
for most men by the time they reach the age of fifty. Male hair loss can develop gradually or attack with relentless vigor leaving nothing more than a bald head which is powerless to produce new growth. But whatever the speed of male hair loss if left unchecked it can have a devastating impact on a man’s self confidence and perhaps just as important, how others view him. A change in the perception of others can have an impact on his ability to earn a living, how he interacts with others, and his social and family life. In this article we will briefly discuss hair, touch on the many possible causes of male hair loss and then move on to possible solutions that should prove helpful in your personal battle against thinning hair or balding. To fully understand male hair loss first we must catch a glimpse into what we refer to as hair. Now let’s get growing (going). What you are losing on the top of your head are thousands of hair shafts which are made of a protein called keratin. The root of the hair lies below the skin surface, in the layer of the scalp referred to as the dermis, originating in a structure called the hair follicle. The root of the new hair stimulates the development of a hair bulb, which brings keratin (a protein found in skin, hair, and nail cells) to the growing hair. The keratin and dead hair cells continually push toward the surface of the skin, forming the hair shaft. The shaft has three microscopic layers: the hollow inner core called the medulla, long fibrous cells called the cortex, and scaled cells on the outside called the cuticle. The average man loses between 50 and 100 hairs a day under normal circumstances but those numbers can dramatically increase if other accelerating factors are present. A few examples of concerns that could increase in the number of hairs lost daily are physical stress, psychological stress, rapid or sudden weight loss, severe illnesses such as diabetes, poor nutrition, an extended bout with high fever, chemotherapy drugs, blood pressure medications, diuretics, thyroid or pituitary disorders, autoimmune disorders, bacterial or fungal infections of the scalp, and harsh hair and scalp products. The primary cause of hair loss in men As long as the number of hairs being displaced keeps up with the amount that are being lost male hair loss will not occur. But as we age our body’s ability to replace the 100 or so hairs lost each day starts to diminish. By age 50, some degree of baldness affects approximately six out of ten men. Tip: At the first sign of an imbalance in the hair replacement cycle is the best time to treat male hair loss. This is because the products currently available do a much better job of protecting existing hair than producing new healthy growth. The average man starts with approximately 100,000 hairs; each emerging from a follicle. Each hair will grow only at the rate of about one half inch a month. A complete hair cycle includes two major phases: the growth phase, which lasts four to six years, and a resting phase, which lasts two to three months. After completing the cycle the hair falls out. A healthy hair cycle can extend past the magical 50 mark as long as the follicles stay open, circulation remains good, and no extenuating factors are present. On the other hand balding can begin much earlier, particularly if a person has a genetic predisposition to hair loss. The most common example of this is androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness is the 800 pound bald gorilla in the world of male hair loss or male thinning hair. By some estimates male pattern baldness accounts for as many as nine out of every ten cases of balding and thinning hair in men. It is a progressive, ever advancing, relentless condition driven by a group of hormones known as androgens; testosterone, androsteinedione, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Men produce large quantities of these hormones where women only produce miniscule amounts. Thus accounting for the reason that women’s hair loss is less common and generally begins much later in life. For those men who have a genetic predisposition (almost all) when the primary male androgen hormone testosterone comes in contact with the hair cell enzyme 5 alpha reductase type 2 the powerful androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) born. The DHT then binds with receptors deep within the hair follicle. It is at this point that the balance between hair growth and hair replacement is disrupted. As time rolls on more and more DHT accumulates in the follicle complex causing healthy, productive hair follicles to begin to contract. This process is repeated over and over again as the conversion and accumulation process gradually spreads. Some follicles will eventually wither away and die, while others are rendered incapable of producing or maintaining healthy hair growth. The pattern normally seen is quite recognizable and predictable and can begin as early as a man’s teenage years, though this is the exception rather than the rule. Male hair loss usually begins at the forehead or on the top of the head toward the back. Some men lose only some hair and have only a receding hairline or a small bald spot in the back, around the crown. Others, especially those whose DHT accumulation started to begin to become a problem early in life will lose all the hair on top, while retaining an undetermined amount of hair on the sides and back of the scalp. The bottom line is, if left unchecked male pattern baldness will claim most, if not all of an mans hair over time, with the vast majority of scalp coverage loss being seen on the top of the head. Some describe male pattern baldness as producing an M shaped pattern, while other describe it as an egg shaped pattern; thus the creation of the term egg head. What can be done? Let’s look at a simple 7 step approach for reversing or slowing male hair loss. *Shampoo and shampooing: Most shampoo are very harsh, especially those which later well. Keep in mind shampoo by definition is a cleanser. The best rule of thumb is to look for natural or organic shampoos and reduce shampooing to a couple of time a week. *Reduce stress: Stress diverts blood from the scalp to other areas of the body. *Eat for hair health: Diets high in B vitamins, biotin, calcium, and magnesium are essential for hair health. *Reduce or eliminate blow drying: Towel dry instead to avoid heat related damage. *Try natural remedies: Natural oral and topical remedies can prove very help in supporting scalp and follicle health. For instance both saw palmetto and nettle root extract when taken orally have been shown to block damaging DHT conversion. Aloe vera used topically may also prove helpful. *Daily scalp massage: Massaging the scalp daily with natural oils such as almond, wheat germ, peppermint, or jojoba will help condition the scalp and keep hair follicles open and healthy. *Don’t be afraid to change: Most treatments for male hair loss will show results in 90 days or less. If you haven’t noticed an improvement in hair texture and/or overall appearance in 90 days it is time to make a change. Keep in mind that even the most effective male hair loss treatments don’t work for everyone. Recognizing this and making a change quickly may be the single most important rule for allowing you to keep your hair for many more years to come. Effective Alternative Treatments for Male Hair Loss |
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