Even if you never had a mane of hair that would have graced the cover of romance novels, losing your hair can affect the way you see yourself. Hair loss affects all of us as we age, but in some men this loss can be far more pronounced. Male pattern baldness is a highly common condition with up to two thirds of men experiencing it by the time they’re 40.

Many men are accepting of this natural part of ageing. However, this change in appearance can be very distressing for others. Over the years, this distress has caused men to turn to various methods in an effort to stop their hair from falling out.

If you’ve noticed your hairline receding or becoming thinner on top, you have several options available to you to slow down further hair loss. In some cases, you may even be able to grow some of your hair back! Keep reading to learn more about the different types of ways to treat male pattern baldness and discover which one is right or you.

What Causes Male Pattern Baldness?

Before treating hair loss, it’s important to know what is causing it. Male pattern baldness refers to hair loss on the scalp and is usually the result of hormone fluctuations that occur during the natural ageing process. This type of hair loss occurs gradually over the course of many years so it may not be noticeable at first. If your hair is falling out suddenly, make an appointment with your GP because this is more a sign of an underlying medical condition than male pattern baldness.

Also known as androgenic alopecia, male pattern baldness is the result of the hormonal shifts that happen as a man ages. Why some men experience it, and others don’t isn’t fully understood, but it’s believed that genetic factors play a major role in the likelihood of androgenic alopecia.

The hair on your scalp is constantly going through different cycles of growth so it’s common to lose up to 100 hairs a day without it resulting in any thinning. This is because there are usually enough new hairs to replace those that are lost. Male pattern baldness causes hair growth to slow down or to stop completely, resulting in thinner hair.

Androgenic alopecia is more common in older men, but it can happen at any age- even as early as the teenage years. Most men notice changes in their scalp hair in their 20s and 30s with it becoming more pronounced by age 50. This hair loss can start on the top of the head (the crown) or along the more visible hair line.

There are several factors that play into male pattern baldness, but the main cause of this type of hair loss is a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

What is DHT?

DHT is a male hormone (androgen) that your body produces naturally. It’s a by-product of testosterone and is created by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase (5AR). DHT is a vital hormone, assisting in male development and the development of male traits.

While essential, DHT can cause issues later in life with hair loss being one of the biggest issues. DHT causes hair loss by attaching to androgen receptors in your scalp with then weakens and shrinks hair follicles. Affected hair follicles will then start producing little to no hair, with the hairs growing out them thinner and weaker.

DHT can circulate throughout some men’s bodies without affecting their hair or even affecting all their hair follicles, while other men are more susceptible to DHT’s effects. Men who have a history of male pattern baldness in their families are more likely to experience DHT-related hair loss as are Caucasian men and men of African descent.

How to Treat Hair loss

Hair loss can’t always be prevented, but eating a well-balanced diet and getting enough exercise can help promote healthier hair. Your hair is a living structure that is made up several different types of proteins and various vitamins and nutrients found in foods can support these proteins. Try to eat foods like:

• Fatty fish like salmon
• Spinach
• Avocados
• Soybeans
• Almonds
• Citrus fruits

You should also avoid hot showers, tight hairstyles, and chemical treatments that can damage the hair. Getting regular scalp massages can help stimulate hair growth and blood flow on the scalp.

In addition to these steps, there are medical and non-medical ways to treat hair loss. You should start treatment as soon as possible for the best results.

1. Anti-DHT Shampoos: Many shampoos claim to have DHT-blocking properties so you should do research before spending your money. Look for ones that contain ingredients like saw palmetto, minoxidil, and ketoconazole.
2. Laser Combs: Only available privately in the UK, a laser comb is a laser device that looks like a hairbrush. It’s a painless method of laser therapy that is said to stimulate hair follicle growth when used on a regular basis. Studies have shown that it’s unlikely to reverse hair loss, but it can prevent further hair loss if it’s used at the first sign of thinning hair.
3. Surgery: A hair transplant is a cosmetic surgery that moves hair your already have to an area with thinning or missing hair. Hair transplants have been performed since the 1950’s and have come a long way in that time. However, it can be an expensive procedure and may not always provide the desired results.
4. Hair Loss Medications: Finasteride, sold under the brand name Propecia, is one of the most common medications prescribed for androgenic alopecia. Its primary use is the treatment of prostate disorders, and it works by reducing the amount of DHT your body produces. While this helps shrink a swollen prostate, it also has the added benefit of reducing DHT-related hair loss.

Men in the UK can slow down androgenic alopecia with proven male pattern hair loss treatment. At the first sign of thinning hair, be sure to seek effective treatment options from us and take your first step towards treating hair loss.