Men's Health > Hair Loss > Male Hair Loss

Male Hair Loss

It’s rather easy – far too easy in some cases – for people who aren’t losing their hair to tell someone who IS losing their hair that this isn’t “worth getting upset about”.

Yes, fine, there are some health problems in the world that merit serious attention, but that doesn’t mean that hair loss is “minor”, or that it can’t lead to emotional scarring that can diminish self-esteem and quality of life.

In men, it’s often termed “male pattern baldness” when it occurs through genetic, hormonal, or age-related causes. However, hair loss can also occur through excess styling and damage to the scalp via harsh chemicals, such as some hair sprays and gels. Some people also experience hair loss due to medical conditions or treatments, such as radiation therapy, or taking medication for Crohn’s Disease. For these people, there is some hope that the hair will re-grow once the treatment or medication has concluded.

However, this is not guaranteed. Male hair loss can also occur through:

• poor diet, such as a deficiency of Vitamin B and C
• lack of minerals in diet, such as zinc and iron
• excess Vitamin A in the diet (Vitamin A is not water-soluble, and the body does not expel excess amounts through urine, as it does with water-soluble vitamins such as B and C)
• lack of protein in diet (hair is 90% protein)
• excess stress and anxiety levels
• taking anabolic steroids (some athletes experience this)
• severe digestive problems
• blocked hair follicles due to problems on the scalp (perhaps caused by an injury)
• excess cholesterol and hypothyroidism

Additional Causes of Hair Loss

In addition to these causes, dandruff, scalp fungus, psoriasis, and seborrhea can all lead to hair loss; though usually this is treatable, and the hair grows back (but again, this is not guaranteed).

Male Hair Loss Treatment

Minoxidil (Rogaine) is perhaps the most popular and best-known treatment for hair loss in men. Progesterone is another topical solution that some men have used with success. Other treatments for male hair loss include: scalp injections directly into the spots of non-growing hair, and the use of ultraviolet rays (PUVA).

Male Hair Loss Treatment Alternatives

Many alternative treatments are receiving acclaim for treating hair loss. These treatments have been widely used for centuries in the eastern world, but are now making their way to the west with some positive momentum. These treatments include:

• magnetic therapy
• acupuncture
• naturopathy (herbs)
• homeopathic medicine
• Yoga (as a means to combat stress, which can be a cause of hair loss)

It’s important for men to be very careful and “healthily skeptical” when it comes to treatments for male hair loss. There is still much more to be learned about the causes of hair loss in men than there are answers; and until more research is done, no single medication, treatment, or remedy should be considered to be a “miracle cure”. As always, do your research, and discuss any medical concerns that you might have with your doctor.

Drew Voight