Why Men Go Bald: Male Baldness Causes And Treatment
Is Your Hair Thinning Out? It’s Time To Figure Out Why
Dealing with thinning hair can be frustrating. It’s even more aggravating when you can’t seem to nail down what’s causing you to lose hair.
There are multiple factors that can lead to hair loss in men, but in most cases, there are a few key causes that are typically the primary culprits. In this post, we’ll unpack the science behind two of the most common causes of male hair loss – hormones and stress.
When Do Most Men Start Losing Hair?
For many men, hair loss starts as early as your 30s, and often progresses and gets more noticeable by the time a man reaches his 50s. When you start noticing your hair thinning out, a key part of successfully preventing further hair loss is figuring out what the cause is. The earlier you catch your hair loss and start dealing with it, the higher your chances are of reversing it.
When it comes to hair loss, prevention is easier than reversal. When your hair loss has progressed significantly, even the most effective treatments are better at preventing further thinning than reversing the thinning you have already experienced.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean you are doomed to be stuck with thinning hair forever! For many men, hair loss that has progressed for years can still be reversed.
Your Hair Loss Might Be Caused By Hormones
Hair loss is an issue that millions of men deal with. You might start noticing your hair getting thin in specific parts of your head, often around the top (often called the crown) and at your hairline.
Thinning hair in these areas is often caused by a condition called androgenic alopecia (ADA). Androgenic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness, is one of the most common causes of hair loss in both men and women, especially past the age of 50.
Over half of men over the age of 50 deal with mild to severe androgenic alopecia. The classic “balding” look that is commonly associated with mid-life hair loss is typically a result of ADA. A receding hairline and a bald spot at the top of the head are instantly recognizable signs of this form of hair loss.
However, the condition can affect everyone differently, and male pattern baldness often manifests itself in different ways depending on the way a man’s hair grows. Nevertheless, the most common signs of ADA are a receding hairline and a growing bald spot at the top of the head.
DHT – The Hair Loss Hormone
For men dealing with hormonal hair loss, the primary cause is an androgen – a male sex hormone – called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
DHT is produced by the body to help regulate inherently masculine characteristics such as the growth of facial hair and body hair, voice depth, and more. Androgens like DHT are found in higher levels in the male body, which is a major part of why androgenic alopecia is twice as common in men as it is in women.
So, how does DHT cause hair loss? For the first few decades of a man’s life, his DHT levels typically do not have any negative effect on his hair. However, as you get older, your DHT levels can increase, which can have a shrinking effect on your hair follicles.
Excess DHT production can cause your follicles to get constricted, leading to shorter, slower hair growth in specific parts of your head.
Men who are genetically prone to higher levels of DHT have much higher chances of developing androgenic alopecia. When it comes to this type of hair loss, genetics and heredity have major roles to play.
If pattern hair loss runs in your family, the odds are that it might be in the cards for you as well. However, being genetically prone to hair loss does not mean you have to say goodbye to your hair.
Can Stress Really Cause Hair Loss?
When a conversation turns to hair loss, stress in life is a factor that often takes the blame. Is this justified?
There is some strong evidence to back up the idea that stress can lead to thinning hair. High levels of stress can have a profound physiological effect on your body. When you are stressed, your body releases hormones which can actually shorten the amount of time that your hair spends growing.
Your hair’s cycle of growth has three stages: the anagen (growth) stage, the catagen (transition) stage, and the telogen (rest) stage. Stress can lengthen your hair’s time in the telogen stage and shorten its time in the anagen stage. This means that although your hair will still grow, it will grow noticeably thinner and shorter.
A high-stress life can be hard to avoid for many men. Your job, relationships, getting sick, and plenty of other factors in everyday life can be extremely stressful.
The natural impact of stressful situations can have a negative impact on hair growth, so it’s always worth it to do everything you can to cope with that stress in healthy, constructive ways. Even something as simple as a consistent exercise regimen can make a big difference for your hair and your overall health.
Managing stress is worthwhile for more than just your hair. The negative effects of stress reach far beyond inhibiting your hair growth – stress can weaken your immune system, make it harder to regulate your emotions, and take control of your life when left unmanaged.
Practicing healthy habits like meditation and exercise, as well as eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep, can have a positive impact on your hair and your overall health.
How To Take Care of Thinning Hair and Stop Hair Loss In Its Tracks
One of the strongest defenses against male hair loss is using DHT-blocking, growth-promoting ingredients as parts of your hair care routine.
GroMD’s shampoo, conditioner, and follicle activator spray are packed with ingredients that are great for your hair and scalp, and can help get thinning hair back on track.
GroMD’s hair products will leave your hair looking and feeling great thanks to the inclusion of natural DHT blockers and moisturizing ingredients. When your hair is getting the care and nutrition that it needs, it can grow faster, fuller, and thicker.
Natural DHT blockers like saw palmetto, caffeine, stinging nettle, and more can help to stop follicle shrinkage by stimulating your hair to move out of its telogen (rest) stage and into the anagen (growth) stage.
No matter how far your hair loss has progressed, the use of our proprietary blend of highly beneficial ingredients can help you get the hair you’ve been dreaming of.
GroMD’s shampoo, conditioner, and follicle activator spray can all also be easily paired with other hair loss treatments like minoxidil (Rogaine). The moisturizing ingredients in our products make them the perfect antidote to any dryness or irritation that you might experience from using your hair loss treatment.
As an added bonus, all of GroMD’s products are super simple to use. Our shampoo and conditioner combo takes just a few seconds to use in the shower, and leaves your hair feeling great and smelling fresh.
You don’t need to overthink it when it comes to taking great care of your hair. With the right products, some diligence, and patience, you can end up with a head of hair that you love.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
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