If you’re a man over the age of 50, there’s a possibility you are either already bald or heading down that road. If so, you’ve probably noticed that parts of your hair have started disappearing mysteriously! No one chooses to go bald, particularly prematurely, but it’s a fact that men tend to lose their hair as they get older. Here, we discuss male pattern baldness and how to treat it.
Why am I suffering from male pattern baldness?
It is normal for men to suffer hair loss as they grow older. However, hair loss is more prominent in some men than in others. Why? Let’s find out.
If most men in your family suffer from hair loss, you’ll have to accept that your journey to baldness might begin when you hit 30. In simpler terms, male pattern baldness is majorly hereditary.
Other minor causes of male pattern baldness include hormonal changes, medical conditions, and so on. Nevertheless, hair loss gets worse with age.
Here’s what happens
While it might seem like you suddenly wake up to a receding hairline, hair loss does not happen overnight – it happens gradually. Each strand of hair falls off one after the other in a progressive pattern. Generally, hair loss occurs in three ways: the receding hairline, hair loss around the crown, and thinning of the hair.
The receding hairline
The receding hairline is the most common type of hair loss among men. When you reach a certain age, your edges start to recede. You gradually lose all the good hair you had around your forehead in your younger days. Then, hair around the forehead gradually begins to move backwards as you grow older.
Hair loss around the crown
Another type of male pattern baldness is the crown hair loss. This type of hair loss is more prominent. You start losing hair from the crown of your head. Then, this baldness gradually spreads to other parts of your head.
Thinning of the hair
The third type of hair loss is thinning of the hair (which is more common among women, actually). Here, your hair loses volume and thickness, and as a result, your hair parting becomes larger or wider. In men, there might not be any visible baldness, but you will notice an obvious decline in the volume of your hair.
Possible treatment for hair loss
While male pattern baldness could be the result of an underlying condition, it is usually a natural phenomenon that occurs with ageing, but it is possible to be treated.
There are several treatments for male pattern baldness, ranging from home remedies to a more medical approach. However, you should always seek medical advice on treatment options before you begin any of them.
Generally, there are two common types of treatments for hair loss. They are:
1. Finasteride: This line of treatment comes in the form of a hormonal tablet that prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. This treatment doesn’t work instantly, but usually takes three to six months to show the effect.
2. Minoxidil: If you do not like taking tablets, minoxidil is a great substitute. It’s a lotion, and you need to apply it on your scalp consistently for maximum results. It usually takes six months to have an effect, and you must consult your doctor to make sure it’s suitable for you.
If neither of these treatments work for you, don’t worry – there are other options open to you.
Hair transplants
This treatment involves a surgical procedure. A doctor extracts hair from the part of your scalp that has plenty of hair and grafts it to the area where you are thinning or have no hair.
This procedure has a few risk factors such as scarring and infection. You can’t get this treatment on the NHS, and it can be expensive. Because of this, many men go overseas for hair transplant treatment.
In fact, the leading destination for hair transplants is Turkey, thanks to low prices, state-of-the-art equipment and the number of experienced surgeons available. Getting a hair transplant in Turkey is definitely well worth considering, but there are other treatment options available, such as tattooing the scalp, artificial hair, and cloning.
Natural alternatives?
There is evidence to suggest that those who suffer from male pattern baldness can suffer from mental health issues. But you don’t have to resort to medical treatments as there are natural ways to fight or slow down baldness.
One of the ways is dependent on how you take care of your hair. For example, washing your hair with water that’s too hot can exacerbate hair loss – lukewarm water is a much gentler and safer option. Getting plenty of sleep is also beneficial to reduce your rate of hair loss. If you are constantly sleep deprived because of work, or other factors, you will become more likely to suffer from baldness.
Whether the hair loss is linked to lifestyle characteristics or just genes, you don’t necessarily need to surrender to medical or hormonal treatments. If you prefer to stick to more natural solutions, scalp micropigmentation is something you might want to consider. This type of treatment is kind on your skin and scalp while offering you the modern and young look you wish to achieve. While this type of treatment does not require any prolonged medical treatment, it has been classified as one of the most effective.
Ultimately, if you have experienced hair loss, there is no need to despair just yet! There are already several alternatives that can represent an easy solution for anybody. And more innovations are being developed every day!
Hair loss is not an indication of an underlying health condition, and it doesn’t come with any adverse side effects. However, there are numerous ways of treating it, if you wish to, and reversing male baldness can boost your confidence and self-esteem.