hair loss women

Men and hair loss seems always to have been a losing combination. Although male pattern hair loss is very common—two out of three men will experience it—and is hardly ever associated with serious health risks
it’s hard to imagine a common condition that is met with more anxiety. But much of the stigma surrounding male hair loss is due to half-truths and exaggerations. So if you start noticing there’s not as much hair up there
don’t pull out the rest of it in worry—take our quiz below and learn what’s going on with your body and how you can slow the follicle fallout.

If you’re losing hair
it’s male pattern baldness.

False. It’s true that for 95 percent of men who lose their hair
male pattern baldness
or androgenetic alopecia
is the culprit. With this condition
an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone
a hormone that causes hair follicles to shut down hair production. Male pattern baldness can begin appearing in men in their 20s and usually progresses slowly from the front or apex of the scalp
or both.

But male pattern baldness is not the only cause of male hair loss—and it’s important to talk to your physician or dermatologist to determine the cause
because it can point to certain health problems. For example
if your hair is falling out quickly and in small patches
it may be a sign of alopecia areata
an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the hair. Stress can also lead to rapid hair loss. In these cases
the hair usually regrows after several months. Other causes include a severe ailment or major surgery; protein
vitamin B
or iron deficiencies; medication complications; or thyroid disease.

It’s your mother’s fault.

False. Male pattern baldness is a largely genetic characteristic that can be inherited from either your mother or your father. It’s even possible to acquire the hair-loss gene from both parents. In fact
the same gene also causes hair loss in women
although because of hormonal differences
women tend to lose their hair in small amounts all over their scalp.

There’s hope.

True. Here’s the good news: In many cases
male pattern baldness can be treated. In the early stages
many conventional physicians prescribe either minoxidil lotion
applied topically
or finasteride
taken orally. These medications have been shown to slow hair loss in many patients and
in some cases
cause hair to grow back. According to Robert Brodell
MD
professor of internal medicine in the dermatology section at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
complications associated with both drugs are minimal
but there are downsides. Not only are the medications expensive
but they only work for as long as you take them. “I tell my patients that they are going to be on one of those medicines for 5 years or 10 years or 15 years
until they are married and have kids and don’t care anymore
” says Brodell. “And then when they stop their medicine
we fully expect them to start losing their hair again.” Great strides are being made in the field of hair transplants
but like any invasive therapy
these procedures are expensive and time-consuming and should not be undertaken lightly.

If surgery or drug therapies aren’t for you
a number of naturopathic remedies might offer similar results—without the high cost. Keith F. Zeitlin
ND
a naturopathic physician with a private practice in Connecticut
recommends the herbs saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) and stinging nettle root (Urtica dioica)
and the supplement beta-sitosterol
which all appear to work similarly to conventional medicines by shutting down the enzyme 5-alpha reductase’s creation of dihydrotestosterone
the hormone that ceases hair production. “If we can inhibit that enzyme
we can actually inhibit hair loss
” says Zeitlin. (For more information
see “Herbs and Supplements for Hair Loss
” below.)

Another option is mesotherapy
a treatment in which very short needles are used to inject homeopathic remedies; vitamins such as biotin; or conventional medicines such as minoxidil just underneath the surface of the scalp. “The skin is used as a natural time-release system
” says practitioner Harry Adelson
ND
a Utah-based pain-medicine specialist. “Whatever it is you are injecting remains in the area for up to a week and continually penetrates down into the deeper tissue.”

You can live a hair-healthy lifestyle.

True. Although there’s no apparent validity to the old wives’ tales that sexual activity or excessive hat wearing can cause hair loss
other lifestyle choices may indeed hurt your hair. In fact
it might make more sense to keep that hat on; a study conducted at the University Hospital of Zurich in Switzerland proposed that ultraviolet rays from the sun might injure hair follicles (Dermatology
2003
vol. 207
no. 4). How you clean and care for your hair may also be a factor in hair loss. According to the American Academy of Dermatology
too many chemical treatments such as dying
straightening
and bleaching
as well as excessive washing
towel drying
and brushing
may weaken or damage your hair
causing it to break or fall out.

Those worried about hair loss should also reevaluate their diets. Zeitlin warns that very large doses of vitamin A can lead to vitamin A toxicity and eventual hair loss. He recommends his patients replace vitamin A-rich foods and saturated fats
which may also encourage hair loss
with green vegetables
whole grains
essential fatty acids
and other foods rich in hair-healthy vitamins and minerals such as zinc. What you drink may also play a role: According to a 2003 study
alcohol consumption may aggravate hair loss (British Journal of Dermatology
2003
vol. 149
no. 6).

Hair loss is a bad thing.

False. Let’s not forget the cheapest
easiest
and safest treatment for male pattern hair loss: doing nothing at all. After all
hair loss is not usually a health concern and
despite what our culture may sometimes suggest
there’s nothing wrong with showing a little skin—on your head
that is. After all
look at Patrick Stewart
Bruce Willis
and Sean Connery. “I certainly wouldn’t recommend that anybody have their male pattern baldness treated who isn’t bothered by it
” says Brodell. “I’m losing my hair
and I’m not using any of these treatments.”