Countdown of the Top 5 Hair Loss Queries

Male pattern baldness is a topic men either openly or very privately talk about. Actually, it’s a topic that most men — specifically 85% of all men — are bound to be eventually familiar with.

However, it’s a topic that’s still shrouded in false information, misconception and myths. With so much confusion, it’s no wonder that many men strangers to the actual facts about hair loss.

Here is a countdown of the top 5 queries about male hair loss — and of course, their corresponding answers.

No. 5: Can shampoo, hair gel or wearing a hat influence hair loss?

Excessive shampooing, hair drying, colouring or the use of other hair products (or even wearing a hat) may temporarily damage the hair, causing it to become dry, brittle, lustreless or limp — but the use of these products will not influence the gradual process of male pattern baldness. Any damage through hair care products is typically only temporary since individual hairs fall out and regrow in a consistent cycle over the course of several months.

No. 4: What is the Hamilton-Norwood scale of male pattern baldness?

The Hamilton-Norwood scale is a pictorial guide that uses a set of images to range how severe a man’s hair loss is. The scale ranges from type 1, or minimal hair loss, through to type 7, the most severe form of hair loss in which men have little to no hair on the front or top of the head.

No. 3: When should I begin treatment for hair loss?

Generally, the sooner you begin treatment, the more likely you are to see results and the more likely it is that you will delay further balding. However, keep in mind that many of the common therapies for hair loss come with unwanted side effects, so it’s important to speak with your doctor early to devise a treatment plan that you are both comfortable with.

No. 2: What treatment options are available for hair loss?

As of today, treatment options for male pattern baldness are limited but expanding. Currently, there are only two drugs licensed for male pattern baldness: finasteride and minoxidil. These are the only drugs currently licensed that actually help hair to regrow.

Outside of drug therapy, there are additional treatment options, including non-surgical hair restoration (e.g. wearing a hairpiece), surgical hair replacement (i.e. hair transplantation), and low-level laser therapy (e.g. laser combs or laser caps). New treatments such as hair cloning and gene therapy are on the horizon, but not yet ready for prime time.

No. 1: Are the results of treatment permanent?

For drug treatments like finasteride or minoxidil, results may not appear for several months. As a general rule, you must continue taking these drugs if you want the results to continue. Although it’s possible that results will persist after you discontinue usage, it is likely that hair loss will return. The only permanent treatment for balding is hair transplantation; however, as with any surgery, not everyone is a candidate and there are important side effects to consider.

Postpartum Hair Loss: Causes and Solutions

If you’ve had a baby recently, you may have noticed that your once-vibrant hair is now thinning or falling out. This is a very common after-effect of pregnancy, affecting up to half of all mothers. It is usually temporary and is the result of changing hormones.

What Causes Postpartum Hair Loss?

During pregnancy, hormones put scalp hair into a growth phase, meaning that your hair will grow and become thicker. Pregnant women are often described as having a ‘glow’ and this may be one of the reasons.

After the birth, the hair goes into a resting phase and remains dormant on the head for two or three months. Then it goes into another growth phase and all the resting hairs are shed at once. This can make your hair seem thin and lifeless and it may come out when you brush it, but it isn’t usually severe enough to cause baldness. If you have bald patches, you could possibly have a vitamin deficiency.

Treatment is not necessary unless the hair loss is severe. Your hair will usually return to normal within one year.

How to Reduce Hair Loss after Childbirth

• Don’t over-brush your hair to have styles that put undue strain on the hair

• Don’t use hairdryers, or if you do, use a low setting to avoid damaging hair

• Eat a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables to encourage hair growth

• Take a multi-vitamin supplement that contains vitamins B, B7 (biotin), C and E and zinc. Make sure it is a brand that is suitable for use in pregnancy and breast feeding.

Consider having a short hairstyle during this postnatal period as the effect of thinning hair will be less obvious. If you are still suffering from hair loss after one year, see your doctor as it may be a sign of another health problem, such as anaemia or thyroid disorder.

Natural Hair Loss Remedies

Are you aware that there are many natural hair loss remedies available for both men and women who may be suffering with hair loss or thinning hair? Many people believe that for something like this, only chemical-based or synthetic products will have the answers they need to treat hair loss, which simply isn’t true.

Green tea and saw palmetto are effective hair regrowth treatments for people who have male and female pattern baldness. This condition occurs when there is an over-abundance of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body. DHT makes the hair follicles weak which causes the strands to fall out.

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is an herbal DHT blocker. Perhaps knowing the name alone suggests that this particular herb can be an irritant, but researches have shown that it can be highly effective for treating baldness and alopecia. It has been reported that extracts of nettle roots partly block 5-alpha reductase, which makes it a dihydrotestosterone-inhibiting component. This, in turn, resists hair fall and triggers the hair growth process.

Exercise stimulates blood flow in your entire body, including your scalp. This is another step you can take immediately to address hair loss problems.

Vitamin E is considered to be one of the most effective natural hair loss treatments because it helps keep a healthy supply of blood flowing to the scalp. This allows important nutrients to be carried in the blood towards the hair roots to nourish the strands. Take multi-vitamins or B vitamins to stimulate your strands to grow.

Mustard oil, boiled with henna leaves, is helpful for healthy growth of hair. About 250 ml of mustard oil should be boiled in a tin basin. About 60 grams of henna leaves are then mixed with the oil. The oil should then be filtered using a cloth and stored. Regular massage of the head with the oil will produce healthy hair.

Lose Your Stressors, Not Your Tresses

Have you been excessively losing hair, that is, more than 100 strands per day? Stress could be one of the factors for your locks falling out. According to a preliminary finding from a new research, it turns out that stress and bad habits such as smoking, drinking and even tanning could contribute to hair loss, especially in women.

Two new studies found that women’s hair follicles are particularly vulnerable to the wear and tear of a stressful lifestyle. One study found that women who had suffered the stress of a divorce or death of a spouse were at the highest risk of losing their hair at the midline, meaning a widening of the parting in the middle of the scalp.

Though hair loss in men and women take different patterns — diffuse hair thinning for women, and a receding hairline and thinning crown for men — the reasons for such condition can be similar. Though in men the problem is, more often than not, genetic, even smoking, alcohol consumption, daily stress, and sun exposure can cause balding, according to the research.

While you can take preventative measures such as wearing a hat in the sun, quitting smoking, and reducing your alcohol consumption, researchers say that adopting healthier lifestyle choices could possibly help your hair grow back. Also, applying a daily hair care regimen can make a difference in the growth and upkeep of healthy hair.

‘Part of it is to manage what you can’, shares one dermatologist. ‘The sooner you address it, the better your chances of having recovery’.

Prior research has also linked stem cells to balding, finding that some stem cells in the scalp are incapable of developing into the type of cells that make hair follicles. The discovery could give hope to men and women with hair loss, said the researchers.