a condition called telogen effluvium, which causes hair follicles to enter the resting phase prematurely. This can result in increased hair shedding.
Hairstyles and Hair Care: Frequent use of tight hairstyles like ponytails or braids, as well as excessive heat styling and chemical treatments, can damage the hair and contribute to hair loss.
Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as alopecia areata (an autoimmune disorder), can lead to hair loss by causing the immune system to attack hair follicles.
Smoking and Lifestyle Factors: Smoking and other unhealthy lifestyle choices can contribute to hair loss. Poor circulation and reduced oxygen supply to the hair follicles can result from smoking.
Autoimmune Diseases: Conditions like lupus and celiac disease can trigger autoimmune responses that affect hair follicles, leading to hair loss.
Scalp Infections: Fungal infections of the scalp, such as ringworm (tinea capitis), can cause hair loss. These infections can create bald patches and require medical treatment.
Medication Interactions: Some medications, when taken in combination, can lead to hair loss. It’s important to discuss potential interactions with your healthcare provider if you are taking multiple medications.
Excessive Vitamin A: Overconsumption of vitamin A supplements or foods rich in vitamin A can lead to hair loss. Maintaining a balanced diet is essential.
Anemia: Iron-deficiency anemia can result in hair loss. Low iron levels can cause reduced oxygen supply to the hair follicles, leading to weaker and thinner hair.
Radiation Therapy: Cancer treatments like radiation therapy can cause hair loss in the targeted area. Hair may grow back after treatment, but it can be different in texture or color.
Trauma or Physical Stress: Severe physical trauma, surgery, or injuries can lead to a type of hair loss known as telogen effluvium. This is typically temporary, and hair growth resumes once the body recovers.
Environmental Factors: Exposure to environmental pollutants and toxins can damage hair follicles and contribute to hair loss.
Weight Loss: Rapid and significant weight loss, often associated with crash diets, can lead to hair loss due to nutritional deficiencies and stress on the body.
Steroid Use: Anabolic steroids, sometimes used for muscle-building purposes, can disrupt hormonal balance and lead to hair loss in men.
It’s important to recognize that the specific cause of hair loss can vary from person to person, and sometimes multiple factors may contribute simultaneously. If you’re experiencing hair loss, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare professional or dermatologist to determine the underlying cause and develop an appropriate treatment plan. Early intervention can often yield the best results in managing and potentially reversing hair loss.
Men and women are equal in every stratum of life, but there are certain differences between them both that makes each individual unique on his/ her own. The skin of men and women is different from each other in terms of firmness and thickness, women being the softer sex enjoys the soft and tender skin type.
Introduction:
Coming to this males and females, both have different scalps: males’ hairline grows further back on skulls that are why males have pronounced foreheads as compared to women. Hair fall brings serious harm to men as their forehead further extends giving them the look of bald. Human beings feel bad when not looking presentable and this will lead to low esteem and low self-confidence.
After giving this article a thorough reading, your worries will fly in the air, as they had never been there before! Below are a few tips that will save the hairline on males’ scalps. Remember consistency is the key to success.
Avoid over-wash: I think it’s in the nature of the majority of men that they feel good after taking bath daily. Bathing includes washing of hair with shampoo, the effect of harsh chemicals on hair will lead to hair fall, so stop washing your hair daily, rather limit it to twice or thrice a week. Give break to your hair from intense chemicals in shampoos. Revert to the solution of amla, reetha and sika kai: add one tablespoon of each natural ingredient in two cups of water in a pot and boil it until its half. Cool it and preserve this mixture in an air-tight jar. Take glass jar only. Before taking bath, massage the mixture on your scalp and after 15 minutes rinse with normal tap water. This will increase hair growth and keeps your scalp bacteria-free.
Gentle drying of hair: it has often been seen in men that they rigorously rub their scalp in order to get dry hair. These act only damages the hair follicles as wet hair are the tender ones. Avoid putting stress on the scalp let the hair dry in natural air. This will save your hair from getting further harm.
Use natural conditioners: as we all know, hair strands are made up of proteins, so nourishing the hair with extra protein will give a boost to the hair. In spite of using chemical-based hair conditioners, use natural, home-made conditioners. Henna is known as the best conditioner for hair for ages, to avoid its color pour any kind of oil into the mixture. You can use egg in any oil, whisk well and apply the mixture to the scalp from roots to tips. Let it sit on the scalp until it dries out completely; wash with any mild to herbal shampoo with normal tap water.
Chlorine-based water: people who love swimming must know about the harmful effects of chlorine on their hair; it takes out natural oil from the scalp, make your hair porous, changes your hair’s natural color, and weakens the hair follicles. To avoid such harm, use a swimming cap and right after coming out of the pool, rinse your hair with clean water immediately.
Lesser exposure to chemicals: men like styling their hair and for that reason, they apply styling tools, hair gel, hair setting sprays, hair dye and other related products. Please try to understand, health is far more important than looking good, stylish or chic. For healthy hair, lessen the use of such chemicals on your hair.
Choose your shampoo wisely: getting dirt and pollution fumes out of hair is necessary. Shampoos serve this purpose to utmost level. Shampoos contain chemicals; harsh chemicals disturb the pH level that leads to hair fall, brittleness and porous hair strands. Choose herbal shampoos or mild shampoo. In order to check the pH level, just take a strip of litmus paper, dip it in diluted solution and check the pH level. pH 7 is the most desirable level; healthy for hair and scalp.
Minimize heat exposure: in order to attain healthy hair, you must avoid/less exposure to sun heat as well as heat emitting from hair dryers. Never go for hair dryers for drying your hair, as this will harm your hair leaving brittle and frizzy hair. Let your hair dry naturally, this change in your attitude will save your hair from damage. In case of emergency, you can use a dryer but keep the level low. Don’t target it directly towards the roots, rather just keep its mouth of hair tips.
Avoid cold shower: cold showers blocks the blood capillaries that carry the required nutrients needed for hair growth. This sudden paralysis will affect hair health. Do not go for hot showers as well as it will take out all the natural oil away from your scalp, leaving behind an itchy and dry scalp. The best option is to rinse your hair with clean lukewarm water. Moderation always save lives.
Cap/hat usage: males are mostly bikers/cyclists, so in order to avoid dirty hair or protect themselves from harms of weather conditions, they prefer to wear tight caps, mufflers, scarves and then wear a helmet on it. This habit can lead to partial alopecia or can result in permanent alopecia.
Choose the right hair tools: Hair is vulnerable; keeping them safe will increase its life. Wet hair is even delicate, so never use a brush, comb on wet hair, rather comb your hair when dry completely or you can use your fingers instead.