Here’s the truth about hair loss: It can happen to anybody, regardless of age and ethnicity, and for any number of reasons. Hair loss can happen for men as well as for women, and treating men’s hair loss is a big part of what we do here at LH Hair.
Hair loss is more of a problem among men than among women—but have you ever stopped to ask yourself why?
Fast Facts About Hair Loss
To put things into perspective, hair loss is something that affects about 70 percent of all men in their lifetime, and 40 percent of women; obviously it’s a concern for both, but much more common among men. And while male hair loss can stem from any number of factors, the most common culprit is male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia. This accounts for somewhere around 95 percent of all male hair loss cases, so for the purposes of this blog, we’re just going to focus on that.
How Male Pattern Baldness Works
Androgenetic alopecia is widely believed to be a genetic condition. To be more specific, genetic variations cause an increase in the activity of androgen receptors in the hair follicles. These androgens respond to hormones such as DHT, a byproduct of testosterone. And that DHT actually shrinks hair follicles—a process called miniaturization—which makes it more and more difficult for healthy hair to live.
So why does androgenetic alopecia happen in men more often than it does in women? We’ve already hinted at the answer. DHT is the real culprit, and DHT is produced as a byproduct of testosterone—which is, of course, far more common in men than in women.
Since this is, at heart, a hormonal issue—and since male hormones start raging right around the time puberty hits—there is a possibility for male pattern baldness to begin in the late teens or early 20s. For about two thirds of all men, the effects of male pattern baldness begin by the time they hit 35—sometimes in a limited way, sometimes in a big way!
Can Male Pattern Baldness Be Stopped?
Though there’s not really a cure for genetic hair loss, there are some simple ways to significantly reduce its effects:
- Avoid anything that needlessly inflames the follicles, including hair styles like cornrows or chemical processes like bleaching.
- Consider using some topical treatments; we can recommend some safe and effective ones here at LH Hair! Find these products through our Head First program that can be found in our Hair Loss Prevention page.
- Make sure your diet encourages hair growth. Get plenty of nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lean proteins, biotin, and Vitamin D.
- If you’re starting to see early stages of hair loss, consider laser hair therapy.
You can always come talk to one of our stylists about the different options you have for preventing hair loss. Visit us at LH Hair today.
