Top 10 causes for hair loss in men

When a man starts going bald, two things go down the drain-his hair and his morale.Balding is one of the worst nightmares for men. From low self-esteem and confidence to needless high self-consciousness, hair-loss negatively impacts a man’s social, personal and work life.

Here are the top 10 causes of hair loss in men:

GENETICS

We all are victims of our genes! Identified by a receding hairline and a thinning crown, Male Pattern Baldness is caused due to genetic as well as hormonal factors. In other words, Male Pattern Baldness or ‘Androgenetic Alopecia’ is the medical term for the inherited form of hair loss. According to a survey, a whopping 50% of men experience some extent of Male Pattern Baldness by the time they are 50, and many start struggling with this condition right from their early 20’s!

With male pattern baldness, a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) gradually causes hair follicles to shrink until they eventually stop producing hair.

About 2 out of 3 men experience hair loss by the age of 60, and almost 80% of the times it is due to ‘Male Pattern Baldness’.

STRESS

No, we are not talking about just an exhausting week or a bad day at work. Traumatic events that cause long-term anxiety like a surgery, an accident, a severe illness, death of a loved one or a break-up can result in temporary hair loss. The life cycle of hair has a growth phase, a rest phase and a shedding phase. A stressful event can upset the hair cycle, sending more hair into the shedding phase. Not just that, when stress is higher, we don’t really end up making the best nutritional choices and the nutrients don’t absorb well as well, which, in turn, adds to the hair loss woes.

3. INADEQUATE PROTEIN IN DIET

Hair is made up of protein, so a lack of protein in your diet is obviously bad news or your hair. If you do not get enough protein in your diet, your body will distribute the quantity available by blocking the supply to the hair follicles. But this does not mean that you can grow a full head of hair back by squeezing in more protein into your meals or gulping down protein shakes! Overdoing your protein intake my also be damaging to your health. The normal recommendations are about 10 to 35 percent of total daily calories from protein. This is about 45 to 55 g of protein for adults (male) depending on the caloric requirements.

MEDICATION OR STEROIDS

Overuse of certain drugs and medication disrupt the hair growth cycle causing hair-loss. Medical treatments that involve heavy dosages, like that in chemotherapy, are linked to extreme hair loss and baldness. Also, anabolic steroids, the type consumed by some athletes to building up muscle, can cause hair to fall out.

SCALP INFECTIONS OR INFLAMMATION:

Fungal infections on the scalp, like ringworm, can cause hair loss. Ringworm is a fungus that can grow anywhere on your body including the scalp, forcing your hair to fall out in patches.

Other infections that can cause male hair loss include Dermatitis, which is primarily a skin condition but can affect your hair if it’s on your scalp.

Inflammation of the hair follicles also results in hair loss. Several factors cause inflammation in scalp, the most typical being overproduction of sebum. The clogged hair roots result in itchiness, flakiness and hair loss.

6. OVERDOING VITAMIN A

According to experts, excessive consumption of vitamin A-containing supplements or medications can cause hair loss. The daily intake of Vitamin A should not be more than 5,000 International Units (IU) for adults whereas supplements can contain anything between 2,500 to 10,000 IU.

POOR BLOOD CIRCULATION IN SCALP

Hair needs a constant supply of nutrients in order to grow. These nutrients are carried to the hair shaft through the blood vessels in the scalp. If the blood circulation in the scalp is not good enough, the supply of raw materials that are used to build hair (lymph, oxygen, nutrients) gets reduces resulting in hair loss and balding.

SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Most men need at least 7 hours of sleep. Lack of healthy sleep can be caused by an irrational work schedule, anxiety, or even due to an addiction to the internet or the smartphone. Research shows that chronic lack of sleep is linked to various health problems like heart disease, diabetes, heart disease and yes – even hair loss! Insomnia and other sleep disorders influence the health of your hair, and over time also cause baldness.

USE OF CHEMICAL-BASED HAIR PRODUCTS

In hope of quick results, most men resort to the use of chemical-based hair care products, which, in the long run, does more harm than good. These products with harsh chemicals negatively affect the hair root and damage the follicles aggravating hair-loss and balding. Opting for natural products is a good idea for all hair problems as they do not have any side-effects and the results are long-lasting too.

SMOKING:

If increased chances of respiratory illness, cancer and heart disease are not good enough reasons for many smokers to think about quitting, then perhaps the following information will motivate them to do so!

Yes, research suggests that smoking accelerates hair loss and premature graying. This means that if you are balding, smoking will make you lose your hair quicker than what you would have, had you been a non-smoker. The toxins present in smoke harm hair follicles and damage hormones. The nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarettes can also cause poor circulation in your body, which in turn may reduce blood flow to your scalp and negatively affect your hair growth cycle causing hair to fall out.

Here’s the good news though:

While genetics play an important role in balding, a stressful lifestyle is evil. Simple lifestyle changes such as, getting adequate sleep, eating protein-rich foods according to the requirements, using chemical-free hair products and having a glass of water every hour can bring about a huge improvement in your hair condition.