8 Causes of Hair Loss In Men And How to Promote Regrowth

If you look in the mirror and feel as though your hairline is receding as each day passes, you are not alone. In fact, more than half of men aged 50 and above have signs of hair loss. If you are in this boat, the number one question you’re going to have is simple – why? While hair loss can commonly be blamed on your family tree, there are numerous other causes that are worth knowing about.

Genetics 

Genetics tends to be the predominant factor of balding amongst men. This normally begins with a little thinning of the hair around the crown and a receding hairline. While we normally associate male pattern baldness with the older generation, men can start experiencing MPB in their early 20s.  

Hereditary hair loss is normally caused by hormonal changes. They play a critical role in both female and male pattern baldness. Despite popular belief, male pattern baldness is not caused by stress. Instead, it is purely genetic and is passed on by both sides of the family. There are treatments available for genetic hair loss. These include prescription tablets like Finasteride. Other prescription tablets include Dutasteride which could be an ideal treatment if you are a man suffering from hair loss. You can obtain Oxford Online Pharmacy’s Dutasteride prescriptions for hair loss. They go into detail about what Dutasteride is, how it can treat hair loss, and what the tablet contains. 

Diet and Nutrition 

Although diet doesn’t usually play a key role in male hair loss as it does for women, unintended shedding and thinning can be caused by nutritional deficiencies. Men who fail to meet the mandatory dietary allowances of minerals and vitamins are at a higher risk of hair thinning and shedding. Key contributors to hair growth include vitamin B, zinc, iron, and protein. These can be found in numerous animal products. 

It's instilled in us from childhood to follow a balanced diet. Eating healthily isn’t only good for maintaining a healthy weight, eating foods full of vitamins and nutrients may help in preventing hair loss. Make sure to speak to your GP if you plan to introduce any new supplements or vitamins to your regimen. If you have signs of hair loss, altering your diet may help in slowing down the process. 

Stress 

Stress is part and parcel of day-to-day life. Whether you have a mountain of work to sift through or you’re having problems in your relationship, intense physical or emotional stress can not only impact your mental wellbeing, but your physical health too. It doesn’t matter what the triggers are, stress can lead to hair shedding or worsen hair loss.  

In general, we can lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day without even noticing. For those who experience high-stress levels, you may lose even more than this each day. The good news is you can combat stress. There are plenty of stress busters that can calm you down. These include practicing meditation, yoga, and performing regular exercise. If you feel like your stress levels are out of control, it’s wise to speak to your GP for advice and guidance.  

Alopecia 

One of the most prevalent medical conditions that can cause inflammation-induced hair loss is alopecia. This condition is characterised by hair loss patches. Alopecia can progress to complete hair loss from the scalp or the entire body in severe instances. Unfortunately, while no treatment can cure alopecia, there are corticosteroids you can use that may provide relief.  

It’s important to note that individuals with alopecia are normally healthy and don’t experience any other symptoms. Alopecia normally starts with a sudden loss of oval or round patches on the scalp. Any part of the body can be affected by alopecia, including the beard, eyelashes, and eyebrows. See your GP who will be able to officially diagnose the condition and provide treatment options.  

Graves’ Disease 

Graves’ disease is a thyroid disorder that causes antibodies to bind to the surface of thyroid cells. This thyroid disorder can affect the skin and hair follicles. One symptom to look out for is thickening and redness of the skin. Thyroid hormones like T3 and T4 manage and regulate hair follicles, their development, and maintenance. When Graves’ disease puts these hormones into overdrive, this can cause telogen effluvium. When this occurs, hair follicles begin moving to the resting stage early and stay there which can trigger hair loss. 

Unfortunately, Graves’ disease is a lifelong (chronic) condition, meaning it cannot be cured. Although, there are treatments available that can help in keeping your thyroid hormone levels in check. In some cases, medical treatment can make the disease go away temporarily. However, it will return at some stage.  

Lupus 

There are two kinds of hair loss involved in lupus. These are scarring and non-scarring. Hair loss linked with lupus is normally because of an autoimmune response that attacks the scalp. Such inflammation can cause excessive hair loss. If you have lupus, you may find your hair begins falling out in clumps. You could also have discoid lesions on the scalp in the bald spots. 

Lupus is a chronic disease with no cure at present. However, you can manage the condition with treatment. Medicines like belimumab and rituximab are commonly used to treat lupus. If you are experiencing hair loss associated with lupus, hair can grow back on its own in remission periods. But, if scarring happens in affected follicles, it’s likely the hair loss will be permanent.  

Medication 

Several medications can trigger hair shedding or aggravate existing hair loss conditions. Common drugs to blame include blood pressure medication, cholesterol-lowering medications, and steroids. Acne treatments can also be included in the list. Medication can promote hair shedding by meddling with the hair growth cycle – normally in the anagen (growing) and telogen (resting) phases. 

Other medications that may cause hair loss include antidepressants, hormone-related drugs such as thyroid medication, and hormone replacement therapies. Chemotherapy is the type of cancer drug treatment that is most likely to cause hair loss too. If you are taking any of the medications listed, it’s recommended to see your GP who can link the two together.  

Psoriasis  

While scalp psoriasis on its own does not cause hair loss, scratching at the scaly spots and using harsh treatments can lead to temporary hair loss. Thankfully, your hair will normally grow back once your skin clears. 

To treat scalp psoriasis and reduce the chances of hair loss, make sure to comb and brush away the scale gently. Other tactics include keeping your fingernails short and filing them, so the tips are smooth. If you use a medicated shampoo, try swapping to alternative ones. Let your dermatologist know if your scalp treatment seems too harsh too.  

Men are no strangers to hair loss. While bald spots and receding hairlines can be attributed to genetics, there are many types of hair loss and thinning that can happen because of diet, medications, medical conditions, and stress. 

We understand that losing your hair can be emotionally distressing. If you are in this boat, it’s recommended to book an appointment with your GP who can run specialist tests to determine the cause. You can also research treatment options that can promote hair regrowth and ultimately, restore your confidence.