BALDING BEFORE THEY TURN 40?

Yes, it is very common to notice most men balding when they hit the age of 40. Wonder why that happens? Let us dissect for you.

1. GENETICS (DON’T JUST BLAME YOUR MOM AS DAD IS AS MUCH RESPONSIBLE!)

BALDING BEFORE THEY TURN 40? Here is something that may surprise you. Genetics is by far the most common cause of baldness. This inherited trait that tends to give guys a receding hairline and a thinning crown is caused by genetic sensitivity to a byproduct of testosterone called DihydroTestosterone (“DHT”).

So, how exactly does DHT cause hair loss?

Well, hair follicles that are sensitive to DHT have a tendency to shrink over time. As the affected hair follicles get smaller, the life span of each hair becomes shorter. Eventually, the affected follicles stop producing hair, or at least the type of hair you’re used to.

Under Androgenetic alopecia, hair loss follows a distinctive pattern (better known as Male Pattern Baldness). The two most common patterns of hair loss include the following:

1. Hair starts to thin on top of the head and around the temples – This pattern may eventually leave a “horseshoe” of hair around the sides and back of the head.
2. Hair starts to recede from the front of the hairline, pushing the hairline further back on the head.

The degree and progression of balding in men is assessed by the Norwood classification system. It has seven stages that measure the severity and pattern of hair loss and balding.

2. OTHER PERMANENT CAUSES FOR HAIR LOSS IN MEN

Though Male Pattern Baldness is the number one reason for hair loss in men by a significant distance, it isn’t the only condition that can trigger hair loss.

With Male Pattern Baldness, you typically don’t have other symptoms aside from thinning hair. But with other hair loss causes, you may have other symptoms too. Also, with most other causes, there may not be a predictable hair loss pattern like there is with Male Pattern Baldness. Instead, hair loss is more likely to happen everywhere, or in a few specific spots.

One such notable hair loss causes is a condition called “Alopecia Areata”. This condition causes your body’s immune system to mistakenly attack healthy hair follicles, thus causing hair loss. Hair typically falls out in small patches on your head, but it can also affects other parts of your body. For instance, you may find a bald spot in your beard or in your eyelashes or eyebrows, too. The hair may or may not grow back.

Then there are other conditions as well. Scarring alopecia or scalp infections, requires careful dermatological management. Traction alopecia leads to excessive tension on the hair scalp from wearing certain hairstyles, such as tight braiding. Trichotillomania is a hair-pulling disorder in which there is an irresistible urge to pull out hair.

3. TEMPERORY CAUSES FOR HAIR LOSS IN MEN

Telogen effluvium

Excessive shedding of hair can sometimes happen about 2 to 3 months after some sort of shock caused by a stressful event. Hair loss may be triggered by an accident, surgery, illness, drastic weight loss, or some kind of psychological stress. Hair usually grows back within about 2 to 6 months.

Poor nutrition

Optimal levels of iron and other nutrients are essential not only for good overall health but also for healthy hair. Proteins, Vitamin D, as well as adequate intake of other vitamins help as well. A deficiency in one or more of these nutrients may cause you to lose more hair than normal.

Smoking

No bonus points for guessing this one. Smoking is bad for health, can cause cancer and so if you want to keep your health and your hair, keep away from those cigarettes.

Medications

Hair loss from certain medications is usually temporary and once you stop taking the medication, hair growth is likely to resume. Some of the known drugs associated with hair loss include:

• chemotherapy drugs
• acne medications
• antifungal drugs
• anticoagulants
• immunosuppressants
• blood pressure medications
• cholesterol-lowering drugs)
• antidepressants

SO WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR HAIR LOSS?

The only way to know exactly what is causing your loss of hair is to consult a hair loss specialist. Proper diagnosis is critical to determining whether you will benefit from the many treatment options available. Treatment options for reversible triggers include improving diet, overall health, and reducing stress levels. For irreversible hair loss, however, a hair transplant is the only viable permanent solution.

For more information on reasons why you may have started balding, contact Evolved Clinics in Perth, Australia today.