Hair loss (in men)

Summary about hair loss in men

Hair loss affects many men, for example: it is estimated that at the age of 50, about 50% of men suffer from the onset of baldness or otherwise already advanced.

Hair loss can lead to a loss of confidence and cause real psychological distress, especially among young people.

In most cases, hair loss is caused by genetic or hormonal problems, so nutritional supplements (vitamins, etc.) are often ineffective.

Most drug treatments are quite disappointing, especially in the long term. Discontinue ongoing hair loss treatments such as taking certain medications (eg finasteride or minoxidil).

Therefore, the most effective treatment for hair loss is surgery, such as hair implants. Thanks to the great technological advances in recent years, hair transplant implants can give excellent results. The problem with this method is that most of the time the price is high, because it often requires several surgeries and, of course, it is never reimbursed by the health plan (hair loss is not a disease, but an aesthetic problem).

Definition

The entire scalp contains about 100,000 hairs. Each strand has a particular structure and is anchored to the scalp. The hair strand follows a life cycle that can, however, vary from one person to another and from one hair to another.

Hair life cycle: during the first years (from 2 to 6 years), hair grows an average of 1 cm per month, this phase is called the growth phase. Then comes the transformation phase, which gives way to the next hair, and then comes the resting phase, during which the hair strand separates from the scalp and has the end of its life. This is why a person with a healthy scalp typically loses an average of 40 (sometimes less) to 100 hairs a day.

Therefore, we speak of hair loss when a man loses more than 100 hairs a day, over a long period of time (several months).

A simple way to know how many hairs you are losing per day is to count them. For example, in the morning after a shower, look at the floor; after combing your hair, observe the amount you find in your clothes and in your bed. (advice: choose white sheets to observe better).

If you notice that you’ve been losing more than 100 hairs a day for weeks, and if this is bothering you aesthetically or psychologically (since hair loss is not a serious medical problem), it’s best to start looking for information about existing treatments. to troubleshoot the problem.

Epidemiology

At the age of 50, about 50% of men suffer from the onset of baldness or advanced baldness.

Baldness occurs in 80 percent of men under the age of 70 [source: Webmd.com, March 2012].

Causes

Different causes can explain hair loss:

– Hormonal origin, hereditary (genetic causes) are the cause in more than half of men. Main cause of baldness in men (75% of hair loss cases).

– an intoxication

– Stress (proved by clinical studies from 2005: followed by a chain reaction that leads to the blockage of hair growth that causes hair loss, since the lost strands are not renewed by others).

– Poor diet (lack of minerals, vitamins or trace elements). In that case, give preference to natural treatments (wheat germ,…) to combat hair loss.

– an allergy

– Side effects to certain medications (e.g. anticancer, antihypertensive, anticholesterol, isotretinoin used for acne, etc.)

– Hyperthyroidism , in this disease there is excessive production of thyroid hormones that can affect the quality of the hair.

Symptoms

The main characteristic signs of hair loss are:

– The forehead that is stripped, as well as the temples (baldness level 1)

– Crown or tonsure (baldness level 2)

– Appearance or presence of dandruff

– Very oily scalp

– Allergic reaction

Treatments

There are two main axes of treatments against hair loss:

1. Medicines to combat hormonal and hereditary alopecia

Important note: drugs for the treatment of hormonal and hereditary alopecia (most cases of hair loss), whether taken orally or locally, will only be effective during treatment if used correctly. Once stopped, the hairs will fall out again.

2. Local treatment against hair loss

Minoxidil, original brand name *Regaine®, in a 2% solution (available in pharmacies, without the need for a medical prescription) and a 5% solution (available with a medical prescription).

Available statistics show that minoxidil at a concentration of 2%, in a topical solution, applied twice a day, allows hair regrowth in one third of patients; the stabilization of the loss in another third and in the last third this drug is not effective. Minoxidil-based treatments should last close to 12 months to see an important difference, if you are among the 2/3 of people who get treatment efficacy (read above). After a few months, significant differences can be observed.

We reinforce the idea that with the interruption of the treatment, the hair falls out again.

3. Oral treatment (finasteride)

Warning, this treatment is only useful for hormonal and hereditary androgenetic alopecia and must not be used by women without medical advice (serious risk of malformation in case of pregnancy). We insistently recommend consulting a doctor (allows observation of the results and the prescription of the medicine) and not ordering the prescription via the internet.

The treatment par excellence orally to combat hormonal and hereditary alopecia is finasteride-based. This product is for sale under prescription, that is, after a medical consultation (do not buy it via the internet as it does not allow medical follow-up).

According to available figures, treatments based on finasteride (daily dose of 1 mg) allow the regrowth of hair in about 60% of people and in 80% of cases it allows the interruption of hair loss.

Side effects are rare, but they can appear in about 2% of patients in the form of sexual disorders (decreased libido, erection problems). Talk to your doctor, if applicable.

We note that it is important that the patient still has a sufficient number of hairs that are not very fine at the beginning of the treatment, otherwise the efficiency will be compromised.

We remind you once again that with the interruption of the treatment, the hair inevitably falls out again.

*Warning, the medicines mentioned above are not the only ones available on the market, this is just a non-exhaustive list and purely indicative. Always read the medicine leaflet and ask a specialist for advice.

4. Implant – Hair Grafting

The implant is, as the name implies, a hair implant, applied in places where there is hair failure.

The implant mainly applies to people who are insensitive to drugs or who don’t want to spend money and take drugs. We note that a completely bald person will theoretically not be able to find all of their hair again, even after the implant.

Nowadays, implants are practiced in various clinics. It is almost always an outpatient, definitive and painless operation.

Herbal medicine

In certain cases, the use of plants or natural remedies can be useful against hair loss.

In general, (classic) drugs are more effective than natural treatments.

– Green tea , to be used mainly as an infusion (according to some studies, the consumption of green tea could reduce hair loss, however no study has been duly proven).

– Wheat germ , to be used mainly in the form of wheat germ. Efficacy against hair loss only if this is caused by a lack of certain nutrients (rare case).

– Millet , to be taken generally in capsule form.

 – Saw Palmetto (sabal or serenoa repens) , to be taken in capsule form.

Tips

– A healthy diet rich in vitamins such as biotin, amino acids, minerals, or even certain trace elements, allows you to strengthen and improve the quality of the hair, and in some cases (related to a lack of nutrients) to block hair loss.

– Try to reduce or limit stress, as this greatly accelerates hair loss.

– The application of certain shampoos, (for example, mild shampoos) or cosmetic products allows you to delay hair loss, as well as improve the quality of the hair.

– Rinse the hair well after applying a shampoo.

– A light and regular massage of the scalp can favor blood supply and keep the hair healthy. Ask, for example, your hairdresser to perform this massage.

– The use of caps or hats does not cause hair loss, at most they can protect from the harmful effects of the sun.

– Avoid drying your hair with a hairdryer, if possible give preference to drying in the open air.

Jeanne Kenney
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I’m a stylist trainer, a content creator, and an entrepreneur passion. Virgo sign and Pisces ascendant, I move easily between my dreams, the crazy world I want, and my feet on the ground to carry out my projects.

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