Hair loss in men

Hair loss can really impact an individual’s happiness and confidence. The most common cause of hair loss in men is genetic. We are so confident in the quality and effectiveness of our hair loss treatments, that you don’t have to accept male hair loss as a reality, because we certainly don’t!

Our clinic is led by experienced Doctor and medical team who have over 30 years of experience in hair loss. We offer personalised/customised treatments with up to date and proven techniques and technology:

  • Scalp and hair check
  • Oral genetic swab (results received in 2-3 weeks)
  • Internal nutrition scan (non-invasive)
  • Customised PRP treatment, based on your genetic swab results
  • Customised hair growth solution
  • Customised toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, …)

The most common contributing factors of male hair loss:

  • Male Pattern baldness (Androgenetic Alopecia)
  • Genetics
  • Diet
  • Life choices (such as smoking or alcohol intake)
  • Stress
  • Poor sleeping patterns
  • Medications (hypertension, antidepressants)

The most common cause of hair loss in men is genetic:

Male Pattern Baldness - also known as Androgenic Alopecia

This follows a characteristic pattern of hair loss.

1. It begins with a slight recession at the front hairline and his commonly followed by thinning on the crown of the head.

In most cases the hair above the ears and the nape of the neck remains unaffected.

The hair loss is a direct result of a complex chemical reaction which can be discussed during your consultation.

What are the causes of male thinning/hair loss?

There are several factors that could be attributed to your hair loss:

Genetics

Genetics is highest on the list and from both parents, plays the most prominent role in determining whether you lose your hair or how long you keep it.

There are several different ways in which we can pinpoint the causes of your hair loss. Your consultant will discuss this with you during your appointment.

Diet

Your hair cells are the second fastest-growing cells in your body (second only to intestinal cells).

Also, you have roughly 120,000 hairs on your head, all of which need nourishment in order to grow. As hair is not considered to be a vital organ or tissue, your body will never prioritise its nutritional needs. So, due to hair’s expendable nature, a nutritional imbalance will often show up first in the form of hair loss.

Deficiencies, as well as excesses, of certain things in your diet can result in hair loss.

We offer a no-needle nutritional blood assessment and a comprehensive blood test that measures over 40 different aspects of your blood chemistry. This is a very useful guide for us to make a more thorough evaluation and therefore provide a more informed approach to your individual circumstances.

Lifestyle choices...Smoking and Alcohol intake

Smoking

Smoking damages DNA, which can also affect the hair follicles - damaging the hair at the root and the hair growth cycle.

Hair follicles need oxygen, nutrients and minerals to produce healthy hair. The toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke can take a toll on your circulation, shrinking blood vessels and impeding blood flow. When your follicles don't receive the blood they need for nourishment, the hair growth cycle is interrupted and the resulting hair grows thinner.

Alcohol's effect on hair

Drinking alcohol dehydrates you: Heavy alcohol intake can lead to damage to the health of your hair. When you're dehydrated, it can make existing hair follicles very dry and brittle, which makes them more likely to fall out.

Stress

Stress can affect your hair and scalp for many different reasons:

Stress can impact your hormone levels.

  1. When we are stressed, our adrenal glands pump out cortisol (known as the stress hormone) and adrenaline – which in turn, can raise your testosterone levels. If you have a genetic predisposition to follicle sensitivity, this can eventually cause your hair to start thinning.
  2. An increase in stress can make your scalp produce more oil. This may disrupt your scalp's microflora balance, which often causes flaking and itching. (This is the same physiological reaction that can cause your skin to break out when you are stressed.).
  3. Stress can reduce your body's ability to digest the foods you eat and absorb nutrients. Also, when you are stressed, you may not eat as well as you normally would. For example, you might skip meals or opt for foods with less nutritional value. Unfortunately for your strands, nutritional deficiencies often show up first in the form of hair shedding.
  4. Stress has a direct impact on your immune system, lowering your body's natural defences and leaving you susceptible to tiredness and illness. When your body is under this strain, it will divert extra energy and nutrients to your vital organs, and your hair will be the last thing it prioritises.

Poor sleeping patterns

A sound sleep at night is required for protein synthesis of the hair and releases the growth hormones also which is very important for the overall hair health.

Our body produces melatonin which is a hormone that helps in regulating the body's sleep cycle and increases hair growth.

Medications (hypertension, antidepressants)

Hypertension medications are to known have side effects, one of which is hair loss.

We use an oral topical treatment for severe hypertension, it has clinically proven success in reducing hair loss.

Antidepressants can in certain individuals typically cause a type of hair loss called Telogen Effluvium.

It is one of two types of drug-induced hair loss and can develop as a possible side effect of many widely used medications and supplements.

The second type of drug-induced hair loss is called Anagen Effluvium.

The most common types of male hair loss can be categorised in the following:

  • Alopecia Areata
  • Telogen Effluvium (Diffuse Hair Loss)

Alopecia areata

Alopecia Areata is most commonly categorised as an autoimmune disease.

When you have Alopecia areata, cells in your immune system surround and attack your hair follicles. It is a very common condition that affects 1% to 2% of the population at some point in their lives. Most commonly occurs in children and young adults (below 40yrs of age), though it can affect people of all ages.

The hair loss is sudden and often begins as small, smooth-skinned patches with no rash or redness that are likely to gradually widen with time.

In some cases it has been reported to give a tingling, itching, or burning sensation on the skin right before the hair falls out. Quite commonly it’s known to affect the nails, giving them a pitted, ridged or brittle appearance.

Exact causes are still relatively unknown, although current theories for it’s auto-immune response could be triggered by stress or suggest a genetic link.

There are a few different variants of Alopecia areata, which are quite rare:

  • Alopecia areata totalis means you’ve lost all the hair on your head.
  • Alopecia areata universalis is the loss of hair over your entire body.
  • Diffuse alopecia areata is a sudden thinning of your hair rather than lost patches.
  • Ophiasis alopecia areata causes hair loss in a band shape around the sides and back of your head.

Hair loss can also result from a scalp problem. Inflammation of the scalp leads to production of superoxide, which causes hair shedding and will lead to diffuse hair loss.

Stress can be an aggravator in almost all cases of hair loss and an accurate diagnosis will always, at the very least, take some of the stress away from you.

telogen effluvium

At any given time, about 85% to 90% of the hairs on the average person's head are actively growing (the anagen phase) and the others are resting (the telogen phase).

Typically, a hair is in the anagen phase for 2-5years, then enters the telogen phase, rests for about two to four months, and then falls out and is replaced by a new, growing hair. The average person naturally loses about 100 hairs a day.

In a person with telogen effluvium, some body change or shock pushes more hairs into the telogen phase.

Typically in this condition, about 30% of the hairs stop growing and go into the resting phase before falling out. So, if you have telogen effluvium, you may lose an average of 300 hairs a day instead of 100.

Telogen effluvium can be triggered by a number of different events, including:

  • Surgery
  • Major physical trauma
  • Major psychological stress
  • High fever, severe infection or other illness
  • Extreme weight loss
  • Extreme change in diet
  • Abrupt hormonal changes, including those associated with childbirth and menopause
  • Iron deficiency
  • Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
  • Some medications

Because hairs that enter the telogen phase rest in place for two to four months before falling out, you may not notice any hair loss until two to four months after the event that caused the problem.

Symptoms of telogen effluvium

If you have telogen effluvium, you'll notice more hair than usual accumulating on your pillowcase, on the shower or bathroom floor and in your hairbrush.

Your scalp hair may feel or look less dense than usual.

diagnosis o telogen effluvium

Most cases of telogen effluvium can be diagnosed based on medical history and an examination of the scalp and hair.

If you have large bald patches, you probably don't have telogen effluvium.

***In nearly all cases of hair loss, we would recommend a full, comprehensive blood test to check for conditions such as thyroid abnormalities, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, heavy metal toxification that may be contributing to hair loss.

A Hair Mineral Analysis Test is strongly advised where a sample of hair is laboratory tested to assess the body’s mineral deficiencies and toxin levels.

Hair mineral analysis can check for even the smallest amounts of toxins, heavy metals, trace elements and contaminants.***

Psychological effects of male hair loss

Hair loss can have a devastating effect on a person’s confidence.

Some people are more concerned with appearance than others.

All of us want to look, feel our best and baldness can make this difficult.

While none of us can choose if we lose our hair or not, it’s important to remember that there are hair loss treatments available. The positive the effect that our hair loss treatments are having on our clients is truly remarkable.

***Eden Hair clinics success in hair loss treatments means that you don’t have to accept male hair loss as a reality, because we don’t!***

contact eden hair clinic for hair growth treatment

The sooner you take action, the more likely you are to get great results. Any delay in starting treatment often causes deeper rooted hair loss and your treatment options may change.

Help us restore your confidence today:

CLINIC & VIDEO CONSULTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE

We offer initial advice via email. Please feel free to email us: info@theedenheairclinic.com with a short description of your hair loss concern, when it started and what area it affects. Please add info on any medication you currently take, any allergies and pre-existing illnesses.