Essential Facts about Hair Loss in Men

If you’re not one of those people who suffer from androgenetic alopecia – hair loss, as it’s also known – then you are fortunate because hair loss is more prevalent today than some may like to admit. So much so, that a growing number of people are seeking alternative treatments to maintain a full head of hair. In fact, there has been a big increase in the numbers of men having hair transplants in Turkey, so if you are suffering from male pattern baldness, and you want to do something about it, you  should carry out thorough research, and choose the most suitable treatment for you.

In the meantime, read on as we share some essential facts about hair loss in men. 

We shed about 100 hair strands daily

Men and women shed almost 100 hairs every day. This might seem a worrying statistic, but the occasional strands that fall out during washing and brushing or combing every day are entirely healthy.

How you manage your hair could cause temporary loss

One-quarter of your hair is made up of water, and excessive heating and drying can contribute to hair loss. The use of narrow-toothed combs on long hair and combing when wet can also cause excessive breakage. These losses may only be temporary, but persistent hair loss can lead to anxiety.

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can make you lose hair

Taking vitamins helps to ensure that your hair follicles keep regenerating, your hair colour stays the same, and improves blood circulation in the scalp. When your body doesn’t have enough vitamins, the growth and development cycle of your hair is altered, and you begin to suffer from hair loss. It is essential to make life choices that keep your body rich in Vitamins B12, D, and E.

Sickness can lead to hair loss

Illnesses like psoriasis and ringworm can cause hair loss. Psoriasis is a swelling of the skin that can make your skin itchy and scaly. Ringworm, on the other hand, is a fungal infection that is easily transmitted by sharing infected items. It makes hair sparse and very itchy and causes bald spots on the head. Some illnesses and conditions cause hair loss such as dermatitis and eczema, which lead to the breakage of hair. You should treat these conditions quickly.

Hair loss can be a symptom of a more complex problem

It’s important to take each case of hair loss seriously and see a doctor. Going bald could indicate that your coronary arteries are getting clogged, which can lead to heart failure. Some studies show that hair loss is linked to prostate issues, placing people at a higher risk of heart disease.

Ageing increases chances of going bald

Data from the American Hair Loss Association says that about 25% of men with baldness begin to lose their hair before they turn 21. Not only that, but 85% of men will have lost most of their hair by the time they reach 50. So, if you are getting close to that age and you notice a significant loss of your hair, you have little cause to worry. This pattern is confirmed in the UK – the NHS says hair loss in men starts as you approach your late 20s to early 30s, and as you hit 50, 50% of men will go bald.

Different forms of Alopecia display different balding patterns

Hair loss begins quite early but often goes unnoticed. Apart from Androgenetic Alopecia, there are other types of baldness, too. They are Alopecia universalis, Alopecia totalis, and Alopecia areata. They cause hair loss in different ways. Alopecia totalis causes total hair loss on the scalp and the rest of the body – the most extreme form of hair loss. Going bald can be depressing, but studies show that this kind of baldness is the most devastating on patients.

The loss of hair caused by Alopecia areata is reversible, although it takes a few months for your hair to return to its original state. Loss of hair, in this case, resembles the pattern of a large coin in different spots on the scalp.

Hair loss is not limited to your scalp alone

Remember that it’s not just your scalp that can be affected by hair loss. Over time, hair from other areas of the body can fall out, such as the hair on your arms, legs and eyebrows. But advances in technology have made treatments such as eyebrow restoration possible – something which wasn’t available a decade or so ago.

And… it’s not just men who experience hair loss 

Men aren’t the only ones prone to losing their hair. NHS stats show that 8 million women suffer from alopecia, so the condition is not limited to just one sex.