Even though most men won’t admit it, hair is important to us. In fact, according to a 2005 European study 62 percent of men said hair loss would affect their self-esteem, with the biggest concern being they’d lose whatever attractiveness they had.
Both men and women can experience hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia (not to be confused with hair shedding, or telogen effluvium, which is when you lose hair, but it eventually grows back.). Hair loss, unfortunately, is permanent and affects as many as 70% of men and 40% of women.
Androgenetic alopecia is widely believed to be a genetically inherited condition, as it tends to run in families. Variations in the so-called AR gene may increase activity of androgen receptors in the hair follicles, which respond to androgens like dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a byproduct of testosterone. DHT shrinks hair follicles though, making it difficult for healthy hair to live. And because it’s constantly being made in testosterone-filled men, it’s far more likely to affect them than women.
There is no proven way to stop hair loss. And because we all aren’t ready to embrace the bald, here are four ways to prevent or slow it down:
- Avoid inflaming the hair follicles.
Hairstyles like cornrows and others that pull the hair can inflame and scar the hair follicles, which ultimately kills healthy hair. In people predisposed to androgenetic alopecia, these types of hairstyles are especially risky. Incorrectly applying chemicals to the hair, such as dyes, bleaches, and straighteners can also cause damage.
- Get some FDA-approved medications.
Products like Rogaine, which contain minoxidil, can prevent hair loss, and sometimes restore hair growth too — most people just don’t know how to use it. The trick, according to Men’s Health, is to use it at least twice a day for six months. Some people may shed hair initially, but eventually it will work. Propecia, a prescription drug, blocks testosterone from turning into DHT, thus preventing hair loss.
- Change your diet.
Make sure you’re getting a good amount of iron, zinc, vitamin D, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and biotin in your diet. Also skip out on the fatty fried foods and desserts; oil from the fried food might turn testosterone into DHT faster through heightened oil-gland activity, while the sugar from desserts increases insulin levels, triggering the release of testosterone.
- Get surgery.
A few surgeries exist, but according to Men’s Health, more men are choosing one called follicular unit extraction (FUE) because it’s less invasive than other techniques. It involves grafting hair follicle groups from a donor area on the person’s scalp and then transplanting them to the balding area.
Relevant sources:
http://www.medicaldaily.com/why-hair-loss-more-common-men-and-what-you-can-do-about-it-338546
http://www.menshealth.com/health/8-strategies-battle-baldness
Curated from Medical Daily and Men’s Health
