How common is hair loss in men?

Very common. In fact, every man in the UK will experience some hair thinning in his life. The only difference is the degree to which it affects them, and this can vary enormously.

Some young men start to lose hair in their teens and may be bald before they are twenty-five. Others have an almost full head of hair when in their seventies. Approximately 70% of men will have noticeable hair loss when in their forties.

What causes male hair loss?

Male hair loss (androgenic alopecia) is caused by the effect of the male hormones (androgens) on genetically predisposed hair follicles. In other words, the tendency to develop this type of baldness runs in families and can be passed down by either parent to a child, male or female.

Within these genetically programmed hair follicles, testosterone, the chief male hormone, is converted by an enzyme (5 alpha reductase) into a much more potent hormone (dihydrotestosterone). It is the effect of this hormone that inhibits the metabolism of the forming hair cells, resulting in hair of a reduced diameter.

The growing phase of the hair cycle will be of a shorter duration than for hairs that are unaffected, and may last for a period of only months rather than the average of 3-4 years. When these hairs fall out, they are replaced by finer hairs that have an even shorter period of growth. This process can continue until the hair follicles degenerate and are unable to produce any further hair.
What are the first signs of hair thinning?

Usually a slight recession of the hair at the front of the scalp along the hairline is noticed first. Later, thinning over the crown can develop, and these areas may 'join up' causing the entire front and top of the scalp to be bald.

However, most scalps that appear totally bald contain hair follicles, which are either still producing very fine hair, or are capable of producing it. These are fine vellus hairs with a diameter below 40 microns, and no longer clearly visible to the naked eye.

Is male hair loss dependent on the level of male hormones in the body?

It is sometimes assumed that, because testosterone causes hair loss in men, then balding men must have high levels of it and so must be more virile than those with a full head of hair.

However, it is not so much the level of hormone that causes this type of hair loss, but rather how the hair cells respond to it, whatever the level. The extent of the hair loss depends on how sensitive the cells in the hair follicles are to testosterone.

If very sensitive, hair loss will start early and lead to extensive baldness. On the other hand, if hair loss is not noticed until well into the thirties, the 'baldness' may not be worse than a slight thinning at the front or crown of the head.

Can anything be done to stop male hair loss?

In many cases, male hair loss can be stopped and even reversed to a certain extent. A substance called Minoxidil, sold in the UK as the product Regaine has proved to be highly effective at stopping hair loss and, in many men, improving hair growth itself.

When applied to the thinning region of the scalp, it can have a marked improvement on the quantity and quality of a man's hair. It tends to have a better effect in the early stages of hair loss and on younger men. Good results can be obtained in older men, but it may take somewhat longer to see new hair growth.

Are there any shampoos that will help my hair grow better?

There is one shampoo in particular which can make a big difference to how well your hair grows called the Trichology Scalp Improvement Shampoo. A common problem, which can greatly reduce the effectiveness of Minoxidil, is scaling or flaking on the scalp.

This does not only mean dandruff, as even a slight, non-obvious build-up of dead skin cells can have a sponge-like effect which absorbs much of the Minoxidil solution when it is applied to the scalp. This can prevent the solution from reaching the hair root at the base of the hair follicle, and the less that reaches the hair root, the less effective the Minoxidil.

To overcome this problem, this special shampoo, which is a blend of natural antiseptic oils such as Thyme, Rosemary, Tea Tree and Juniper combined with gentle cleansing agents, clears all the absorbent scale from the scalp, and allows Minoxidil to penetrate down the hair follicle to the hair root where it can stimulate hair growth. It also has a wonderfully soothing effect that helps to prevent dandruff recurring once it is cleared.

The scalp improvement shampoo should be used regularly to ensure that all absorbent skin cells and scale is removed from the surface of the scalp, and that it is as healthy as possible. This results in the Minoxidil being able to stimulate more hair growth.

© allcures.com February 2003