What Causes Hair Loss In Men?
Understanding hair loss and what you can do about it
If you’re currently experiencing hair loss, you’re not alone. Over half of men worldwide are affected by male hair loss to varying degrees. Thankfully, due to its prevalence, there are a wide variety of treatments available to tackle it too. However, why men experience hair loss can vary from person to person. We’ll go over what hair loss is, common causes, and available and emerging treatments.
What is hair loss?
Hair loss generally refers to the thinning, shedding, or balding process that can occur to hair on the scalp or other parts of the face or body. In many cases, it’s a natural process that comes with aging with studies showing that around 30-50% of men have hair loss by age 50.
Common causes of hair loss in men
There are many things that can cause hair loss, but the most common ones are:
Genetics
Androgenic alopecia (also called male pattern baldness) is the most common cause of hair loss in men. This refers to hair loss caused by male hormones like DHT (dihydrotestosterone) that bind to hair follicles and cause them to shrink over time. The tendency to lose hair from these hormones is hereditary (inherited) in about 80% of people. Even normal levels of male hormones can cause hair loss in people who are genetically predisposed.
Lifestyle factors
Believe it or not, things like stress, sleep, smoking and diet are just some of the things that can affect hair health and growth. Chronic stress can lead to telogen effluvium (temporary hair loss), by triggering hair follicles to go into a resting state. Sleep deprivation can also cause hair loss by disrupting your body’s ability to repair and regenerate hair follicles.
A diet too low in nutrients like vitamins and minerals and protein can weaken hair, making it thin and easily broken off. Lastly, smoking has been shown to lower the amount of blood circulation in the scalp, which can lead to damage to hair follicles.
Health conditions
Some medical issues can also lead to hair loss. A condition called alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease, causes the body to attach its own hair follicles. This leads to patches of hair loss, or, in severe cases, total hair loss (alopecia totalis). Other autoimmune diseases like lupus and autoimmune thyroiditis can put the brakes on hair follicle growth. Additionally, conditions like scalp infections and thyroid imbalances can also cause hair loss.
Aging
Just the process of getting older can cause hair to become more thin, as hair follicles tend to make finer hairs that grow slower over time. As we age, our scalp gets less blood flow and our scalp produces less oil to keep our hairs moisturized. These are normal hair changes of getting older.
Grooming habits
Keep in mind that harsh chemicals, tightly pulled hairstyles, and being harsh on your scalp can also cause hair loss or thinning. Try to be gentle in the products you use on your head and the way you treat your hair to reduce these issues.
Male hair loss treatments
There are many options when it comes to treating hair loss. Here are some of the most common treatment options:
Topical minoxidil (Rogaine): Minoxidil is a medication you can purchase over the counter to apply to your scalp to slow hair loss. It works by ramping up blood flow to your hair follicles which helps hair to grow for longer. Consistency is key, when you stop using topical minoxidil it will stop working.
Finasteride (Propecia): Finasteride is an oral prescription medication that treats male pattern baldness by blocking the enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT. DHT, as we mentioned earlier, shrinks hair follicles. Finasteride isn’t without side effects, so keep in mind that it can cause things like altered sexual function, depression/anxiety, and could affect your prostate screening levels. Always discuss side effects with your prescriber before starting on any medication.
Hair transplantation surgery: Some people opt to have hair follicles moved from the thicker parts of the scalp to the thinner areas, via surgery.
Lifestyle: Optimizing your nutrition, sleep, and stress levels goes a long way.
Emerging treatments: Newer treatments have less evidence backing them, but there have been promising results in individuals. This includes treatments like platelet rich plasma injections, low-level laser or light therapies, and stem cell therapies. Always consult a doctor to explore hair loss treatments.
Living with hair loss
Hair loss is a normal, if annoying, part of getting older. That being said, if hair loss is bothering you, there are many options to treat and minimize it. Reach out to your health care team to see which options might work well for you.. Thanks to the growing availability of hair loss treatments, you are only a few consultations away from finding the right treatment for your hair loss management journey.
