There is a multitude of reasons which could cause men to start losing their hair.
Most people are aware of genetic factors such as male pattern baldness, but did you know that things like your diet, medications, and stress can also cause hair loss?
Let’s take a look at four common reasons for hair loss and what you can do about it.
Diet
source: hearstapps.com
When your body isn’t getting the vitamins and minerals that it needs, one of the first visible signs is often that your hair will start to thin.
A common culprit is a diet that’s lacking in protein. If you aren’t getting enough protein, this can damage your hair and hamper your body’s ability to build new hair follicles. It only takes one or two months of a protein-deficient diet for you to start seeing the effects on your healthy hair.
Your hairline may also be affected if your diet doesn’t contain enough Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and B Complex vitamins. Studies have shown that deficiencies in these vitamins can cause hair loss, but they haven’t definitively shown that supplementing them will promote hair growth.
Medications
source: theguardian.com
There are a few different medications that can cause you to lose your hair. Generally, this is a side effect that is completely reversible once you stop taking the medication, so if you are concerned about this, then it’s a good idea to consult with your doctor, who may be able to switch you onto an alternative or provide you with advice.
Some of the medications that may cause hair loss are:
- Acne medications causing vitamin A. In fact, having too much vitamin A from supplements can also have an adverse effect on your hairline
- Antibiotics
- Antidepressants
- Birth control pills or any medication that affects hormones or thyroid function
- High blood pressure medications
Male pattern baldness
source: myzeo.com
It’s estimated that 98% of men will be affected by male pattern baldness within their lifetime. It’s caused by the conversion of testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which miniaturizes the hair follicles. Once the hair follicles have been miniaturized, they can no longer grow hair.
According to a British hair clinic, it’s impossible to regrow hair from the follicles miniaturized by DHT in male pattern baldness. However, it is possible for some candidates to perform a hair transplant so that the hair may be regrown that way.
Hair transplant involves taking healthy hair follicles, usually from the sides and back of the head, and transplanting them to the areas where the follicles have stopped functioning. This allows new hair to grow.
Stress
source: hairatin.com
If you are experiencing high levels of stress, this can cause your hair to fall out. Significant stress levels can push your hair follicles into a ‘resting’ state over time, meaning that they stop producing new growth. Then when your hair naturally falls out when you brush or wash it, it won’t be replaced.
The good news is that if hair loss is related to stress, once the stress has been resolved, the hair follicles will start functioning normally again, and the hair will return.
