Hair Thinning is a common male problem. Although some prefers to go hairless and look like Vin Diesel and The Rock, many still fear the process of loosing their hair. Seeing your glorious lock starting to go thin can really affect how you see yourself and others as well. Once you see the signs of the condition, you would want to find out the best treatment for baldness.
Most men will experience hair loss at one point in time. Resources indicate that about 50% of men (and women) in the US start to experience thinning hair by the time they reach 40 years of age.
Causes of Hair Loss
There are several reasons why men experience hair fall. Many blame their genes. While there is a greater tendency that your baldness may have been hereditary, there are still other factors that may also be considered.
With male-pattern baldness, a male steroid hormone that binds to receptors in your scalp and is called dihydrotestosterone or DHT. The same hormone that is responsible for the development of the male genitalia during pregnancy also causes the hair follicles to shrink, weaken, and later on die, especially if you are genetically prone to hair loss. This process, known as miniaturization, soon result to a complete end of hair growth in the area of the head with DHT-affected hair follicles.
There are other factors that cn cause hair loss. Poisoning, radiation, medication, infection, hormone disorders, even your diet can cause hair fall. Then there are these physical stressors, such as a sudden weight loss or pregnancy, as well as physical or emotional shocks, can also lead to temporary hair loss.
Temporary hair loss may also be caused by certain medical conditions like coronary heart disease and prostate problems for men. Hormonal changes in women can also cause this type of hair loss.
DHT and Hair Loss
Since DHT is considered the primary hormone that causes hair loss in men, then what could be more effective way to slow down and prevent hair loss than to block DHT?
Fortunately, there are many products available in the market today that are made specifically for such purpose. There are several variants of topical DHT blocking shampoo or spray that you can use to keep DHT off your hair follicles.
Although this method is fairly effective, it doesn’t completely block the DHT from binding with the receptors in the scalp.
There are also medications that are formulated to effectively block DHT at the source, such as finasteride. Such drugs are made to prevent the body from producing DHT in the first place.
Treatment for Baldness
There are natural and medical forms of treatment for hair loss. Here are some easy ways you can help your natural hair to stay healthy longer.
- Be gentle to your hair. Frequent styling, brushing, hair coloring, and hair treatments can harm your hair. These can not only damage hair strands, make them look dry, frizzy, and cause breakage, they can also lead to hair fall.
- Use natural hair cleansers and remedies. Give your hair natural vitamin D from the sun and use alternative hair cleansers and conditioners, such as light rye flour mixed with water, hair soap (saponified soaps), and coconut milk.
- Use wide toothed combs to detangle the strands of your hair. No more hair pulling from now on.
- Ask the expert. As mentioned earlier there are medications that you can use to prevent hair fall. These meds can either be available over the counter or with a prescription. Consult a dermatologist for proper evaluation and recommendation.
Some of the Medications That Are Usually Made Available Are the Following:
- Minoxidil (Rogaine). Minoxidil is a nonprescription medication that many men and women find effective in addressing hair fall. It comes as a liquid or foam form that needs to be rubbed into the scalp daily. It takes about 6 months to finally see new hair growth and stop hair fall with continuous use of this product, however.
- Finasteride (Propecia). Finasteride, on the other hand, is a prescription drug approved for men. It is required to be taken daily as a pill. Sources indicate that Finasteride may not work as well for men more than 60 years old, however.
Other medications. For men, the oral medication dutasteride is an option. For women, treatment may include oral contraceptives and spironolactone.