What Causes Hair Loss In Men
Male hair loss is caused by the hormone testosterone being converted to DHT, which causes hair follicles to shrink. Hair growth subsequently slows down or even stops altogether.
Male hair loss is usually genetic, although it can also be caused by:
- Extreme stress
- Side effects to medical treatment
- A major life event
- Skin disorders
- Hormone imbalance.
Its worth noting here that there is no correlation between the level of normal testosterone and baldness.
What Is Hair Loss
The fact is that everyone loses hair. In fact, its normal to lose up to 50-100 hairs a day. But losing hair is different than hair loss. When youre just losing hair, youre unlikely to notice because new hairs are constantly growing.
However, when the hairs youre losing are not being replaced, you do start to notice signs of hair loss.
This type of hair loss is called male pattern baldness.
How Can A Dermatologist Diagnose Hair Loss
If youre losing hair, visiting a medical dermatology clinic is one of the best steps you can take. A dermatologist can assess your hair loss and pinpoint a specific diagnosis. They will then find an appropriate treatment if applicable.
During your appointment, the dermatologist will ask you questions about your hair loss and overall health. Theyll ask how long youve noticed the hair loss, whether youre taking any medications, and if you have a family history of hair loss or baldness.
The doctor will also examine your nails and scalp, as the health of these areas might provide clues for diagnosis. The specific pattern of your hair loss can indicate a specific diagnosis as well. In some cases, they will perform a blood test and scalp biopsy to check for medical conditions that might cause hair to fall out.
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Are There Complications/side Effects Of Treatment
Minoxidil may irritate your scalp and cause dryness, scaling, itching and/or redness. See your dermatologist if this happens.
With Minoxidil you might also see hair growing in other places other than your scalp . Wash your face after you apply Minoxidil and make sure you avoid other areas when you apply it.
How To Prevent Hair Loss After Pregnancy
Many women experience dehydration, fatigue, stress, and falling estrogen levels as their body adjusts to life after pregnancy. This causes increased sensitivity in hair follicles, which can lead to a period of increased hair loss. Some of this hair loss is often related to the stress and exhaustion of having a baby. This condition is temporary and should resolve within a year after the pregnancy has ended.
You can try to minimize hair loss after pregnancy by continuing to take your prenatal vitamins if you are breastfeeding, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding tight hairstyles that pull hair away from the scalp. Dermatologists recommend using lightweight shampoos and conditioners and seeing a stylist to make hair loss appear less obvious until your hair shedding slows down.
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What Can A Dermatologist Do For Hair Loss
If you have a medical condition like alopecia areata, the dermatologist may prescribe medications or recommend an over-the-counter treatment. In-office procedures can also be effective for some patients. These treatments can include corticosteroid injections, laser therapy, and platelet-rich plasma therapy.
Can I Stop Hair Loss
How do I stop hair loss? is a pretty common question for guys to ask when they notice their thinning hair or a newly receding hairline. The problem is that depending on who you ask , the answer can be different.
Well, youre in luck today, my friend. Because everything you read on Keeps is expert-backed by leading hair loss experts .
Unfortunately, the answer to How do I stop hair loss? isnt an easy yes or no. We know, we knowwe also wish our bodies werent so complex.
So, before we tell you how to stop hair loss, were going to walk through some commonly asked questions to help you better under why its not so simple.
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A Trichologist Is Not Medically Trained
A trichologist can of course help in some cases but can only give patients topical treatment for hair loss, as they are not medically trained. Unlike a dermatologist, they cannot perform tests that help with the diagnosis and evaluation of the condition and inform the best course of treatment these require special training.
For example, a dermatologist can perform a trichoscopy with a video dermatoscopy, a non-invasive technique that allows a rapid and magnified observation of the skins surface enabling the evaluation of hair thickness, presence of regrowing hairs and scalp inflammation. We can also perform a trigonometry, which involves an instrument that provides a numeric value of the hair quality. All of which are vital to in-depth diagnosis.
Dermatologists can also carry out a scalp biopsy, where a sample from the scalp is taken under local anaesthetic and tested under the microscope by a histopathologist. These tests are often necessary to evaluate cases of hair loss.
Only a dermatologist is qualified to carry out these tests, without which a full and thorough evaluation and diagnosis is not possible. Getting to the cause of your condition leads to better treatment. Furthermore, there are a variety of oral treatments available for hair disorders which a trichologist cannot prescribe but a dermatologist can so these are some reasons why you need a dermatologist for hair loss and not a Trichologist.
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When Is It Time To See A Hair Loss Doctor
The best time to see a hair loss doctor is as soon as you notice any of the early signs of male pattern baldness.
Because hair loss from male pattern baldness is permanent, acting quickly can help you to stop your hair loss from worsening and keep more of your hair.
The best time to act on hair loss can vary from one person to another. For some guys, the signs of hair loss may show up in their 20s or 30s. For others, they might appear earlier. Even guys in their teens can make early changes to prevent hair loss.
Below, weve listed some common signs that it might be time to book an appointment with a hair loss specialist.
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How Can I Stop Hair Loss
In the last couple of decades there have been several developments in the fight to stop hair loss. Perhaps most notable is the widespread success of Propecia. This is a tablet containing the active ingredient finasteride, which prevents and even reverses male hair loss.
Propecia is a tablet which is taken once a day. The finasteride it contains inhibits the conversion of testosterone into DHT, thereby slowing or even reversing the hair loss process.
You can order Propecia or its cheaper alternative, generic finasteride, through our LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor service, meaning that you dont have to book an appointment or go to a clinic.
How To Stop Damaging Your Hair
The good news is that simple changes can prevent further hair damage. On this page, youll find 10 common hair-care practices that can damage hair and dermatologists tips that can help you to stop damaging your hair.
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How Will A Healthcare Provider Diagnose Hair Loss In Women What Tests Are Done
The tests performed to diagnose hair loss in women can be simple or complicated:
- Gently pulling on your hair to see how many hairs come out.
- Blood tests. These check for vitamin and mineral levels and hormone levels .
- Scalp examination under a microscope and trichoscopy.
- Scalp biopsy to remove and examine a very small piece of scalp skin.
What Are The Side Effects Of Taking Finasteride
In rare cases finasteride may cause a skin rash, erectile dysfunction, less desire for sex or tenderness in the nipple area. If you do experience these side effects, they may well disappear quickly as your body gets used to finasteride. If you are at all concerned about the side effects you should stop taking the treatment and consult a doctor.
For more information on solutions for hair loss, visit our blog article on hair growth treatment.
References
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How To Prevent Hair Loss According To Experts
It’s very normalexpected evento regularly lose hair. In fact, you can lose from 50 to 100 strands of hair a day, according to the American Academy of Dermatologists. And if you have long hair, that day-to-day loss is likely to be more noticeable. Hair loss is also more common than you might realize: close to 50 percent of men and women experience pattern hair loss by age 50.
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An uptick in hair loss is usually one of two things: you’re either shedding hair more than usual, or something is causing your hair to no longer grow. There are also conditions where your hair is so fragile that it breaks easily and you literally cannot grow long hair.
Google hair loss and you’ll see there are a handful of named conditions. Telogen effluvium is one of the more common terms you’ll find. It’s when you shed more hair than usual. Another example is anagen effluvium, and that’s when your hair stops growing. But that’s different from male- and female-pattern hair loss , which is medically known as androgenetic alopecia.
Whatever the official diagnosis isit can be incredibly frustrating, even depressing if it’s noticeable to others. So what’s causing your hair loss and can you stall, halt, or reverse it?
How Is Hereditary Hair Loss Treated
Losing your hair slowly is a normal part of the ageing process for most men and some women. Treatment is not usually necessary. However, hair loss that occurs rapidly or early in life can be distressing. If you wish to slow or stop the progression of hair loss, there are treatments available.
Treatments for hair loss include:
- medicines, both local and oral
- wigs, hairpieces or hair transplantation.
Hair loss that is caused by a temporary situation such as illness, medication, stress or insufficient iron will stop when the cause is resolved. Read more about abnormal hair loss.
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Noticeable Thinning Of Your Hair
Not all people go bald from their hairline. Some men experience whats called diffuse thinning a type of hair loss that either affects the entire scalp or specific areas like the top of the head resulting in baldness that starts from the back or top, rather than from the hairline.
Just like a receding hairline, the easiest way to spot diffuse thinning is to compare photos from different time periods.
If you notice that your hair looks thinner now than it does in photos taken several years ago, theres a chance that its the result of male pattern baldness.
Since you dont normally take photos from behind you, the easiest way to compare the level of thickness in your hair over time is to take photos every two to three months in your bathroom mirror.
If you notice the hair around your crown thinning every year, its worth taking action to prevent any further loss.
Worried about hair thinning? Here are the signs of hair thinning to look for.
How Can I Stop Hair Loss And Regrow Hair Naturally
Hair is said to be our crowning glory. So it can be heartbreaking to see your glorious mane thinning day by day.
Of course, some hair loss is natural. Most people tend to lose about 100 strands a day. But if your hair loss is dramatic, or constantly breaking, you may need to visit a dermatologist to rule out any health conditions.
But if your hair loss is mild, you may be able to stimulate growth by making simple changes to your diet and hair care routine.
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What Are The Cycles Of Hair Growth
Hair goes through three cycles:
- The anagen phase can last from two years to eight years. This phase generally refers to about 85% to 90% of the hair on your head.
- The catagen phase is the time that hair follicles shrink and takes about two to three weeks.
- The telogen phase takes about two to four months. At the end of this phase, the hair falls out.
Your shorter hairs like eyelashes, arm and leg hair and eyebrows have a short anagen phase about one month. Your scalp hair can last up to six years or even longer.
Can You Prevent Hair Loss From Chemotherapy
Hair loss is one of the most dreaded and distressing symptoms of chemotherapy for cancer, and many people have wondered if it’s possible to prevent it from happening. In recent years, methods such as scalp cooling have become available that are quite effective for some people. Like anything, these methods can have limitations and side effects of their own. What do you need to know to make the best choice regarding your own hair loss during treatment?
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Heres How The Hair Growth Cycle Works:
Ok, its science-y but very cool, basically each hair follicle on our scalp undergoes three stages of a life cycle, explains Dr Wong.
AnagenThis is the active growing phase, which can last between 2-7 years during which the hair becomes longer and thicker.
CatagenAfter anagen, the hair follicle moves into the short transitional phase called catagen when the hair fibre stops growing, followed by the resting phase telogen which lasts around 3 months.
TelogenDuring telogen the old hair is gradually pushed up towards the skin surface before it is then shed naturally and replaced with a new emerging anagen hair.
On a typical head of hair each follicle is at a different stage at different times so you probably wont notice it happening. Very cool. This cycle continues repeatedly throughout our lifetime and each hair follicle is cycling independently of neighbouring follicles meaning that human hair growth is asynchronised, says Dr Wong.
Its important to note that hair loss is a very common problem for women much more so that people realise. “Research shows that at least 1 in 3 women will suffer from hair loss or reduced hair volume at some point in their lifetime,” says Anabel Kingsley. So, if you are losing strands, it’s important not to freak out, your mane willrecover. In the meantime, here’s everything you need to know…