Dropping a few strands of hair in the shower is usually not a cause for concern. In fact, we naturally shed around 100 strands every single day, many of which fall when we clean our hair, loosening them from our scalp.
However, if you find your hair dropping more than usual even without combing through it, if there is significant hair breakage or if your hair is starting to thin out, it might be a cause for concern. In fact, as many as 85 per cent of men will go through hair loss.
Here are some common causes of men’s hair loss as well as some treatment options that Elyon Clinic offers as a men’s health clinic in Singapore.
What results in men’s hair loss
- Underlying medical conditions: Hair loss might be an initial sign of underlying health conditions, such as skin infections, gout, heart conditions, thyroid issues, and diabetes.
- Stress: Poor mental health may lead to temporary hair loss, also known as telogen effluvium.
- Lifestyle habits: Over-styling your hair, such as regular bleaching of hair, can irritate your hair follicles, affecting your scalp health. Additionally, a lack of a balanced diet, such as lacking specific vitamins or zinc, can boost hair loss.
- Age: Our hair follicles shrink as we age, causing our hair to thin out. Additionally, the changing levels of our hormones due to age, too, lead to differences in hair growth and loss.
- Hormone imbalance: If your body produces significant levels of androgen (male hormone), it may cause your hair follicles to shrink, causing your hair to fall out faster. On the other hand, reduced levels of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) lead to slower production of new hair.
- Genetics: Most men’s hair loss issue is caused by male-pattern baldness, which, unfortunately, is a genetically predetermined disorder that is inherited from the X chromosome from their mother.
When should I visit a men’s health specialist?
As mentioned earlier, dropping a couple of strands a day is usually not a cause for concern. However, should you find that you are shedding more hair than usual or you have noticed a tiny bald or thinning patch on your head, then visiting a men’s health specialist might be the move to make, especially if you have been noticing a physical change in hair appearance for a prolonged period.
Some other signs and symptoms that might be a call for concern include the following:
- Itchy scalp
- Complete loss of hair on your body and scalp
- Sudden hair loss
Treatment options for men’s hair loss
The treatment options that work best depend on the individual’s medical history, lifestyle habits, and age. However, some of the common men’s hair loss treatment includes the following:
1. Lifestyle changes
Most of the time, even before prescribing medicative treatments, the doctor may advise the individual to make specific beneficial lifestyle changes, such as:
- Quitting smoking: Tobacco smoke has more than 7,000 toxic chemicals that not only harm your body but also result in hair loss.
- Adopting a well–balanced diet: Besides consuming a healthy amount of fruits and vegetables, it is also recommended to consume less spicy, sugary, oily, and processed food.
- Learning effective stress management techniques: Fortunately, stress-related hair loss is primarily temporary. Your hair should regrow once the root of your stress is managed. Seeking professional help from a mental health specialist might be a way to consider effective stress management techniques.
2. Prescribed and over-the-counter medicine
This is usually not the primary treatment option unless the hair loss is quite severe. There are two types of medicine that can help treat hair loss caused by male-pattern baldness.
- Minoxidil (Rogaine): Minoxidil is available as an over-the-counter medicine. It comes in various forms, such as shampoo, foam, and liquid. It takes about four to six months for results to be definitive.
- Finasteride (1mg and 5mg): Finasteride is only available if your doctor prescribes it to you. It is traditionally used to treat prostate enlargement. However, it has been approved by various global medical boards to be effective in reducing DHT levels. It takes about three months of daily use for results to be definitive.
3. Hair transplant
If, despite taking medication or changing your current lifestyle does not prove effective, then you could consider getting a hair transplant. Essentially, it does is take healthy hair follicles from your scalp. However, this treatment option is not available to everybody.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, we cannot emphasise enough not to be alarmed when you see a couple of hair on the ground. However, should you be worried, know that men’s hair loss is not the end of the world and can be treated.
Here at Elyon Clinic, we handle a wide variety of men’s health-related issues, from hair loss to male hormone deficiency and erectile dysfunction. All in all, we are a one-stop clinic for most medical needs. For more information on what other services we provide, do visit us at https://elyonclinic.com.sg/.
