Have you recently discovered you’re losing your hair? Hair loss is a devastating process that takes away our self-confidence. It’s a natural process for most of us, but prematurely losing your hair is a cause of concern in men and women.
As a result of hair loss, many men and women turn to clinics that help them regrow their hair or transplant it. The reality is that hair loss has several factors, and some of these factors can cause premature hair loss.
In this post, we’ll unpack the reasons for hair loss in men and women. We’ll also look at a few methods for preventing, slowing, and reversing the condition.
Understanding Your Hair and Hair Loss
Your hair consists of a protein known as “keratin.” These proteins are found in the hair follicles, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the roots of your hair. The follicles also secrete “sebum,” an oil that lubricates and moisturizes the hair and scalp.
As we age, our body starts slowing protein synthesis. As a result, we begin to experience the signs of aging. From wrinkled skin to our hair falling out, reduction in protein synthesis is a natural event we can’t escape. However, it’s possible to prevent, slow, and reverse the process with the right treatment.
Your scalp has around 100,000 hair follicles. New hairs grow from the follicles after they shed, but since hairs grow at individual rates, they don’t shed all at once. It can take up to three years for your hair to reach a length where it sheds, and the human scalp loses around 50 to 200-hairs every day.
Men and Male Pattern Baldness
Men experience “male pattern baldness” or “androgenetic alopecia” as the most common forms of hair loss. The condition affects around 50% of all men by the time they reach 50-years old.
Men with male-pattern baldness experience a thinning of the hair on the vertex’s and crown, leaving only the sides growing. While it’s uncommon, the balding effect in men can start in their teens.
Does Hair Loss Occur In Women?
Hair loss occurs in women as well as men. However, women experience a thinning of their hair uniformly across their scalp.
Most of the time, hair loss affects around 50% of hair follicles, but women will rarely go bald due to the condition’s effects. Only approximately 20% of women develop moderate to severe hair loss.
What are the Reasons for Hair Loss in Men and Women?
Genetics
Hair loss can occur due to genetics. If you’re a man, and your father has male-pattern baldness, the chances are that you’ll end up with the same condition later in life.
Changes in Hormones
Changes in testosterone levels can cause an increase in the production of Dihydrotestosterone. DHT is a potent androgenic hormone that causes hair loss in men.
Women that recently experienced pregnancy may also fin they start to lose their hair postpartum. The changes in hormones like estrogen and progesterone can cause your hair to start falling out.
Steroid Use
Some men may use anabolic-androgenic steroids to gain muscle mass. However, testosterone converts into DHT, and it can accelerate male-pattern baldness in men predisposed to the condition.
Stress
Stress is the number-one cause of hair loss in women, and it’s a significant contributor to the condition in men. Elevations in the hormone cortisol cause increased stress levels. The more stress you have in your body, the higher the chances of developing stress-related hair loss.
Over-Styling
Blow drying your hair too often, or the extensive use of hair products like styling gel and hairspray can cause hair loss in men and women.
Can I Prevent Or Stop Hair Loss?
If your hair starts falling out, it’s a stressful situation that wears on your self-confidence. However, as mentioned, high-stress levels are one of the leading causes of hair loss. As a result, you end up in a negative feedback loop that continues your stressful situation, resulting in further hair loss.
Unfortunately, once hair loss starts, it isn’t easy to slow and reverse the situation. Fortunately, thanks to modern medical science, there’s a way to prevent, slow, and reverse hair loss in men and women. The following drugs show efficacy in helping you resolve the problem of your hair falling out.
Finasteride
Also known by the brand names Proscar and Propecia, Finasteride is the most popular and effective drug for resolving hair loss issues in men. Finasteride is available in generic formats, designed to help you regrow your hair. However, its hormonal action means it’s not suitable for use in women.
Minoxidil
This drug was originally a high blood pressure medication. However, its off-label use as a hair stimulant is the only use for the compound today. Minoxidil is available in solution or foam formats for daily application to your scalp.
Used in combination with a derma-roller, you can expect impressive results in slowing and reversing hair loss. There are Minoxidil products like Rogaine that are suitable for use in men and women.
Ketoconazole shampoos
Ketoconazole helps to stimulate the hair follicles and rejuvenate the scalp. The compound revitalizes hair follicles while providing a strong moisturizing effect. The anti-fungal properties of ketoconazole also prevent scalp infections.
There are a handful of companies offering you hair loss treatments that include all three treatments. Using the “Keeps” subscription service is a great way to get on track with stopping hair loss before or af5ter it happens.
Keeps provide you with Finasteride tablets prescribed to you through its online service. You also get your choice of foam or solution-based Minoxidil and a ketoconazole shampoo to condition your scalp. Keeps make its products accessible and affordable through its online service.
You can expect to pay $15 for the Minoxidil solution, $20 for the foam, $25 for your Finasteride, and $10 for the ketoconazole shampoo. Keeps offer you a monthly subscription service to ensure you always have your hair treatments on hand. You also get remote prescriptions for your Finasteride, meaning you never have to visit the doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does hair loss happen in men and women?
Yes, both men and women are at risk of hair loss. However, with men, the condition is usually hereditary, leading to “male-pattern baldness.” With women, the situation is more related to high cortisol levels caused by elevated stress. However, both men and women feel devastated when they find out they’re losing their hair. It’s a confidence-killer that plays on your mental health and emotions., leaving you feeling insecure about your physical appearance.
Is it possible to stop hair loss?
Yes, thanks to modern science, it’s possible to prevent and stop hair loss. Several products are available to help you reverse hair loss and grow new hair in balding areas of the scalp. Products containing Minoxidil are effective at slowing and stopping hair loss. Combined with derma-roller therapy, men and women can prevent thinning hair while stimulating new hair growth in the crown and vertex of the scalp.
What can I do to prevent hair loss?
If you’re looking to prevent, slow, stop, or reverse the effects of hair loss, we recommend looking at products containing Minoxidil. Minoxidil is a potent hair loss preventative, and it’s effective at restoring hair follicles’ health. Combining Minoxidil with Finasteride therapy gives men the best chance of reversing the effects of male-pattern baldness caused by the androgenic effect of DHT in the body. Keeps is the leader in at-home hair loss prevention companies.