Hair Loss

We're born with all our hair follicles already in place. While some may change in size over time, we don't develop any new ones after birth. As adults, we have about 100,000 individual strands of hair. It's completely normal to lose some - 50 to 100 strands - every day.

Statistics show that almost 40% of all men will show some degree of hair loss by the age 35. That figure climbs to 65% among men 65 and over.

To make sense of how hereditary hair loss happens, it's important to understand how hair grows in the first place and what makes Male Pattern Baldness occur. It's also important to determine other causes of hair loss.

The Hair Growth Cycle

To understand why hair loss happens, it's important to know what hair is and how it grows. Simply explore our interactive description of the hair growth cycle.

Hair is found almost everywhere on the human body. Its forms range from thick, wavy tufts on some scalps to the tiny fair-coloured strands that dot almost every portion of our bodies except the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet. The structure and growth cycle of all human hair is the same

The Hair Follicle

The portion of our hair visible to the outside world is called the shaft. But the story of hair really begins below the skin, where each hair is contained within a pouch-like tube called the follicle. At the base of the follicle is the root, the oval-shaped centre where hair growth activity begins. And jutting into the bottom portion of the root is the papilla, which contains the vital capillaries linking the body's blood supply to each growing strand of hair.

Hair growth occurs in three different phases.

Anagen/Growth Phase

The Anagen phase is the growing phase or the 'on' phase, which lasts for an average of approximately 1,000 days in the human scalp, but can range from two to six years. During the Anagen phase, scalp hair cells grow rapidly at an average rate of one-half to one inch per month. As hair grows, the cells of the hair move closer to the skin surface, being replaced along the way by new, rapidly reproducing cells below. The hair shaft grows in diameter and the hair reaches its maximum length.

Catagen/Transitional Phase

The Catagen phase lasts only one to two weeks. It is the transitional or regressive phase, before the resting phase begins. It is essentially when the hair stops growing.

Telogen/"Off" Phase

The Telogen phase is the final resting stage, or "off" phase which lasts for about five or six weeks. When the old hair is in the Telogen phase, activity in the hair follicle is renewed. When the growth process resumes, the hair falls out of the follicle and is replaced by a new, emerging hair.

Male Pattern Baldness

The most common type of hair loss in adult men is known as Androgenetic Alopecia or Male Pattern Baldness (MPB), which accounts for approximately 95% of all hair loss among males. It's believed to be caused by a combination of three factors:

• Age
• Heredity
• Testosterone (male hormone)
• Male Pattern Baldness

Stages of the "M" Pattern

With male pattern baldness, the hairline begins to recede into an "M" pattern. At the same time or later, hair loss exposes the crown of the head. As the condition progresses, the point of the "M" continues to recede, while the bald spot at the crown widens. Eventually, the thinning crown and receding point may meet. This leaves only a horseshoe-shaped fringe of hair encircling the back and sides of the head.

DHT Affected Areas

Individuals genetically predestined to develop male pattern baldness have normal hair follicles in the horseshoe-shaped fringe area of the scalp. But, the hair follicles in the area destined to become bald are genetically predetermined to become sensitive to a normal body compound called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is produced from testosterone by an enzyme called 5 alpha-reductase.

DHT in the Bloodstream

Genetically sensitive hair follicles shrink when exposed to DHT. As the follicles become smaller, the hair growing Anagen phase shortens and the resting Catagen and Telogen phases lengthen. The hair becomes increasingly thinner, shorter and less deeply rooted. Eventually, hair growth stops.

While it is still not known exactly why hair loss occurs among certain people, researchers have noted a greater incidence among various racial and ethnic groups. Caucasians, for example, are more likely to lose their hair than Asians. Current evidence suggests that the genetic predisposition can be passed down equally from both the mother and the father's side of the family.

Other Causes of Hair Loss

Although Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) among adult males is most noticeable and widespread, people of all ages and both sexes may experience hair loss problems due to any of a variety of causes.

Alopecia Areata, a condition in which hair comes out by the roots in one or more spots, is much less common than MPB. It generally strikes first during childhood or early adulthood. Sometimes called patchy baldness, Alopecia Areata may clear up on its own or progress to the point where the person loses all scalp hair (Alopecia Totalis), or even body hair, including eyelashes and eyebrows (Alopecia Universalis).

Although the exact cause is not known, some experts believe Alopecia Areata may involve an immunological disorder, which causes the body to produce antibodies that attack the hair follicles. Other evidence suggests that Alopecia Areata may be in some cases, a hereditary condition.

Hair loss may also be caused by:

• Chemotherapy
• Thyroid Disease
• Certain Tumors
• High Fevers
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Lupus Erythematosus
• Diabetes
• Secondary Syphilis
• Severe Infections and Serious Cases of Influenza
• Some Prescribed Medications
• Poor Nutrition
• Bad Hair Care Techniques
• Severe Stress/Emotional Anxiety
• Surgery or Prolonged Illness

You should always consult your doctor if you are concerned about excessive hair loss.

Effects of Hair Loss

Many men accept the fact that their hairline is receding, but for some, losing hair can be a sensitive issue.

Men who are losing their hair usually experience similar reactions, firstly denial that the hair loss is occurring, then anxiety because of the stereotypical associations with baldness (being old, unmanly, or unsexy) and finally anger at having what seems like an affliction. Other typical reactions can include depression, or loss of self-esteem.

On the whole, the effects of hair loss vary from person to person with many accepting hair loss as a part of life.

But if you are one of the many men who has decided to do something about hair loss, then find out more about Propecia here.

Myths About Hair Loss

Myth: If I want to know whether I'm going to lose my hair, I should look at my mother's family.
Fact: Genetic hair loss can be passed on by either parent, although the strongest influence is on the maternal (mother's) side. The gene, or genes, responsible for this have not yet been identified and the pattern of inheritance is complex. If hair loss runs on either side of the family, it is likely that you too will be affected.

Myth: Bald men are sexier.

Fact: There is rarely any evidence of excess levels of testosterone or related hormones in bald men; the belief that baldness makes you more virile than a man with a full head of hair is, unfortunately, without scientific foundation.

Myth: If you wash your hair too often you will go bald.

Fact: Frequent shampooing itself has no effect, positive or negative, on hair loss, although excessive use of heat with a hair dryer should be avoided.

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