Hair loss is one of the worst nightmares for men, especially those for whom this process starts earlier in life. According to extensive research in the United States, close to 12% of men in their late twenties report hair shedding, while men above 40 have a 50% chance of thin and brittle hair.
Even though this process is completely natural, there is no denying that baldness affects a man’s social, personal and work life. From low self-esteem and morale to unnecessarily high self-consciousness, hair loss can severely inhibit productivity in everyday chores. Moreover, because of these psychological effects of hair loss, a man usually feels a heightened sense of depression and stress, which in turn increases the chances of hair loss even more.
Thus, once it begins, hair loss can be a vicious cycle that needs to be taken care of medically. Hair transplant is then the most appropriate solution in such cases.
The first step to restoring health and shine to hair is recognizing the cause behind hair loss. More often than not, there will be a combination of reasons that spur heavy hair loss in men, making them bald even before they hit their late 50s. During the consultation session at Southwest, Dr. Agullo will ask you a number of questions regarding your signs of hair loss, your medical history, family history and general behavioral patterns.
Genes: Genes are the No.1 cause of a receding hair-line in most people. Baldness or hair fall as a result of genetic hand-me-downs is called Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) and commonly referred to as Male Pattern Baldness. The male hormone, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), is responsible for baldness because it targets hair follicles; reducing their size and hence, their ability to grow strong hair.
With a shrunken follicle, only small and brittle hair surface and they too stop growing in a matter of time.
The effects of DHT are usually inherited from an individual’s parents; therefore, reversing or stopping hair loss that is hereditary is often hard, if not impossible.
Age: The next most common reason for balding and hair loss is age. Extensive research regarding male baldness shows that while it may happen for a plethora of reasons, balding has a strong correlation with age. As one grows old, hair follicles start growing hair that is brittle, thin and weak, much like an old man’s bones that get weaker as the years pass by.
Hormones: Hormonal effects of hair loss are quite similar to those of genes. Imbalance of male hormones, and sometimes their mere presence, can speed up hair fall, leading to premature baldness. It is interesting to know that the hormone, testosterone, that is responsible for the growth of facial and body hair in men is often also the prime cause of hair loss on the scalp.
Regular Norwood Pattern: The Regular Norwood Pattern of hair loss begins from the crown of the scalp and is followed by a receding hairline.
Norwood Class A: This type of baldness is categorized by a front to back shift i.e. hair starts to thin from the front first, moving backwards to the nape of the neck and being the thinnest at the crown.
Diffused Pattern/Unpatterned Alopecia: Recognizing DPA and DUPA is hard. In these categories of hair loss, an individual’s hair starts to thin from all over the scalp. While there are many similarities in DUPA and DPA, DUPA is characterized by thinning on the sides of the scalp. Marking the difference between these two types is essential because while a DPA patient is ideal for a hair transplant, a DUPA patient is not.
Identifying these classifications is highly imperative for the surgeon to decide on the most appropriate route (surgical or nonsurgical) to curb hair loss. Because not every person can pinpoint the causes and patterns of hair problems, contacting a Board Certified Hair Transplant Surgeon is a must. Dr. Agullo and his team are highly qualified and he has won several awards for his notable contributions in the field of Cosmetic Surgery.