HAIR LOSS, GETTING THE FACTS
Premature hair loss affects anything between 40 and 80% of men, depending on their ethnic origin. For many, the problem already starts occurring in their early twenties. Although the condition is the source of jokes amongst peers, it can be a sensitive topic, leading people to be hesitant to ask questions for fear of ridicule or embarrassment. Those brave enough to ask questions are often faced with a wealth of information and treatment options, and it can be difficult to navigate through everything in order to find an appropriate course of action.
Here are some pointers to guide your research:
When should you start to worry?
All adult men will experience some form of hair loss naturally. It is part of your hair follicles life cycle. It is only when you start shedding more than 100 hairs a day that you should start thinking about possible causes and treatments.
What causes hair loss?
There are a range of theories about what causes hair loss, from the male hormone DHT, which causes an autoimmune reaction during which your hair follicles start attacking your own hair, through simple genetic inheritance to the damaging effect of artificial chemicals, exposure to sunlight and day to day stress factors.
What are popular hair loss treatments?
Some treatments will attempt to address the fundamental causes of hair loss, while others will work in a complementary way. Some examples:
Anti androgens, which combat the harmful effect of male hormones on hair growth. Therapeutic shampoos which attack bacteria and stimulate growth. Nutritional changes and lifestyle modifications like more sleep and quitting smoking. Some research shows that following a holistic approach including elements of each of these treatments is best, although others advocate the use of one single treatment. The most important thing to note is that it will take a while for any treatment to show results, so you need to be patient!
Can I take medication?
If you are interested in stimulating hair growth through medication, a range options exist (please note we are only providing options here we are in no way affiliated with these companies, nor can we vouch for the real effectiveness of their products):
Propecia & Proscar, manufactured by Merck. Rogaine (Minoxidil) reputedly slowing hair loss for 90% of respondents, and actually stimulating hair growth in about 25%.
Herbal medications such as Saw Palmetto, Apple Skin, Stinging Nettle and Boarage Oil. What is hair replacement therapy, and is this something you should consider? Here it is important that you always consult a qualified Trichologist, who will be able to give you professional advice on a range of options, from Flap SurgeryÂÂ, Scalp ReductionÂÂ, Tissue Expansion or the FUE procedure. The success of these will vary depending on the person concerned our bodies are not machines after all!
Premature hair loss affects anything between 40 and 80% of men, depending on their ethnic origin. For many, the problem already starts occurring in their early twenties. Although the condition is the source of jokes amongst peers, it can be a sensitive topic, leading people to be hesitant to ask questions for fear of ridicule or embarrassment. Those brave enough to ask questions are often faced with a wealth of information and treatment options, and it can be difficult to navigate through everything in order to find an appropriate course of action.
Here are some pointers to guide your research:
When should you start to worry?
All adult men will experience some form of hair loss naturally. It is part of your hair follicles life cycle. It is only when you start shedding more than 100 hairs a day that you should start thinking about possible causes and treatments.
What causes hair loss?
There are a range of theories about what causes hair loss, from the male hormone DHT, which causes an autoimmune reaction during which your hair follicles start attacking your own hair, through simple genetic inheritance to the damaging effect of artificial chemicals, exposure to sunlight and day to day stress factors.
What are popular hair loss treatments?
Some treatments will attempt to address the fundamental causes of hair loss, while others will work in a complementary way. Some examples:
Anti androgens, which combat the harmful effect of male hormones on hair growth. Therapeutic shampoos which attack bacteria and stimulate growth. Nutritional changes and lifestyle modifications like more sleep and quitting smoking. Some research shows that following a holistic approach including elements of each of these treatments is best, although others advocate the use of one single treatment. The most important thing to note is that it will take a while for any treatment to show results, so you need to be patient!
Can I take medication?
If you are interested in stimulating hair growth through medication, a range options exist (please note we are only providing options here we are in no way affiliated with these companies, nor can we vouch for the real effectiveness of their products):
Propecia & Proscar, manufactured by Merck. Rogaine (Minoxidil) reputedly slowing hair loss for 90% of respondents, and actually stimulating hair growth in about 25%.
Herbal medications such as Saw Palmetto, Apple Skin, Stinging Nettle and Boarage Oil. What is hair replacement therapy, and is this something you should consider? Here it is important that you always consult a qualified Trichologist, who will be able to give you professional advice on a range of options, from Flap SurgeryÂÂ, Scalp ReductionÂÂ, Tissue Expansion or the FUE procedure. The success of these will vary depending on the person concerned our bodies are not machines after all!
