Hair Loss

Are you losing hair?

Myths say that thin-haired men are more virile than others. Whether this is or not, we will let go unsaid. However we know that many men consider hair loss a major concern. Hair loss is a result of an increased amount of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes the hair follicles to shrivel up and hair growth to thin, to eventually stop entirely. Certain areas of the scalp are more sensitive to this chemical than others, which explains why hair loss only affects certain areas of the head.

If you begin to bald, you should absolutely not try to cover it by combing long wisps of hair from one side to the other. This only emphasizes the baldness even more. Instead, clip the hair very short (the absolutely shortest hair style you feel you can be comfortable with) and make a good-looking style with the help of cream or wax.

Growing a beard or moustache is also a good way to draw attention from the thinner parts of the head. If you would like to do something a little more permanent about the problem, there are actually solutions for those who are prepared to put down some energy (and money). The solutions can be categorized into two groups: treatment with products and treatment by transplantation.

Products to combat hair loss

There are several products that claim to help with hair loss. Several of them contain a chemical substance, Minoxidil, which slows the rate of hair loss. Already lost hair does not grow back, however. The hair remains as long as treatment continues, but if it is stopped then the hair loss begins quickly again. The treatment gives the best results in men who have not been losing hair for more than five years. A somewhat stronger preparation (which is however by prescription only) is Propecia.

It contains the active substance finasteride which reduces production of dihydrotestosterone, the male hormone that causes hair loss. Propecia was originally used for treating enlarged prostate, but when the patients grew hair it was further developed, made weaker and modified to be used as a pharmaceutical for treating hair loss. Propecia shows very good results in both preventing further hair loss and assisting regrowth. Hair loss stops in 86% of the men who take Propecia, and in 48% there is substantial regrowth. Unfortunately Propecia causes reduced sexual desire in approximately four percent of men treated with the drug.

Another tip before you go for a hair transplant is to check your surgeon’s reputation carefully. Ask for references from previous patients who have undergone similar transplants, and be careful to check how long the surgeon has been carrying out this type of procedure. A transplant can cost from £6,000 upwards, but remember that the cheapest surgeon and the cheapest type of transplant is not necessarily the best option.

Hair Transplants

Hair transplants hurt and are expensive. If you have gotten over those two factors, you can on the other hand get an almost perfect result. Hair transplants can be done with several different methods and are often used on people with extensive hair loss. The best and most modern method to transplant hair is known as micro grafting; hair is taken from the neck and moved to the bare area strand by strand. This method gives a natural result, and it can be very difficult to see that the hair has been transplanted.

The transplant can however in certain cases have some side effects, for instance scar formation. One tip before going through a hair transplant is to carefully check the surgeon’s reputation. Ask for references from previous patients that have had similar transplants, and be careful to check how long the surgeon has been performing this type of procedure. A transplant can cost between £2,500 and upwards, but remember that the cheapest surgeon and the cheapest type of transplant may not necessarily be the best alternative.

Male Hair Loss

Explaining hair loss in simple terms is quite difficult. There are also many opinions on the subject. According to the latest findings, the reason for male hair loss is that DHT (dihydrotestosterone), formed when testosterone and the enzyme called 5–alpha reductase meet, binds onto receptors in the hair root. The body interprets this as something going wrong and the immune defences kick in. The immune system attacks the hair follicle and at first the hair develops a shorter growing phase. Later on, your hair thins. Later still, some people lose all their hair. Others find that they stop losing hair and they retain their thinner head of hair for many years.
Not exactly easy to understand! Put simply, DHT fools the body and means it becomes less good at producing thick, strong hair. The hair follicles affected by DHT first become thinner and shorter. Finally, they disappear, never to return. You might think the process is easy for you to document yourself in front of the mirror, but naturally we would recommend you to consult a doctor for a more detailed check. If you want to set in place counter measures it is vital to start as soon as possible. Note that the best method doesn’t need to involve using umpteen different products!

As most people know, what you eat also affects your hair follicles, in the same way as it affects all other parts of your body. However, if your intake falls within the recommendations, most experts think there isn’t much more you can do as far as diet is concerned. Not even the most perfect diet will help you avoid congenital male hair loss – if you have that in your genes. The choice is yours: play for time, accept it, or buy a wig!

Preparations that combat hair loss

There are only two substances approved today by the FDA (Foods & Drugs Administration) in the USA: Finasteride and Minoxidil. Finasteride comes in tablet form (Propecia, Proscar, Finpecia and others) and is the substance that works best of all for male hair loss. Some users of these preparations have experienced side-effects such as reduced sex drive and weight gain when using these substances. Not only that, recent research results have emerged showing that in certain cases Finasteride has caused cancer.

Minoxidil is the active ingredient in Regaine and l’aminixel , for example. Some users find that the hair loss ceases after 3 or 4 months of use, but it is quite unusual to regain your hair with a Minoxidil preparation. As well as this there is a large range of herbal remedies on the market. As these have not undergone the advanced testing required by the FDA it is impossible to say how well they work. .

Hair Transplant

A hair transplant is one of the most common ways of regaining your hair. Two main methods are used today – STRIP and FUE. The Strip method uses hair from a large area at the back of the head and results in scarring afterwards. Using the FUE method, the hair follicles are plucked one by one. Strip is preferred when you need a lot of hair, whilst FUE is most commonly used when the patient does not want to have a scar at the back of the head.

As well as this, the FUE method is a lot more expensive than Strip. It is important not to have a hair transplant until your hair loss has stabilised. Otherwise, you will lose more hair behind the transplanted hair. A rule of thumb is therefore that you should not have a transplant before the age of 35.