7 Reasons Why Men Suffer From Hair Loss

We’ve got a different topic today—male baldness. 

Although you might not think this is relative to our usual discussions about men’s sexual health, OHN is your men’s health clinic. We specialize in issues affecting you, including androgenic alopecia.

Here’s a fascinating fact: on average, you have up to 150,000 hairs on your head! Each day, people lose about 100 hairs, and the cycle of hair falling out and regrowing should repeat.

But as some people age, they may think they’re losing more hair, which doesn’t grow back. Studies show that this happens to roughly 85% of men, and it happens for many reasons. 

3 Common Reasons For Male Baldness

Medically hair loss is known as alopecia, and there are different kinds of male alopecia.

1. Androgenic Alopecia

Within the larger group of people who experience thinning hair or “pattern baldness,” 95% of men in this group have androgenic alopecia. 

Some medical professionals refer to this type as male pattern alopecia, and the cause is family genetics. 

DHT Hormones Get Affected

Researchers have found that faulty genes affect DHT hormones within the body, causing hair follicles to shrink on a person’s head. 

People notice that hair regrowth on their heads is shorter and thinner, and regrowth takes longer. Eventually, the hair follicles shrink to the point that there’s no regrowth.

When you notice a receding hairline or thinness over the crown of your head, it could indicate male pattern alopecia. Any regrowth forms a “horseshoe” pattern with more hair over your ears and the back of the head.

Some people with androgenic alopecia lose hair in that area when they’re still teenagers; if so, the loss gets more significant with age.

2. Alopecia Areata

This common form of hair loss is also called spot baldness. Generally, it’s caused by an autoimmune disease with persistent relapses of hair growth, resulting in extensive hair loss.

Spot baldness is the second most common form of alopecia, affecting close to 2% of all people during their lifetimes. It’s called spot baldness because it begins in a distinct area.

A typical pattern with spot baldness is a patchy lesion on a person’s scalp. Sometimes, the patch reaches across the scalp until all hair is lost (called alopecia totalis). When this hair loss extends to the body, it’s called alopecia universalis. 

3. Scarring Alopecia

The medical term for scarring alopecia is cicatricial alopecia.

It’s the name of a group of disorders causing hair loss in up to 3% of people worldwide. These sufferers can be any age and otherwise healthy, and the condition results in the permanent destruction of hair follicles that the body replaces with scar tissue.

The “group of disorders” causing scarring alopecia is pretty wordy, medically speaking. Some examples are dissecting cellulitis, eosinophilic pustular folliculitis, or lichen planopilaris.

But better-known, serious illnesses like chronic lupus may cause scarring alopecia as a side effect. 

Like spot baldness, most forms of scarring alopecia cause smaller patches of hair loss.

Sometimes, the condition is gradual, and symptoms aren’t apparent. In other cases, rapid hair loss comes with pain, burning, or itching.

4 Medical Facts Behind Hair Loss

Science is still trying to understand why some hair follicles grow more quickly. 

But researchers have determined there is a connection between some medications, lifestyle, or eating habits that affect hair growth.

Here are four facts about hair loss:

1. Chronic Stress 

A research study found elevated stress hormones in mice affected hair follicles, causing hair loss.

In humans, that stress hormone is cortisol, and studies show cortisol increases when we’re under pressure. So that’s why it’s called the “stress hormone,” 

Researchers have concluded it can make hair loss worse or even lead to the hair going gray prematurely.

2. Specific Medications

Certain drugs may cause hair loss as a side effect, called drug-induced hair loss.

Specifically, some types of antibiotics or antifungals, HRT (hormone replacement therapy) medications, and anti-clogging drugs may cause hair loss as a side effect.

Drugs to lower cholesterol or medications for high blood pressure also place people at greater risk of hair loss.

If you’re taking a steroid or on weight loss drugs for personal reasons, these substances also link to hair loss in some people.

Lastly, chemotherapy medications commonly cause hair loss because these drugs kill cancer cells and may also ruin healthy cells controlling hair follicles in the body. Typically, hair loss starts within a few weeks of chemo, with rapid progression after two months.

If there’s any positive about drug-induced hair loss, it’s usually reversible after a person quits taking the medication.

3. Personal Injury 

A severe burn injury may result in hair loss, and some x-ray devices also disrupt hair growth. 

As with medications that can cause hair loss, a person’s hair can grow back following an injury unless there is scarring that prevents regrowth.

4. Poor Diet

There’s a scientific link between a poor diet and hair loss.

When a person gets inadequate nutrition and calories, there’s a decrease in minerals like zinc, less protein, and not enough essential fatty acids for the body to complete its natural cycle of hair loss and regrowth. 

Conclusion

Androgenic alopecia is the most common type of male baldness. While not considered a severe medical condition, male baldness threatens a person’s confidence.

But, as we discussed, other alopecia forms may be traced to serious medical conditions, including autoimmune diseases like lupus.

We also noted the effect of chronic stress on hair loss and how drugs for prostate cancer, diabetes, or high blood pressure carry hair loss as a side effect.

Even more important is knowing that the conditions mentioned above, besides causing risks for hair loss, also contribute to erectile dysfunction in men.

At OHN, we know the good things are hard! We are your specialists in men’s health, and we’re here to help you deal with all issues concerning your physical and mental health.

To book your free consultation, please get in touch with us!