Treatments for Hair Loss in Men

Our physical appearance is a major aspect in our life. We assess the way we look by looking at ourselves in the mirror every day. Taking care of our looks—what to wear, what to put on our skin, how to do our hair—is part of the decisions we make every single day.

Experiencing alopecia or hair loss gives a problem to that everyday look in the mirror. Baldness is the one odd thing you would first see in your clothing ensemble. Trying to sport that balding head is a troublesome matter to deal with each day.

Hair loss in men proves to be a problematic condition not only for themselves, but also for their partners even. In turning to hair loss treatments, a man usually opts for drugs that can be taken orally because that is what’s highly convenient for them. The prime consideration, however, in choosing a treatment for hair loss is its ability to target the root cause of the hair loss problem. DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is the main culprit of hair loss. It is a hormone that damages the hair follicles and hampers the growth of healthy hair.

Medicines for hair loss usually contain antiandrogens that effectively inhibit the production of DHT in the scalp. Rogain (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride) are two commonly chosen drugs for hair loss in men. Rogain is a topical solution that comes in the form of a lotion; it is to be applied to the scalp twice a day. Rogain has the ability to stop hair loss and regrow hair. However, studies have reported a success rate of 20 to 30 percent only. Some users of Rogain have discontinued using the product because it caused itching and swelling of the scalp.

Propecia (finasteride) is an oral medication and is used for hair loss in men only. For men who consider it a hassle to be constantly applying lotion on the head, they prefer Propecia instead. Propecia inhibits the 5-alpha reductase enzyme from converting testosterone into DHT. In clinical studies, Propecia increases the hair count during the first year of use and is maintained by taking the drug for two years. However, a small number of finasteride users have reported testicular pains, decreased sex drive, and erectile dysfunction.

There are also natural and herbal remedies available, such as the saw palmetto; it is equally able in preventing the formation of DHT and keeping you safe from harmful side effects. Saw palmetto offers natural effects of not only stopping hair loss but regaining hair also. A daily dosage of at least 160 mg is the usual suggestion in taking saw palmetto.

It is best that in choosing a treatment for hair loss in men, considerations should not only be the convenience in applying the treatment but also the concern for health.

source: Treatments for Hair Loss in Men

Facts About Hair Loss in Men and Women

Hair loss is a very distressing occurrence for both men and women. Hair loss occurs naturally everyday and increases with age.  Mostly are deeply concerned about the condition of their hair and will do anything just to prevent further hair loss or to re-grow hair.  There are a lots of products  that claim to promote hair growth and prevent thinning hair however some of them cause dangerous side effects. Hair loss for  both men and women can be caused be a wide variety of other  nutritional and medical issues.  Hormonal problem is one of the reasons for hair loss, as can deficiencies in numerous vitamins such as vitamin E, vitamin D or Vitamin A.  The hormonal process of testosterone converting to DHT or Dihydrotestosterone, which then harms hair follicles, happens in both men and women.

The most common type of hair loss in women occurs in a diffuse pattern. Diffuse hair loss is most often hereditary, but it can also be caused by underlying medical conditions, medications, and other factors. Hereditary baldness in women, also called female pattern alopecia, is genetic and can come either the mother’s or father’s side of the family. It is caused by the actions of two enzymes; aromatase (which is found predominantly in women) and 5-a reductase (which is found in both women and men). Women have half the amount of 5-a reductase compared to men, but have higher levels of the enzyme aromatase, especially at their frontal hairline. Aromatase is responsible for the formation of the female hormones estrone and estradiol. It also decreases the formation of DHT. Its presence in women may help to explain why the presentation of female hair loss is so different than in males, particularly with respect to the preservation of the frontal hairline.

Common cause of hair loss in men is Androgenetic alopecia, also referred to as “male pattern” or “common” baldness. It is caused by the effects of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on genetically susceptible scalp hair follicles. Androgenetic hair loss is caused by three interdependent factors: genes, hormones, and age. 

Genes -common baldness cannot occur without the presence of specific inherited genes. These genes can be passed on by either parent. A gene is a single bit of chemically encoded hereditary instruction that is located on a chromosome and actually represents a tiny segment of DNA. 

Hormones -  it is  biochemical substances that are made in various glands throughout the body. These glands secrete their products directly into the bloodstream so that the chemical they make is spread throughout the body. These chemicals are very powerful so that only minute amounts of them have profound effects upon the body.

Age - The presence of the necessary genes and hormones is not alone sufficient to cause baldness. Even after a person has reached puberty, susceptible hair follicles must continually be exposed to the hormone over a period of time for hair loss to occur. The age at which these effects finally manifest themselves varies from one individual to another and is related to a person’s genetic composition and to the levels of testosterone in the bloodstream. Male hair loss does not occur all at once nor in a steady, straight-line progression. Hair loss is characteristically cyclical. People who are losing their hair experience alternating periods of slow and rapid hair loss and even stability. Many of the reasons that hair loss rates speed up and speed down are unknown, but we do know that with age, a person’s total hair volume will decrease.