Some men begin to experience hair loss in their late teens or early twenties. If you have recently discovered thinning, balding patches of hair or a receding hairline, you may be suffering from male pattern baldness or another condition that’s causing hair loss.
Start by trying to understand the cause of baldness to help decide which treatment (or lifestyle changes) may work for you. Let us understand hair growth and hair loss first.
The hair itself is made of dead protein cells, called keratin, which is produced by the hair follicles in the skin.
Hair follicles function in three phases. The growth phase, called the anagen phase, is when your follicles are producing new keratin cells. After the anagen phase, a short transition phase, called the catagen phase, takes place. In this phase, the new cell attaches to the existing hair shaft.
In the last phase, called the telogen phase, the follicle rests. If a follicle prematurely enters the telogen phase (without entering or completing the catagen phase), the hair will fall out.
It is normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs per day. However, losing more or noticing patches of thinning hair may be the reason for concern. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia and there are several different types of alopecia.
This affects men and women, but is more common in men. It’s referred to as “male pattern baldness” and can start in late teenage years or early twenties. Typically, Androgenic Alopecia will cause a gradually receding hairline, which results in loss or thinning of the hair. This is the most common alopecia that causes early hair loss.
This is the most common form of baldness, normal hair loss with age, and is usually not a reason for concern.
Alopecia Universalis causes hair over the entire body to fall out.
Hormonal changes and imbalances
Hair loss is often associated with extreme hormonal changes or imbalances, including abnormal androgen levels and more.
Family history
Look at your father, grandfather or brothers on your paternal and maternal side. Often, balding is genetic.
Stress
It’s no secret that stress can cause hair loss and an increase in the stress hormone cortisol may exacerbate conditions like telogen effluvium, which causes more hairs than normal to fall out.
Illness
Some illnesses can cause your hair follicles to function improperly, such as thyroid conditions, lupus, anemia, or diabetes. Fungal infections are commonly known to cause hair loss, though it is often temporary. Autoimmune diseases often cause hair loss.
Too Much “Hair Care”
Believe it or not, hair loss can be caused by “over caring” for your hair or by certain cosmetic procedures. Shampooing too often, applying heat or braiding your hair tightly can cause damage to the hair follicles.
Poor Diet
Malnutrition can result in hair loss. Hair loss is commonly seen in people with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa. Certain diet changes may help prevent hair loss.
Hair loss is a tricky topic and most doctors are never able to pinpoint the cause. However, if you are looking to reduce your chance of hair loss or slow progressing hair loss, you should consider the factors above.
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