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Baldness for men represents an increasingly important part as we age. The older you get, the greater the chances that you will suffer from hair loss. Discover in this article what baldness is, its different forms, characteristics and manifestations.
You will also discover that the main causes of baldness in men are hormones and heredity. Although suffering from hair loss does not alter the physical health of the patient, its psychological repercussions can be destructive. Zoom on a condition that is fortunately not incurable!
What is baldness for men?
Before getting to the heart of the matter, it is important to make the distinction between baldness, alopecia and hair loss!
- First of all, hair loss is a natural process. In fact, the life span of a hair is between 2 and 7 years. During these years – also called its life cycle – the hair will go through three phases :
- anagen: hair growth (from 2 to 7 years)
- catagen: the hair no longer grows or regresses (from one to two weeks)
- telogen: hair rests or dies and eventually falls out (from 5 weeks to 100 days)
- then, alopecia corresponds to a chronic hair loss. Consequently, a person suffering from alopecia loses a significant amount of hair: above average.
- Finally, baldness is the advanced stage of alopecia. Since the hair loss of a person with alopecia is significant, if this process is not stopped, the hair loss is total and eventually leads to baldness.
Normally, 85% of hair is in the growth phase and 10% in the fall phase. This corresponds to a daily hair loss of 50 to 100 hairs. A hair loss greater than this inevitably leads to alopecia.
What are the different types of alopecia ?
There are different types of alopecia that can affect men. However, their causes and characteristics are different from each other. Here is a closer look at the different types of alopecia in men.
1 – Androgenetic alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) is the most common form of hair loss. Both men and women are affected by this type of alopecia. People with androgenetic alopecia experience a decrease in the quality and quantity of their hair. Men are left with bald foreheads, temporal gulfs and crowns due to their high sensitivity to male hormones and genetic predisposition. In contrast, a crown of hair persists in the patient until death. In men with baldness, the anagen phase lasts less and less time, while the telogen phase expands.
2 – Diffuse alopecia
Diffuse alopecia (telogen effluvium) is characterized by sudden and severe hair loss over the entire head of hair. However, this form of alopecia is not hereditary. It is usually caused by a disorder of the body: chemotherapy, acute stress, infection, thyroid disorder, iron deficiency, emotional shock, etc. This form of alopecia is easier to resolve, provided that the triggering factor can be identified. Therefore, it is resolved in two to four months.
3 – Congenital alopecia
Congenital or scarring alopecia is the rarest of all forms of hair loss. It is characterized by the absence of roots. This is why it is impossible to see any improvement in this form of alopecia. Therefore, men with congenital alopecia are condemned to remain bald.
4 – Alopecia circumscripta
Alopecia circumscripta (in patches or alopecia) corresponds to a loss of hair on one or more extended parts. It appears following an auto-immune reaction. Thus the main factor involved is stress (psychological factors). However, the root of the lost hair is not destroyed, which makes it possible to recover it following a treatment.
5 – Scarring alopecia
Scarring alopecia is characterized by the appearance of a smooth, shiny scar on the scalp. Consequently, no hair grows back on it. This form is usually caused by a burn or an accident.
Other forms of hair loss
We can find other forms of baldness, which however have different causes and manifestations. These include:
- ringworm of the scalp
- trichotillomania
Baldness in men in a few figures
To have a concrete idea of the proportion of the population affected by baldness, discover the statistics of men affected by baldness:
- Four million (4,000,000) Belgian men (aged 20 to 50) are affected by hair loss. Whether it is incipient or pronounced baldness
- according to IFOP, 13% of our French neighbors are affected by baldness. That is to say 1 man out of 4. These figures increase to 3 out of 10 men after the age of 65.
- the European male population is affected by baldness up to :
- 1 in 3 men at 30 years old
- then 1 in 2 men at 50 years old
- and finally more than 3 men out of 4 after 70 years old
The causes of baldness in men
The causes of baldness in men are varied. Let’s take a look.
Heredity and hormones
90% of baldness cases are caused by androgenetic alopecia. This form of hair loss is caused by two factors: male hormones and genes. Therefore, we understand that the two main factors involved in the appearance of baldness in men are: heredity and hormones.
Stress
Stress is also a major contributor to the development of baldness in men. In other words, high exposure to stress also causes hair loss.
Other causes of hair loss
Hair loss can be caused by other factors. Although they affect a smaller portion of the population, it is also important to know that its effects are generally temporary and that hair grows back once men are no longer exposed to it. We find:
- nutritional deficiencies, malnutrition and a highly unbalanced diet
- the change of season
- the taking of medication
- diseases
We can see from this article that baldness in men is not related to hair type. Whatever the hair type of the affected men, it has no impact on the predisposition to be a victim or not of this problem. However, we can say that Caucasian men are more easily affected than others.
The consequences of baldness in men
Although hair loss is a natural and normal phenomenon, it can have painful consequences for men who suffer from it.
Baldness is not always easy to live with because it changes the physical appearance of a person, especially the appearance of the face. Consequently, this hair loss can be difficult to accept and has serious psychological repercussions, especially for younger men.
Thus, the loss of morale follows the loss of hair, because the self-esteem of those affected is greatly reduced. An uneasiness appears, and if the patient is not accompanied by professionals, it can quickly evolve towards a depression. A feeling of external judgments invades the patient, which strongly alters his relationships and causes isolation.
Treatments for baldness in men
Baldness is not a fatality! Fortunately, there are solutions to cure baldness. Although these solutions are not numerous, some have the merit of being radical, whatever the form of hair loss.
Medication
The medication protocol is done in several steps:
- a dietary supplement is first prescribed to bring first results after three months
- the basic treatment for hair loss is Minoxidil 2 or 5% lotion. This lotion is applied daily to the bald areas of the scalp. The first effects are seen after three to eight months. It should be noted, however, that this treatment can have undesirable side effects and that it must be followed indefinitely. This is because the hair will relapse when the treatment is stopped.
- This is because the hair will regrow when the treatment is stopped, if the patient has not seen any growth effects from the Minoxidil. Topical oral medication will be prescribed: Finasteride. This medication must also be taken over the long term and the first effects are visible after six months of treatment. Finasteride can also cause significant side effects.
PRP injections
Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is, among other things, a growth factor. It is injected directly into the patient’s scalp. It is injected directly into the patient’s scalp to promote hair growth.
Low-intensity laser light therapy
Light therapy is an alternative treatment that can be used in addition to medication for hair loss.
Hair transplants
Hair transplantation is the most radical and permanent option. It is also the least dangerous for the health of the patients. This surgical option consists of transplanting follicles. Thus, micro-grafts of hair are taken from the hairy areas and implanted one by one in the bald areas. This solution is interesting for a durable and aesthetic result, but also painless!
Tips and advice! To take care of your hair when it falls out, it is important to first use a gentle shampoo and avoid any aggressive products. Next, it is important to avoid stress and to eat a healthy and balanced diet.
What you should know about baldness in men
In this article, we have discovered that there are different types of baldness in men:
- androgenetic alopecia, which is the most common form
- diffuse alopecia
- congenital alopecia
- alopecia circumscripta
- alopecia circumscripta
The proportion of men with baldness is 30% for men in their thirties, 40% for men in their forties, 50% for men in their fifties, 60% for men in their sixties, and so on.
Baldness can be caused mainly by 3 factors:
- hormones
- heredity
- stress
Hair loss affects the men who suffer from it, especially on a psychological level.
However, it is possible to treat hair loss with various medications or with surgery for a permanent result.
You liked this article and would like to go further? Our clinic, located in Brussels, is specialized in the treatment of all forms of hair loss. Contact us at +32-4731-379-19 and get a free diagnosis with our hair specialists.
