Have you started noticing your hair falling out on a more regular basis? A certain amount of hair loss is an entirely normal and healthy part of the hair growth cycle, with the NHS stating that the average person loses around 50-100 hairs a day. However, when you spot consistent and excessive hair loss over a period of weeks, could be a sign of more significant hair loss. In this blog, we’ll explore the reasons why your hair may be falling out and provide various tips to help slow its progress.
What are the reasons for hair loss?
When it comes to hair loss, every guy is different. However, the main reasons for hair loss can be boiled down to the most common issues, including:
- Male pattern hair loss
- Stress
- Aggressive washing, drying or styling
- A vitamin deficiency, including Iron
- Excessive drinking or smoking
- Medication/illness
Male pattern hair loss
Male pattern hair loss is by far the most common form of hair loss in men, with studies showing that up to 50% of men by the age of 50 are impacted by the condition. It is caused by a genetic sensitivity to the hormone DHT (a by-product of testosterone metabolism), which, over a sustained period of time, can damage hair follicles and disrupt the hair growth cycle.
95% of male hair loss is linked to the condition, and there are various options you can take to slow or stop it if looking to do so. Two of those are Finasteride and Minoxidil, which are clinically proven medications that many men use on a daily basis to treat male pattern hair loss in its early stages.
Even so, if you have a biotin deficiency, you may start noticing your hair quality deteriorating, with hair becoming more brittle, thinner, slower growing and, in some cases, falling out as a result. On top of consuming more biotin-rich foods, many men take biotin capsules or hair growth complexes with a number of different supportive ingredients on a daily basis to help enhance their hair quality and growth rate.
Aggressive washing, drying or styling
Putting your hair under unnecessary stress can accentuate male pattern hair loss. A common way guys do this is through aggressive washing, drying or styling. By this we mean washing too vigorously, drying with excessively hot hair dryer or being aggressive with hair sytling. There’s even a condition called ‘traction alopecia’ for men who tie their hair up in ‘man buns’ too tightly! We always recommend using a gentler touch when dealing with your hair, while also choosing a style that doesn’t pull or put pressure on follicles.
A biotin deficiency
Keratin is a protein crucial for the health of hair, skin and nails. Without it, hair and nails become brittle and their structure deteriorates. Biotin, otherwise known as vitamin B7, is key to maintaining keratin production and can be found in a wide variety of foods, including egg yolks, avocados and sweet potatoes.
Excessive drinking or smoking
You don’t need us to tell you that excessive drinking and smoking are detrimental to your physical health. Various studies have suggested that smoking results in free radical damage to hair follicles. Smoking and drinking may also deprive follicles of vital nutrients needed for sustained growth, thanks to slower blood circulation.
Medication
If you have been prescribed specific medication for an ongoing illness or condition, this may also be impacting the health of your hair. If you’re noticing excessive or consistent hair loss directly after starting a prescription, be sure to contact your GP right away.
MEDICAL CONDITIONS – such as thyroid disorders, iron deficiency, people undergoing cancer treatment – please include these here.
DIET/EXERCISE
Conclusion
Ultimately, male pattern hair loss is the most likely cause of hair loss in men. For those who want to treat hair loss, treatment plans containing Finasteride and Minoxidil contain proven effective medications to treat male pattern hair loss - may be the correct route to go down, but not every guy is the same. We always suggest consulting a professional who will recommend the right treatment plan for you based on your hair loss and medical history.
All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.
