All you need to know about hair loss

Hair loss can be a very distressing experience for most of us. Those frantic google searches for “best hair regrowth shampoo” or “best hair loss treatment for men” often leave us disappointed. Since ages, our society has equated dense and lustrous hair with youth and beauty. Whilst some men have no hesitation in embracing their baldness; it is quite common for a person to develop certain insecurities and face loss of confidence due to chronic hair loss.

Understanding Hair Loss

Male Pattern Baldness/ Androgenic Alopecia is a common problem faced by men. This is caused by extreme sensitivity to the male hormone – DHT (Androgen). However, Male Pattern Baldness is not the only cause of hair loss in men.

So just to get to our facts right, hair loss isn’t the same as male pattern baldness. Hair loss can be a result of a wide range of factors that affect your physical and mental health. In case, you have a receding hairline and continue to lose hair around the temple then there’s a possibility that you’re experiencing male pattern baldness.

What is Male Pattern Baldness?

Male Pattern Baldness has received very little attention from our society. It still remains a hush-hush topic in our country and hence, the psychological impact of chronic hair fall and male pattern baldness is ignored. Many times men suffering from Androgenic Alopecia develop insecurities and face a gradual loss of self-confidence which not only impacts their personal life but in their professional life too. Male Pattern Baldness or androgenetic Alopecia usually occurs due to the change in hormone balances at a later stage in life. This type of hair loss is generally progressive in nature and causes hair loss mostly on the frontal scalp. Sensitivity to DHT (a biosynthesised product of testosterone) in men leads to male pattern baldness.

Did You Know?

Male androgenetic alopecia (MAA) is the most common form of hair loss in men, affecting 30-50% of men by age 50.

Early Signs of Male Pattern Baldness

Typically, male pattern baldness occurs in certain patterns. Let’s talk about some of the common patterns that can be easily observed by self-examination.

Receding Hairline – An M-shaped hairline with receding corners and a longer widow’s peak area or frontal hair loss are the most obvious signs of male pattern baldness. Most often than not the onset of these symptoms is visible by the age of 30.

Thinning Crown – This pattern is slightly difficult to notice at the beginning as hair loss around the crown region is difficult to notice while looking at the mirror. Hence, most men don’t notice it until it reaches an advanced stage.

Diffuse Thinning – Diffuse thinning is basically thinning or shedding of hair throughout the scalp. This usually occurs during the telogen phase of the hair growth cycle. In many cases, diffuse thinning happens as a direct result of endocrine imbalances.

How to cope with hair loss?

Don’t hide it under a cap.

Most of these conditions are reversible. All you need to do is consult a trichologist to get the best possible medical guidance on how to tackle this situation. Depending on the type of hair loss you will be suggested to use either Minoxidil based hair products or DHT blockers. Minoxidil based products are usually prescribed to people experiencing androgenic alopecia. Most men will experience some hair regrowth within 3-6 months of using minoxidil. Finasteride is a prescription based oral drug that blocks the DHT hormone to promote hair regrowth and reduce hair loss. This medicine promotes hair regrowth by decreasing the amount of DHT in your body.

Seeking help from an expert should be the first step to determine the extent and severity of the condition. Without proper treatment, this condition could be permanent and hence it is imperative to consult a doctor so that he can suggest the best line of treatment. Ideally, a trichologist or a dermatologist would be a suitable expert to get in touch with. It is critical to understand that there is no magic pill or overnight solution to regrow your hair or to treat male pattern baldness and no matter what line of treatment you choose; you need to give it some time to work and show visible results.