HOW TO DEAL WITH MALE HAIR LOSS ?
HAIR LOSS TREATMENT
Hair loss isn’t usually anything to be worried about as we can lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day without even noticing. However, on some occasions, it can be a sign of a health condition or in most cases genetic. It can also just be temporary due to stress, iron deficiency, weight loss, or medication for instance.
Hair loss can also be associated with the passing of time and in fact, more than 60 percent of men will have some form of hair loss in their lifetime. You have to almost lose half of your hair before you can visibly tell.
If you are feeling worried about male hair loss, treatment is available from our experienced team at Nar London. Click here to book a consultation (£50 that can be redeemed against the treatment) at our Harley Street, London clinic. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy is worth considering if you are looking for an efficient non-surgical treatment.
Why Does Hair Loss Occur?
Androgenetic alopecia, or hair loss due to hormonal causes, makes up 95% of male hair loss cases. Male pattern baldness is caused by an enhanced sensitivity to the male hormones in various parts of the scalp. Though, it is important to stress that this is part of the aging process and is related to genetics.
As we mentioned above, hair loss could also be related to other reasons and in some cases illness.
How Do You Treat Male Pattern Baldness/ androgenetic alopecia?
Once you have androgenetic alopecia, it is not going to halt, though the rate at which this happens differs from individual to individual and depends on genetics. It is important to start treatment as soon as your hairline starts bothering you or notice heavy hair loss. The earlier you seek treatment the better your chances of slowing down the process, reversing or preventing further hair loss.
Fortunately, there are some male hair loss treatments available and our hair loss expert will be able to discuss them during your free consultation at Nar London, Harley Street.
THE HAIR CYCLES
As new hair is created in the follicle, it pushes out the hair shaft, creating longer-looking hair. Typically, hair grows about 0.3mm to 0.4mm each day. Thankfully, not all hair follicles are growing new hair at the same time. Hair growth occurs in a cycle. At any given time, each strand is in a different part of the cycle. Otherwise, they would shed at the same time and we would be bald like a tree in autumn!
Let’s have a look at the different phases in the hair cycle:
1. Anagen: Growing phase
First, the stages of hair growth begin with the anagen phase and this is the longest phase, lasting about 2 to 6 years.
During the anagen phase, your hair follicles are pushing out hairs that will continue to grow (about half an inch each month) until they are cut or reach the end of their lifespan and simply fall out.
At any time, about 85/90% of the hair follicles on your scalp are in the anagen phase.
2. Catagen: Transition phase
Second, the catagen phase starts when the anagen phase ends, and tends to last about 10 days or so.
During this cycle, hair follicles shrink and hair growth slows. The hair also separates from the bottom of the hair follicle, yet remains in place during its final days of growing.
Only about 5 percent of the hair follicles on your scalp are in the catagen phase at any given time.
3. Telogen: Resting phase
Third, the telogen phase typically lasts around 3 months. It is estimated that 10 to 15 percent of your hair follicles are in this phase.
This phase is also called “resting” because the hairs don’t grow during the telogen phase, but they don’t usually fall out either. The telogen phase is also when new hairs start to form in follicles that have just released hairs during the catagen phase.
Many experts consider the telogen phase the shedding phase, as well, but many scientists have divided this stage into two parts: the telogen and exogen stages.
4. Exogen: Shedding phase
And finally, the exogen phase is essentially a “continuity” of the telogen stage of hair growth. During the exogen phase, hair is shed but losing 50 to 100 hairs per day is normal.
This cycle can last about 2 to 5 months, new hair follicles are growing, and “older” hairs fall away.
Read more: The four-stage cycle of hair
Difference between Maturing vs. Receding Hairline
As we age, it is normal to notice some changes in our hairline. However, how to tell if these changes are just the result of a natural maturation process, or if they indicate concerning hair loss?
The hairline is a line separating your hair from your forehead and where the hairline naturally lies will depend on genetics and some other factors.
Early in life, males and females have a so-called “juvenile hairline” i.e. very low in the forehead and rounded (concave), and identical to girls’ hairline.
At adolescence, the hairline will naturally recede especially for males. This process is a natural part of physiological maturation, like developing a deeper voice or having a growing mustache. The hairline is raised slightly around 1 to 2 centimeters. Additionally, the hairline retreats quite evenly by losing its concave or rounded shape by becoming a bit more recessed in the area of the temples.
However, a receding hairline differs from the normal hairline maturation. In fact, this is a clear sign of male-pattern baldness.
Indeed, with time the hairline will recede even more. People might even experience hair thinning in areas behind the hairline. Ultimately, this process could lead to baldness.
Receding hairline and androgenetic alopecia
As we mentioned above, it is important to distinguish a maturing hairline from a receding one. For that, you need to look at how the hairline recedes. If the front line of hair has moved back relatively uniformly, it is most likely that the hairline is maturing. However, if the hairline is quite uneven then most likely this is a receding hairline. If you notice that your hairline has retreated more than 1-2 cm then this could also be a sign of a receding hairline.
You will also see that it creates the characteristic M-shape pattern, also known as the “widow’s peak”.
A receding hairline is the first sign of the most common type of male pattern hair loss i.e. Androgenetic Alopecia.
What Causes a Receding Hairline?
As stated, the sign of Androgenetic Alopecia is the M-shaped pattern of hair loss. And, as the condition worsens, the receding hairline will deepen. Then, after the temples area, the entire hairline will be affected. Then the crown part of the head will start to thin. Ultimately, the condition will lead to baldness.
1. Age
This condition is widespread as around 25% of men before the age of 21 and over 80% of men by the age of 80 will experience a receding hairline.
It is most common for the hairline to recede or hair to fall with age. As we get older, our hair follicles tend to get damaged, causing hair loss and a receding hairline.
2. Genetics
A receding hairline can be associated with family genes from both sides of your parents. If there is a history of baldness running in your family then you are, unfortunately, more likely to experience hair loss. On the other hand, if there is no baldness in your family then most likely your hairline is simply maturing. Some studies have shown that heredity accounts for around 80 percent of the predisposition to baldness.
This said, this is not inevitable, and it is possible that you will not heavily lose your hair despite a history of baldness in your family. Similarly, it is possible to lose your hair even if no one in your family is bald.
3. Hormonal changes
Hormonal imbalances in both men and women can trigger hair loss. In men, the androgen hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is believed to play a major role in the pathogenesis of AGA (balding process). In fact, DHT leads to the shrinking of hair follicles also known as hair follicle miniaturization. Eventually, the miniaturization in affected areas advances to complete baldness.
In women, factors like menopause can potentially lead to thinning of hair, though not always.
4. Unhealthy lifestyle choices
Diet choices like processed foods, sugary foods, foods with preservatives, and saturated fats can contribute to hair loss. Also, smoking can also lead to hairline recession. If you want to keep your hair and your health strong longer then adopt a healthy lifestyle.
5. Other factors
There are other factors that contribute to AGA such as the environment, hair care routines, medication, stress, and illness.
HAIR LOSS CLINIC HARLEY STREET
We are a reputable clinic with vast experience in helping thousands of men and women with getting their hair back with our non-invasive treatments.
We understand that hair loss can be distressing for some and that is why we constantly strive to bring the best solution for treating your condition. Our approach is honest, serious, and human. We are not a “factory” type of clinic and put the wellbeing and happiness of our clients first.
We are based in World famous Harley Street in central London. Our hair loss expert provides an individual service tailored to your requirements. We assess your face to face, explain the possible reasons leading to your hair loss, and recommend the best treatment for your case.