Causes of Male Baldness

If you look around, you will notice that a lot of men are bald or starting to lose their hair. This is a major concern because as men lose their hair, sometimes their self confidence is diminished. This is especially true for men who begin to lose their hair in their 20s. While some men look handsome bald, other men would prefer to keep their hair. Getting to the root causes of male baldness can help prevent hair loss altogether.

Androgens

Androgens are a byproduct of testosterone that can cause male pattern baldness. The main hormone to blame is called DHT. The hair at the back of the head is immune to DHT, which is why you see hair loss taking place in a pattern across the top of the head. Some men are more prone to develop hormone changes, and most men typically experience extreme changes as they grow older. Not all men lose their hair, but the majority of men do because of androgens.

Autoimmune Diseases

Lupus and other autoimmune diseases can lead to hair loss. Hair transplantation doesn't always work for people who have lost their hair due to a disease because the disease can also cause a person to lose hair in the transplanted area as well. Dr. D.J. Verret, hair restoration, facial plastic surgeon, and owner of Innovations Facial Surgery, says it is important to determine the actual cause of hair loss before seeking hair restoration treatment.

Stress

Stress can also lead to hair loss over time. Too much stress over a prolonged period of time can cause the body to react in several ways. Hair loss can begin to happen at a more rapid rate because the body begins to shed as a result of adrenal function overload. When the adrenals are on high alert all the time, stress can cause a person to lose hair. To reduce stress, exercise, take a bath, or get a massage. Doing whatever it takes to relieve stress will help you maintain normal adrenal function.

Nutrition

Low levels of protein and iron can cause anemia and hair loss. Hair goes through a natural shedding and growth cycle process. Protein is needed for the proper development of new hair. Hair and nails are made from keratin, which is also protein. If you are a vegetarian, consider taking a liquid iron supplement in addition to vegetable-based proteins such as spirulina. Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and take a whole food multivitamin and mineral supplement for extra insurance. A whole food multivitamin is a vitamin made from actual food such as fruits and vegetables. Some popular name-brand vitamins are actually made from chemicals in a lab, so be sure to look for whole food vitamins at your local health food store. It is much easier for the body to absorb vitamins from actual food or whole food vitamins than from other synthetic sources.

Clogged Hair Follicles

Clogged hair follicles can also cause male baldness over time.This can happen from excess sweat, flakes, acne and poor circulation. Some men are more prone to clogged hair follicles based on thier lifestyle. For instance, men who work outside and sweat a lot tend to have clogged hair follicles. Massage the scalp often to stimulate hair follicles and keep the scalp clean and flake free. Take MSM supplements to help open up and unclog hair follicles.

Hereditary

Male pattern baldness can be hereditary. There is a genetic component to baldness that comes from the mother's X chromosome. However, even if balding is in the genes, some men may simply pass this gene to their children without it necessarily affecting them. (See Resources for more information about how genes are passed on from mother to son).

Other things that cause hair loss are medications, radiation therapy and scalp infections.

Resources

• Wrong Diagnosis
• How Genes Affect Baldness