Androgenic alopecia in males or male pattern baldness is the most common form of hair loss in men. Around thirty to fifty per cent of males are affected by androgenic alopecia in males by the age of fifty. This hair loss issue in men starts from the sides of both the temples and over time recedes to form an ‘M’ shape on the head.
Androgenic alopecia in males has been linked with several other medical conditions, such as coronary heart disease and prostate enlargement. Other health-related issues that trigger androgenic alopecia in males include prostate cancer, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. The pattern of androgenetic alopecia in females is different from that of males. Women suffering from androgenetic alopecia will not have a receding hairline, but hair becomes thinner all over the head.
Besides bringing a massive change to a person’s look and challenges confidence in many. But is there a cure to it? If you are suffering from androgenic alopecia in males, this article might be of great value to you as we share the causes, treatment, and prevention tips for this hair loss issue. Read on.
What Causes Androgenetic Alopecia in Males?
Male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia in males is caused by genetically determined sensitivity to the effects of dihydrotestosterone or DHT in some areas of the scalp. Androgenic alopecia in males is caused due to several factors. But three main elements such as age, genetics, and hormones are found predominantly causing androgenic alopecia in males.
Most men develop some level of baldness due to their age because the hair on your scalp becomes thin with the natural ageing process. About eighty per cent of men in the age group of eighty can be seen balding.
Genetic hair loss in the family is another reason behind androgenic alopecia in males. If men in your family have been affected by baldness throughout history, there are likely more chances for you to develop male pattern baldness.
Another reason behind male pattern baldness is androgens. Androgens are hormones important for male sexual development during puberty. It also includes regulating hair growth. Each hair on the scalp has its own growth cycle, and when you suffer from androgenic alopecia in males, this growth cycle of your hair follicles shrinks, producing smaller, thinner, and more delicate hair strands. Gradually, the growth cycle of each hair ends, and no new hair grows.
How to Identify Symptoms of Androgenetic Alopecia?
Androgenetic alopecia varies in men and women. Each will have a different pattern of hair loss. For androgenetic alopecia in females, as you know now, hair around the top of the head gets thinner first; however, the hairline rarely recedes.
For men suffering from androgenic alopecia in males, here are the symptoms and signs you should watch out for:
- Progressive thinning of the hair on the top of the head
- Single oval patch of hair loss also called alopecia areata
- Sudden losing a lot of hair
- Patchy or circular bald spots
In extreme conditions, hair loss can be full-body, full scalp which is also called alopecia totalis or one may experience patches of scaling that spread all over the scalp.
Who is at Risk of Androgenetic Alopecia?
Male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia in males can occur as early as teens and at fifty. Old age and genetics largely contribute to this. Men having a family history of patterned baldness are more at risk of developing androgenic alopecia in males.
Androgenic alopecia in males can also develop in people with certain medical conditions such as diabetes or lupus. Besides, people constantly losing weight, under stress, or not having proper nutritional food are also at risk of developing male pattern baldness.
Is it Possible to Reverse Androgenetic Alopecia?
Yes, it is possible to some extent. Nevertheless, the process can be lengthy and complicated too. Androgenetic alopecia, a form of baldness, can be difficult to combat. The damage done by this condition is much more than normal hair loss.
With the right combination of medication and following a balanced lifestyle, you can fight against the effects of androgenic alopecia in males and females. The hair loss treatments over the years have been found to be more effective in preventing hair loss from occurring in the future. It is always best to start early.
When you notice a hair loss just at its initial stage, you should start seeing a doctor and get the required medication after proper diagnosis. By doing so, you will be able to slow hair loss or even curb the process altogether. It is usually easy to regrow hair when you have lost some strands recently; that is, the hair loss is in small amounts and can be reversed. It applies that when you have lost hair completely, it becomes difficult, in fact, almost impossible to regrow hair.
How Does Traya Help?
Hair loss has many reasons. From hormonal imbalance and metabolism to stress and environmental factors, each of these has immensely contributed to your hair loss issue. Traya believes and stands by its holistic approach to stopping hair loss by finding the root cause of your hair loss and then giving you an effective and proven solution.
The Ayurvedic doctors and dermatologists at Traya take the hair loss issue in a three-fold way. They combine the goodness of the three sciences - Ayurveda, Dermatology, and Nutrition and then personalize the remedy for you.
Traya, unlike all other commercial hair care brands, is a completely natural hair care solution that not just provides you with medication to be applied topically but supplements for the overall health of your hair. You can take the Traya’s hair test and know about your scalp health.
A complete range of Traya’s natural hair care products can help you combat hair loss issues contains all-natural ingredients. After diagnosing your hair loss issue and finding its root cause, doctors at Traya will prescribe you the right medication such as Minoxidil 5% and minoxidil 2%, hair fall shampoo, hair root serum, hair ras, herbal hair oil, scalp controller, or health tatva. You can see the entire range of products here.
Diet Tips to Prevent Hair Loss in Men
A poor diet can also head to hair loss, and over time, one may lose a lot of their crowning glory. Along with proper and timely medication, a proper diet will help you curb hair loss and regrow your hair. Include essential vitamins that help in hair growth. Iodine, magnesium, selenium, and iron are vital for hair growth.
To have all the essential minerals in your diet, include yoghurt for breakfast or have it post work-out. One cup of low-fat Greek yoghurt contains thirty-four per cent of your daily required selenium and half of iodine required.
Here are some superfoods that you must incorporate in your diet for beautiful traces:
- Spinach
- Greek yoghurt
- Oatmeal
- Beetroot
- Nuts and seeds
- Red bell pepper
- Chicken
- Salmon
- Egg
- Lentils
- Oysters
- Barley
- Lean poultry
Expert Hair Care Routine for Androgenetic Alopecia Hair Loss
Along with proper medication, a proper lifestyle and a healthy hair care routine are equally important to treat androgenic alopecia in males and females. Below listed is an expert hair care routine for you to follow:
Minoxidil, also sold under the name of Rogaine, minoxidil 5% is usually an over-the-counter medication for androgenic alopecia in males. This medication is known to stimulate new hair follicles on the scalp.
It is an oral medication that slows down the hair loss process. It also works as a DHT blocker, and men have experienced substantial hair growth by using this.
Besides the topical solution, the invasive process of hair regrowth is hair transplant. It involves removing hair from one part of the body and planting it on the balding area of the scalp. This process is expensive, though.
If you are suffering from androgenic alopecia in males, you should get a proper hair cut that makes your hair fuller.
FAQs
- Can androgenetic alopecia be cured?
Yes, it can help with timely and proper medication. Starting early helps, but the condition is difficult to cure for people who have gone completely bald due to androgenic alopecia in males.
- Can male androgenetic alopecia be reversed?
Yes, it can be reversed when started with early medication and when the person is in the initial stage of losing hair.
- What triggers androgenic alopecia?
Age, hormones, family history, stress, poor diet, and environmental factors trigger androgenic alopecia.
- Can your hair grow back if you have androgenetic alopecia?
Yes, depending on the amount of hair loss and proper medication.