Table of contents:
- What causes baldness in men?
- Who is at risk of going bald?
- How to prevent baldness in men
- 1. Stay away from stress
- 2. Minoxidil
- 3. Finasteride and dutasteride
Baldness, which is also called androgenic alopecia , is one of the most common types of hair loss in men. There are several ways to prevent baldness in men, but of course it takes perseverance and thoroughness to do it because for some people baldness is difficult to avoid.
What causes baldness in men?
According to U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) as reported from the page Healthline , more than 50% of men over 50 years of age will be bald sometime in the future.
One of the causes of baldness in men is a factor of genes or having a family member who experiences baldness. The researchers found that baldness is linked to male sexual hormones called androgens.
Each hair strand has a growth cycle. When baldness starts, this cycle starts to weaken and the hair follicles shrink. As a result, the hair that grows is shorter and finer.
Sooner or later, the growth cycle of each hair strand ends until no more hair grows.
Other health conditions may also cause baldness. Rash, redness, pain, flaky scalp, damaged hair, it also causes hair loss.
Who is at risk of going bald?
Baldness can start when you are a teenager. Even so, this is more common in adults due to increasing age.
Genetic factors also play a big role in this. Men who have close family members who also experience baldness are at a higher risk of experiencing it.
How to prevent baldness in men
Actually there is no special way to prevent baldness if it is caused by genetic factors. However, some of the efforts you can do include:
1. Stay away from stress
One theory is that stress may cause hair loss due to increased production of sex hormones in the body.
That is why, to prevent baldness in men, you need to avoid stress. Try doing things that relax you, such as taking walks and listening to music.
You may also need to take the time to me time for the sake of getting quiet.
2. Minoxidil
Again, your genes play a big role in determining whether you will go bald or not. However, Adam Penstein, MD, chief dermatologist of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System in Lake Success, New York, says your fate isn't necessarily determined by your genes.
Penstein says you can save existing hair and (at least in some cases) regrow lost hair.
Minoxidil can be used as a way to prevent baldness in men. Minoxidil is a drug that is topical or applied directly to the skin, in this case the scalp.
You can buy minoxidil at the pharmacy, because it comes in the form of a foam lotion and is available over the counter. This method is reported to be effective in treating baldness.
Minoxidil was originally tested to treat blood pressure problems, but some people experience additional hair growth as a side effect of using this drug.
You will likely not get the results from using Minoxidil after 3 to 6 months. Treatment must also be done regularly to maintain the results.
3. Finasteride and dutasteride
The next way to deal with baldness in men is by taking pills. The first pill is finasteride. This drug can only be purchased using a doctor's prescription.
Finasteride works by preventing the growth of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that plays a role in shrinking hair follicles on the head. This drug blocks the formation of hormones and slows the baldness associated with DHT.
How to treat baldness in men with other pills, namely by taking dutasteride. This drug has the same role as finasteride and belongs to the 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor class of drugs as well.