Mens Hair Loss

Mens hair loss is a common problem as men age. In fact, 40% of men will have noticeable male hair loss by age 35. As they grow older, even more men will experience hair loss.

Mens hair loss is often caused by something called androgenic alopecia. Androgens are a group of hormones responsible for hair loss. We’ll talk more about them in a moment. Alopecia just means hair loss. To understand androgenic alopecia, it’s helpful to understand how hair normally grows.

The Hair Growth Cycle

Normally, about 90% of your hair is growing at any given time. The other 10% is in a resting phase. Hair grows about half an inch a month for two to six years, then enters this resting phase. After two or three months in the resting phase, it falls out. Then a new hair grows from the same follicle.

Ideally, this cycle continues well into our senior years. But if something interrupts the cycle, male hair loss can occur.

The Cycle Interrupted

The normal hair growth cycle can be interrupted in a number of ways. If an abnormal number of hairs go into the resting phase at the same time, they will fall out at the same time, causing thinning hair. If new hairs do not grow from the hair follicles for some reason, bald spots will occur. There are many reasons the hair growth cycle may be interrupted, but as we mentioned earlier, mens hair loss is often due to androgenic alopecia.

Androgenic Alopecia

Androgenic alopecia is a problem caused by hormones. Androgens are a group of hormones that includes testosterone, androsteinedione, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). These hormones interfere with the natural hair growth process. These hormones are made in small amounts in women’s bodies, but are found in large amounts in the bodies of men. Androgenic alopecia can cause hair loss in women, but it is much more likely to cause mens hair loss.

Androgenic alopecia is often hereditary. In men who are genetically predisposed to male hair loss, when testosterone comes in contact with certain enzymes in hair cells, it is converted to DHT. The DHT then binds with receptors in the hair follicles. Over time, the build up of DHT causes the hair follicles to shrink. They may eventually become unable to produce new hairs and may eventually die, causing mens hair loss.

Once a hair follicle had died, there is no treatment that will revive it. The only option is a hair transplant. However, there is treatment for shrunken hair follicles. There are topical treatments that will help with shrunken follicles, and laser treatments may help as well. Because of this, it is recommended that you begin treatment as soon as you notice signs of male hair loss.

Treating Androgenic Alopecia

As we mentioned, there are topical treatments that will open shrunken hair follicles. Treatments such as Rogaine (minoxidil) are designed to do this. Most topical treatments are applied to the head twice daily.

There are also treatments such as Propecia, which is an oral medication for treating hair loss. It works by preventing the conversion of testosterone into DHT. It has been approved by the FDA for use in men but not in women.

Laser treatments may also help. They increase the blood flow to the scalp, which can help to open hair follicles and stimulate new hair growth.

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