In this blog, you will learn about male pattern baldness and the treatments which will help to regrow your hair.
Hair loss affects men and women regardless of ethnic background. Among men, there is more acceptance of hair loss, with some embracing it and doing their best to make it a fashion statement. You’ll find most men with long hair will gradually adopt a close-shaven style when they start losing their hair. Eventually, without treatment, hair loss becomes permanent, and baldness becomes the new normal.
But what if you could do something about it? What if instead of accepting fate and the cards it has dealt, you seek the help you need to regrow your hair?
What Causes Male Pattern Baldness?
Genetics and family history are the driving cause of male pattern hair loss, and it doesn’t matter what ethnic background or hair type you have. Black or afro hair is generally more fragile in comparison to caucasian hair. A hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the mechanism which causes pattern balding. Sensitivity to DHT is a genetic characteristic which passes down the family line. Known as a ‘balding gene’, both parents may have great hair, but if either is a carrier of the gene, then there is a chance you may develop hair loss due to DHT sensitivity.
Another form of hair loss common in men with afro hair is traction alopecia. Traction alopecia is often a result of hairstyles which pull at the hair’s roots and therefore preventable.
How Does DHT Cause Hair Loss
The enzyme 5-alpha reductase (5-AR) converts testosterone into DHT inside the hair follicle (tiny capsules responsible for creating a single hair). The presence of DHT in the hair follicle affects hair growth in two ways:
- DHT causes the follicles to shrink in size, stopping the production of strong and healthy strands of hair.
- DHT disrupts the hair growth cycle (growth–>transition–>resting) by shortening the growth phase and forcing hair follicles into the resting phase.
The result is slower hair growth and thinner, weaker and brittle hair in the hair strands that manage to grow. If you take no action hair growth ceases, ultimately leading to permanent baldness.
How To Stop DHT And Boost Hair Growth
DHT blockers are compounds which interact with DHT and prevents it from binding to protein receptors in hair follicles. By disrupting the mechanism by which DHT affects hair growth, DHT blockers help maintain the health and efficacy of hair follicles.
The two most popular DHT blockers which are on the approval list of the FDA and MHRA are Finasteride and Minoxidil. Doctors usually recommend using these products in combination. Finasteride is a daily tablet which stops hair thinning while Minoxidil is a topical application which enhances hair growth.
You have to take Finasteride once a day continuously so that it keeps working. If you stop taking it, the effects will wear off within nine months to a year and hair will start thinning again. DHT levels in the scalp reduce by as much as 60% if you take Finasteride according to the doctor’s instruction. This DHT blocker is a prescription-only drug, and so you will need to visit a hair specialist for a diagnosis and prescription.
Other Effective Treatments For Hair Loss
Minoxidil, on the other hand, is available over-the-counter in various strengths. It works by boosting blood flow to the scalp, revitalising hair growth by bringing follicles back to life.
Enriching your diet with foods and nutrients that contribute to healthy hair and scalp will also help with the treatment of hair loss. Ensuring your diet is rich in zinc, selenium and Biotin (vitamin B7 and H) increases the levels of keratin. Keratin is an essential protein found in nails, hair and skin. Foods rich in biotin include eggs, nuts and whole grains.
Body repair and healthy hair are dependent on the minerals zinc and selenium. Oysters, beef, leafy greens, lentils and pumpkin seeds are all sources rich in zinc. Supplementation is also a way to boost the levels of these minerals in your body.
Key Takeaways And Next Steps…
If you’re of African heritage and struggling with hair loss, you don’t have to suffer alone. Gone are the days when you just had to accept that baldness runs in the family. You can do something about it today.
Do you suspect that you male have male pattern baldness running in your family? Do your genes make you susceptible to DHT sensitivity? Using Finasteride to block the effects of DHT will help regrow your hair. Combining finasteride with minoxidil will provide your hair with a healthy medium to grow in. Get in touch with Vinci Hair Clinic today and begin your exciting journey to regaining your hair.
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