Why do some men go bald?
Baldness has been a recurring nemesis for the male species ever since the dawn of recorded history. Historically seen as a sign of aging (since it mostly happens to men as they march towards middle-age), balding is something that many people naturally want to delay or avoid completely if possible.
However, balding can happen to young men as well. If you are in your 20’s and going bald very quickly then you would want to find a way to slow down or prevent this from happening.
Why does baldness happen?
The most common type of baldness is known as ‘male pattern baldness’ and it is caused by the behaviour of hormones that control the growth of your hair. Each follicle of hair on your head has its own cycle of growth and some can last up to 6 years, allowing plenty of time for healthy, thick hair to form. However, when the hormone level increases it will shorten the hair growth cycle continually (thinning) until it stops producing visible hair follicles altogether.
The way your hormones behave and your predisposition for making them is largely controlled by your genetics that you got from your parents. This means that if your father is bald, you are twice as likely to experience male pattern baldness in your life.
What can be done about it?
Historically, baldness was just something you had to accept gracefully as a sign of ageing. Many men who had gone bald would invest in false hairpieces and wigs to give the illusion they had a full head of hair, but they often weren’t very convincing.
With modern medical science, we now know all about the balding process and why it occurs. Unfortunately, because male pattern baldness is largely a hormonal issue caused by genetics, ‘curing’ the condition is not a straightforward endeavour. Although recent research has found a possible cure for baldness, there is still not enough science data yet to know for certain.
The following 3 treatments are the most popular for slowing down hair loss, and they are:
Minoxidil (Rogaine) comes in the form of a lotion or foam that is applied to the scalp and is most effective when used on the crown of the head. It can normally be obtained over-the-counter at a regular pharmacy. It can take up to around 6 months for the strongest results to show, so it needs to be applied consistently to maintain the effect. As with any treatment, there are side effects of using minoxidil that you should be aware of prior to using it and speaking with a doctor about it is always a good idea.
Finasteride is taken orally and requires a doctor’s prescription before you can get access to it. It works to suppress the formation of the DHT hormone which causes hair follicles to accelerate their growth cycle, getting shorter and shorter. This means that you can effectively slow down the process by which baldness occurs by getting a finasteride prescription online.
Medical shampoos such as ketoconazole 2% (also known as Nizoral) and pyrithione zinc 1% can also be used to help promote the healthy regrowth of hair follicles. These products are easy to purchase over-the-counter but may not be as effective as the 2 aforementioned treatments.
So, it is possible for men to find a baldness treatment online that will work to slow down the balding process so that they can enjoy the hair they have for longer. Naturally, this kind of treatment is most effective the earlier in the balding process it is started.
What about hair transplants?
Hair transplants are a more direct means of hiding baldness by taking hair from other parts of the head (normally the back of the neck) and grafting it onto the front areas that are thinning. This solution is highly invasive and, while it can be effective, it is expensive and likely not covered by most insurance plans.
If you want to learn more about balding request a consult and speak to an Instant Consult doctor today!