What Causes Hair Loss?

What causes hair loss?

Androgenic alopecia, or male pattern baldness, is men's most prevalent form of hair loss. This usually begins with a receding hairline or thinning at the crown, and some men may notice hair loss as early as their twenties. If no preventative measures are taken, men who experience early hair loss are more likely to develop extensive balding.

The two androgens implicated in male pattern hair loss are testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a hormone that develops male traits during puberty and is a by-product of testosterone. Some men have a genetic predisposition to be more sensitive to DHT, which causes their hair to miniaturise as the hormone disrupts the hair growth cycle until the follicles enter dormancy.

While the follicles miniaturise, they remain active. Medical treatments can help reverse the miniaturisation process if initiated promptly. However, if addressed too late, regrowing weakened hairs becomes highly challenging. In such cases, hair restoration surgery is the most viable option – transferring DHT-resistant hair from the back and sides of your scalp.

Why is the hair at the back and sides of a bald man's head resistant to thinning?

The precise reason still needs to be fully understood. However, it is thought that the hair on the back and the sides comes from different sources when embryologically created, i.e. within the womb. As such, the hair on the back and the sides remain unaffected by DHT, much like a beard, which improves with DHT.

Hair loss affects most men at some point in their lives, and it is perfectly normal to want to find a solution to halt and reverse the situation.

If hair loss has progressed beyond the point where medication alone is effective, you may wish to consult an experienced hair transplant surgeon in London.

Ideal candidates for hair transplant surgery typically use hair loss medication to strengthen their thinning hair. It is crucial to remember that your donor hair is not unlimited and must be appropriately managed to maximise your valuable supply.

Hair Loss should be considered holistically. It is not just having high levels of DHT or higher susceptibility to this hormone that causes baldness. Still, deficiencies in certain minerals and vitamins can contribute to hair loss.

In women, there are well-documented things that can lead to hair loss. Although this list is not exhaustive, it will give you some ideas : (More information on hair transplants for women)

1. Hormone imbalances; can include auto-immune conditions such as hyper or hypothyroidism and postpartum hair loss.
2. Iron and B12 Deficiency
3. Vitamin D Deficiency
4. Certain types of oral contraception

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