What causes hair loss in men?

What causes hair loss in men?
24 September 2021
2-minute read

From hereditary genes to high stress levels, there are a variety of reasons why men start losing their hair. However, the days of keeping a stiff upper lip and not discussing the topic are gone, and thankfully more men are having open and honest discussions about hair loss. But what are the causes of hair loss in men?


What causes hair loss?

The most common cause of hair loss in men is undeniably inherited male pattern hair loss. This process is mainly a result of a genetic susceptibility to of DHT, an androgen hormone and by-product of testosterone. While DHT is responsible for the growth of hair in other parts of the body, it can cause long-term damage to the hair follicles on your head. DHT binds to your follicles and reduces the growth phase of your hair, which inevitably results in finer, shorter hair, a process called miniaturisation. In the final stages of hair loss, DHT stops follicles from reaching the final growth stage. Men that are genetically susceptible to DHT are much more likely to suffer from male pattern hair loss and this is the root cause of most hair loss in men.


While there’s no doubt about the effects that DHT can have on your hair, other factors may quicken the process. For instance, high stress levels can play a part in the hair loss process and will only cause additional damage to your hair follicles. Mindfulness and exercise are two methods of controlling stress that also work great in conjunction with hair loss treatments. At the end of the day, great mental and physical health will only do good things for your hair.


It’s also worth noting that the hair growth cycle causing natural shedding every few months. In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology, states that shedding 50 to 100 hairs every day is entirely normal. Most people have around 100,000 hair follicles in their scalp, so that means you only lose around 0.1% of your hair every day. This whole process ultimately replenishes your follicles and is vital for keeping a healthy head of hair.


What can I do about my hair loss?

Hair loss treatments are the best way to fight back against receding or thinning hair. From our full works plan to single medications, Son’s have a variety of treatment plans for men with mild to moderate hair loss (find out where you are on the Norwood Scale). Finasteride and Minoxidil are the most commonly used medications for treating hair loss as they have both been medically proven to help. With consistent use over a long period of time, our treatments could help you revitalise your hair.


Ultimately, hair loss is mainly caused by genetics, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about it. If you’re interested in doing something about your hair loss, get in touch with us today and find the perfect treatment for you.

All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.