WHAT CAUSES HAIR LOSS IN MEN?
When it comes to causes of hair loss in men, things can be simplified into two categories – hereditary male pattern baldness and everything else. Unfortunately, just identifying which of the two is responsible for your hair loss isn’t quite enough. To reverse hair loss and restore your full head of hair, you’ll need details. And that’s where Trichology comes in.
Understanding How Hair Grows
Regardless of the cause, hair loss happens when the natural growth cycle is interrupted. Hair grows in 4 stages called Anagen, Catagen, Telogen, and Exogen. Typically, nearly 90% of all hair follicles should be in the actively growing Anagen phase at any one time. When people face hair loss or thinning, a disproportionate number of hair follicles go into the Telogen resting phase. The trouble starts when too many hair follicles rest at the same time, or for too long. Even worse is when oil and debris cut off the flow of blood and nutrients to the follicles, causing them to miniaturize and eventually die. That’s the process that leads to permanent hair loss.
CAUSES OF MALE HAIR LOSS
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Androgenetic Alopecia (Male Pattern Baldness/Hereditary Hair Loss) - Though it goes by many names, there’s one men’s hair loss cause to rule them all. Its formal name is Androgenetic Alopecia, and it causes 90% of male hair loss. When a man has male pattern baldness, the body converts testosterone into the hair-loss hormone called DHT. DHT bonds to hair follicles and prevents hair from growing properly. You’ll know the condition by its characteristic receding hairline and the signature ring of hair it leaves behind. Male Pattern Baldness can start as early as age 21, and once it begins, it almost never stops on its own. The good news is, we now have tools to combat the progression of androgenetic alopecia, especially for men in the early stages.
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Less Common Causes of Men’s Hair Loss - Other men’s hair loss causes aren’t as common as male pattern baldness, but we’ve seen them all. It’s far better to undergo a professional hair and scalp analysis than to just assume that your hair loss is hereditary. Some of these issues are indicative of additional – and often reversible – problems.
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Medical Hair Loss - Medical factors can impact men’s hair loss in a variety of ways. From vitamin deficiencies to prescription drugs and Cancer treatments, a considerable number of medical causes can disrupt the hair-growth cycle.
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Alopecia Totalis - Alopecia Totalis is a form of Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the hair follicles. AT causes total hair loss throughout the scalp but does not affect other areas of the body.
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Alopecia Universalis - While Alopecia Totalis is limited to the scalp, Alopecia Universalis results in hair loss over the entire body. Both are forms of Alopecia Areata.
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Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia - Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia, which is rare in men, is a type of scarring alopecia that results in permanent hair loss. CCCA has often been blamed on specific styling methods, but the actual cause remains a mystery and likely involves a medical condition.
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Lichen Planopilaris - Lichen Planopilaris is a relatively rare inflammatory condition in which areas of scarring cause patchy hair loss. It often occurs on the sides, front, and lower back of the scalp.
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Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia - Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia is a form of Lichen Planopilaris in which hair loss and scarring slowly progress along the scalp near the forehead. This condition can affect the eyebrows, eyelashes, and other parts of the body as well.
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Trichotillomania - Trichotillomania is a hair loss condition characterized by compulsive hair-pulling.
