Men start to lose their hair as early as 21. You heard it right! There are several reasons for this, but the most dreaded one is genetics. If you think you are at risk of this condition, read on for some possible solutions. Let’s check what are myths and facts when it comes to hair loss conditions in men.
Myths About Hair Loss
- Masturbating Causes Hair Loss
This myth is one of the old folks’ tales to scare you of going bald.
Truth: You will not go bald for masturbating even if you do it as frequently as you please. Where does this myth get its reason? Male ejaculation is said to have high levels of protein. This activity deprives the hair of its needed protein but there’s no scientific study to support this. You can relax now because there is absolutely no truth to this myth.
- You Inherit Hair Loss from Your Mother
This popular myth is just like any other myth about hair loss. Any side of your genes may cause early baldness. Which means you can inherit hair loss from both your mother and father.
Truth: Genes take 80% of the condition for early baldness and 95% of androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness. Not only this, but you may also inherit sensitivity to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that may cause your hair to thin out.
- Men Go Bald By Age 50
Baldness commonly starts in men at age 35. Once it starts, there is no turning back. So be keen on the early shedding of hair so you can slow it down.
Truth: Significant thinning of the hair becomes more common in men by 50, but not everyone may have it. Be thankful if your family genes show no uncles or cousins with signs of baldness.
- Wearing Hats Cause Baldness
Again this is one of the claims of many people. So if part of your styling includes wearing a hat or a cap, rest assured that this only just a myth.
Truth: Wearing tight hats may cause light and gradual shedding or what experts call traction alopecia. Even if you wear tight hats regularly, this shedding will not cause you to go bald. But before you go easy on wearing hats, make sure to wash these items frequently to avoid bacterial infections on your scalp.
- Elevated Testosterone Levels
High levels of testosterone levels do not cause baldness. I repeat! It does not!
Truth: The real culprit to hair loss is the sensitivity of hair follicles to the testosterone byproduct dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Shrinkage of the hair follicles causes no new hair growth. This phenomenon is not due to high levels of testosterone.
So go ahead and continue to use those male enhancement supplements.
Health supplements like Male Ultracore would not mess up with your hair so that you can continue being manly.
The Real Deal
Shedding of the hair is a common thing for both men and women. Men lose at least 100 hair or so in a day. But this is not a cause of concern, because along with these shedding is simultaneous hair growth in other scalp areas. Hair loss happens when this normal process is disturbed. This disruption causes your hair follicles to get damaged and eventually destroyed.
More obvious signs would be the following:
- Seeing a significant change in your hairline.
- Noticeable thinning of hair.
- Hair loss after showering or combing.
Some signs which should not cause alarm for baldness are:
- Itchy scalp
- Some hair on your pillow or hat
- Having a v-shaped type of hairline
Common Hair Loss Causes
Now, let us check out the more reliable causes of hair loss in men.
- Genetics
Genetics is the main reason to blame for male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia. It is a good idea to check on family history on both parental sides. You may even check on photos of old male family members. Though this may not guarantee that you will or will not inherit hair loss problems.
- Hormonal Imbalance
Abnormal or fluctuating levels of male sex hormones may contribute or have a severe impact on baldness. The shift or decline in androgen level results in the inability of the body to regenerate new hair follicles.
- Health Conditions
A variety of illnesses may also cause hair loss. Some of the medical conditions that may cause baldness are:
Thyroid problems
Anemia or iron deficiency
Diabetes
Auto-immune diseases
- Medications
Some types of medications may disrupt the hair growth cycle and may lead to hair loss. Drugs such as blood thinners and beta-blockers may also inhibit the normal growth cycle of hair and cause temporary hair loss.
- Stress
Even stress can contribute to hair loss in men. They may experience temporary thinning or hair loss after prolonged stressful conditions. So it is essential to take care of your mental and emotional health as well. Take time to de-stress by having a bit of leisure time with family or friends to avoid hair loss. You may also want to engage in regular exercise or other physical fitness activities.
- Too Much Hair Products
Styling the hair is a part of our grooming habits. For men who use hair care products that contain lots of chemical elements, hair loss may be a problem.
There are many reasons for potential hair loss problems in men as it may seem. But with all these reasons, the good news is that you can do a lot of things to avoid it. Or maybe at least slow down the process if you are already experiencing it. The key is to get to the root of the problem to determine the best hair loss treatment for you.
