10 Things Men Should Know About Thinning Hair (2024)

Jump to:

  • How to Tell If You're Going to Go Bald
  • How Quickly Will I Lose My Hair?
  • Hair Loss and Genetics
  • Emotional Stress and Sexual Frustration
  • Natural Hair Loss Remedies
  • How to Treat Hair Loss
  • Side Effects of Hair Loss Treatments
  • Will Stress Make You Go Bald Quicker?
  • Psychological Impacts of Hair Loss
  • Will the Rest of My Hair Fall Out?

If you're one of the 25% of men who start going bald by the time they turn 30, things can seem fairly hopeless. However, if you've noticed your hair is starting to look a bit thin up top, it may not be as bad as you think.

For a start, University of Manchester researchers, writing in PLOS Biology, claimed a drug originally intended to treat osteoporosis could eventually provide a cure for baldness.

While we're all waiting for that, and before you go to the expense of paying for a hair transplant, take a look at our list of the ten things you need to know about losing your hair. Follow these rules and you just might keep your untamed locks for a while longer yet.

How to Tell If You're Going to Go Bald

This isn’t as silly a question as it sounds. Losing your hair isn’t the same as going bald. Male pattern baldness is a genetic condition, whereas hair loss, per se, can be caused by a variety of factors.

If you are losing patches of hair in an apparently random manner, you may have alopecia, a condition where a person (male or female) loses patches of hair from parts of their body. In extreme cases this may affect all the hair on the body. Alopecia is thought to have hereditary and autoimmune factors (where the body mistakenly attacks itself). It is not the same as male pattern baldness.

If your hair loss occurs in a more regular receding pattern, usually from the temples and crown of the head, then it is more likely you have male pattern baldness. But remember – most men go bald. It’s nothing to be afraid of or embarrassed about.

How Quickly Will I Lose My Hair?

Male hair loss starts at some point in the twenties, but it typically takes 15-25 years to go bald. Half of fifty year olds are quite bald.

However, some men go bald in less than five years. It is almost impossible to put a finger on how long the process will take.

Hair Loss and Genetics

If you have male pattern baldness, you are losing your hair because your body is becoming increasingly sensitive to male sex hormones called androgens. The extent to which your scalp is affected by this process is hereditary.

You can also lose your hair because of illness or surgical procedures, stressful circumstances, changes in hormone levels and scalp infections. But in many cases hair loss is not permanent.

Emotional Stress and Sexual Frustration

Some hair loss is associated with stress, although male pattern baldness is a genetic condition found in many men. If you find your hair is falling out in clumps or at unpredictable times, it is most likely to be the symptom of something else. This could be stress related but is unlikely to be caused by sexual frustration. The best thing to do is to see your GP for a check up.

Natural Hair Loss Remedies

Everyone loses hair naturally and it is normal for hair to thin somewhat when you get older. But the truth is that male pattern hair loss is a genetic condition that cannot be stopped entirely.

There is a condition called Traction Alopecia, which is caused by constant pulling or tension of your hairs over a long period. You don’t have to be dragged around the floor by your head to suffer from this either – if you often wear tight braids, particularly cornrows, or tight ponytails, you are more likely to get Traction Alopecia. So try not to pull your hair tight excessively. Some experts also recommend exercise as a good way to maintain a healthy head of hair.

How to Treat Hair Loss

Baldness is a natural process. Firstly you need to ask yourself whether you really want to ‘treat’ it or if you can find a way to accept it rather than try to camouflage bald spots or regain your hair completely.

If you do want treatment, there are two drugs that can help.

  1. Minoxidil lotion (Regaine regular strength or Regaine extra strength) is applied twice daily to the scalp. Not available on NHS prescription, but can be purchased over-the-counter. About 60 per cent of patients benefit from it to varying degrees. Its effects start to wear off as soon as it is stopped.
  2. Finasteride (Propecia) is a medicine taken in tablet form that partially blocks the effects of the male hormones (an 'anti-androgen'). Propecia has been shown to halt further hair loss and promote re-growth of scalp hair in approximately 80 per cent of patients after three to six months. The treatment benefits also stop when you stop taking the medication. Only available on prescription and is available on some NHS primary care trust lists for certain conditions.

You might also consider cosmetic surgery, which is a reliable way to replace lost hair. Methods include transplants, scalp reductions and flap surgery – although all are expensive long-term solutions.

Side Effects of Hair Loss Treatments

  1. Minoxidil lotion: Common side effects are scalp and skin irritation. More rarely it can cause changes in hair colour and texture.
  2. Finasteride: Noticeable side effects are uncommon, but sometimes the medicine can cause a rash, and a small proportion of users may experience reduced libido, erection problems or breast and/or nipple tenderness.

Will Stress Make You Go Bald Quicker?

Stress can cause hair loss but hair loss caused by stress is rarely permanent. Whether stress speeds up the process of hereditary baldness is unknown.

There is a form of hair loss that can be caused by severe stress called telogen effluvium, which interrupts the growth cycle of your hair follicles causing hair to shed. But in the long term this process should correct itself.

Psychological Impacts of Hair Loss

Some men have a genuine fear of going bald and it can cause high stress levels, low self-esteem, reduced sex drive and even depression. But if you understand the causes and accept them you are much more likely to conquer these fears. Most men feel a momentary loss of confidence when they realise they are losing hair but this is often overcome quickly. The only way to ensure you won’t suffer psychological problems is to face up to the realities of baldness and either accept it or seek treatment that works for you.

Will the Rest of My Hair Fall Out?

No. Only scalp hairs are affected by male pattern baldness. Other areas such as the beard or armpits might be affected by alopecia.

10 Things Men Should Know About Thinning Hair (2024)
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