What Causes Male Hair Loss
Reviewed by, Kaedoc Medical Team
Hair loss can be complicated and there are many reasons why you may be losing your hair, ranging from genetics to hormones. This articles explores top reasons for hair loss.
Hair loss versus losing hairs
Fact: On any given day, you typically lose about 100 hairs from your head. This doesn’t actually impact the thickness of your locks because, while some hairs shed, others are simultaneously growing in their place.
The real issue — hair loss — occurs when this regrowth and replacement cycle is disrupted or when hair follicles are destroyed.
Common hair loss causes
So, what causes this disruption and destruction? Well, hair loss is most often the result of hereditary or genetic conditions, but hormonal changes, medical complications, and medications can also play a role.
1. Genetics
Let’s start with the big one: hereditary hair loss. Genetics are the biggest factor in how susceptible you are to androgenetic alopecia (also known as male pattern baldness), which is the most common form of hair loss.
2. Hormones
Male hormones also have a hand in hair growth — or lack thereof. For instance, abnormal levels of androgens (hormones that primarily influence the development of the male reproductive system) can contribute to hair loss.
3. Medical conditions
Medical conditions, including — but not limited to — anemia, diabetes, eating disorders, iron deficiency, lupus, and thyroid problems can cause hair loss. But the good news is that the hair usually returns once the underlying condition has been treated.
4. Diet
Diet can affect hair health, as well. For instance, if you don’t eat a lot of iron-rich foods, you may not be getting enough ferritin, a protein which plays a critical role in iron storage and has been shown to impact your body’s ability to produce hair. Meanwhile, weight loss and weight gain can also lead to temporary hair loss.
5. Medications
Certain medications or medical treatments come with side effects that disrupt the normal cycle of hair growth, leading to two types of hair loss: telogen effluvium and anagen effluvium. Telogen effluvium, which is the more common of the two, causes the hair follicles to go into their resting (telogen) phase and fall out prematurely.
Drugs that can cause telogen effluvium include blood thinners, beta-adrenergic blockers to control blood pressure, and birth control pills. Anagen effluvium, which affects cancer patients who are taking chemotherapy drugs, takes place during the hairs’ anagen phase (a.k.a., active growth phase ), and inhibits the matrix cells, which produce new hairs, from doing their job.
6. Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune disease can cause alopecia areata, a condition that causes hair to fall out in round patches.
7. Infections and skin conditions
Infections and skin conditions can also do a number on the scalp, leading to hair loss. If ringworm (a fungal infection) develops on the scalp, it can cause patches of hair loss called “tinea capitis.”
If it’s severe enough, folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles) can permanently destroy hair follicles and leave small bald patches in its wake. Piedra (a hair disease caused by fungus) deposits hard nodules on hair fibers, weakening them and making them susceptible to breakage.
8. Injuries and burns
Injuries and burns are yet another hair loss culprit. This is usually temporary, and once the wound has healed, normal hair growth will resume. However, scars and hair don’t play: If a scar is produced, hair will usually never regrow there.
9. Hair care
Hair care can contribute to hair loss too, even though it seems counterintuitive. In fact, it’s a common enough issue that it’s another type of alopecia: traction alopecia.
Certain hairstyles, such as very tight braids and hair extensions, can cause tension that eventually leads to hair breakage
10. Stress
Stress, too, can impact the health of your hair. It’s not uncommon for people to experience a (temporary) thinning of hair for several months after undergoing a significant emotional or physical shock.