Use code MNLY20 to save an extra 20% on your order.
How to prevent hair loss in men?
Hair loss is the most common sign of aging, but it can also be associated with an autoimmune disease that leads to psychological insecurities and aesthetic dissatisfaction.
Hair loss or alopecia, or the loss of hair from the head and other parts of the body, is a common problem in men. Affected men experience bitemporal hair recession and baldness. According to statistics, 50% of middle-aged men are affected by some degree of baldness, while in older age, baldness affects up to 80% of the male population.
It is believed that hair loss in men is caused by numerous factors, the most common being genetic predispositions, aging and hormones. However, you can prevent most of them! In the following, we will describe in detail what are the main causes of hair loss, what are the consequences, and how to prevent them.
The main causes of hair loss in men
The study of the causes of hair loss focuses on two processes:
1. Physiological processes outside the skin: aesthetic problems of hair and hair care
2. Biological processes within the skin in the hair follicle: microscopic, biochemical (hormonal, enzymatic) and molecular changes
Physiological process of hair loss
Hair loss is a completely normal physiological process if we are talking about losing 70 to 100 hairs a day. Namely, in the normal process, hair grows, rests and falls out, and new hair grows in its place. In some conditions, hair falls out more, for example when washing your hair. However, when this loss exceeds the limits of normal, that is, when more than 100 hairs fall out, the hair does not have time to regenerate, and this becomes very visible. In some men, over time, hair stops renewing completely, which leads to baldness.
The biological process of hair loss
The body possesses endogenous defense mechanisms, such as antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic antioxidant molecules (vitamin E, vitamin C, glutathione, ubiquinone), protecting it from free radicals by reducing and neutralizing them. With age, the production of free radicals increases, while endogenous defense mechanisms decrease. This imbalance leads to progressive damage to cellular structures, probably resulting in the aging phenotype. Hair aging is manifested by a decrease in melanocyte function or graying and a decrease in hair production or alopecia.
Is alopecia a disease?
Alopecia comes in many forms and is often considered an autoimmune disease, especially when it causes reversible hair loss or hair loss in a limited area. Such limited areas can occur anywhere on the body, but the most commonly affected areas are the scalp and beard. Extreme forms of alopecia are alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis. Alopecia totalis causes complete hair loss from the scalp, while alopecia universalis causes the loss of all body hair.
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form and is primarily a consequence of hereditary, androgenic and age-related processes that result in a progressive decrease in the visible density of hair on the scalp in men. Androgenetic alopecia affects at least 50% of men under the age of 50, and about 80% of men in later life. In women, the percentage is somewhat lower, affecting 16% of women under the age of 50 and about 30% of women over the age of 50.
Age and hair loss
Although alopecia can manifest as early as the age of 16 (before the age of 16, it is by definition called premature alopecia), baldness has traditionally been considered an attribute of aging at all times and in all cultures.
Aging is a complex process involving various genetic, hormonal and environmental mechanisms. Like the rest of the skin, the scalp and hair are subject to intrinsic or chronological aging, and extrinsic aging due to environmental factors.
1. Internal (intrinsic) factors are related to individual genetic and epigenetic mechanisms with interindividual variation. Examples are genetic predispositions in families and androgenetic alopecia (AGA).
2. External factors include ultraviolet radiation (UVR), smoking, and diet.
External and internal factors are interconnected and influence each other. However, recent research has focused specifically on oxidative stress - an intrinsic factor that plays a major role in the hair aging process. Experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that reactive oxygen species, or free radicals, are highly reactive molecules that can directly damage cellular structural membranes, lipids, proteins, and DNA.
In addition to being one of the leading causes of death in the general population, smoking is also associated with adverse effects on the skin and hair. The mechanisms by which smoking causes hair loss are multiple, and are primarily related to the adverse effects of tobacco smoke on the hair microvasculature, causing imbalances and damage that lead to changes in the DNA of the hair follicle.
How to prevent and stop hair loss?
Hair loss in men is easier to prevent than to treat. The best way to start is to eat a healthy diet and take care of your body. Here are some tips that you can apply in your daily life.
1. Increased mineral intake. Magnesium, zinc, and calcium are essential for the health, strength, and development of hair and bones.
2. Take vitamins. Vitamins are essential for our health, but when it comes to hair, take care of antioxidants and vitamins A, C and E.
3. Scalp massage. The most pleasant way to prevent hair loss is to massage the scalp. While washing your hair or applying an anti-hair loss tonic , massage your scalp with your fingertips in circular motions. This stimulates circulation, increases blood supply to the hair roots, and strengthens the roots themselves.
4. Avoid bathing in hot water. Do not wash your hair with hot water as this weakens the hair roots.
5. Take care of your digestion. Healthy digestion and liver function are closely linked to hair health.
6. Healthy diet. Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B6, B12, folic acid and adequate protein are responsible for healthy hair. You can find omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish such as tuna and sardines and in nuts. The best sources of vitamin B6 are bananas, and folic acid can be found in fresh fruits and vegetables. Of course, you can find protein and vitamin B12 in meat and dairy products and in eggs.
How to prevent hair loss in men?
Hair loss is the most common sign of aging, but it can also be associated with an autoimmune disease that leads to psychological insecurities and aesthetic dissatisfaction.
Hair loss or alopecia, or the loss of hair from the head and other parts of the body, is a common problem in men. Affected men experience bitemporal hair recession and baldness. According to statistics, 50% of middle-aged men are affected by some degree of baldness, while in older age, baldness affects up to 80% of the male population.
via GIPHY
It is believed that hair loss in men is caused by numerous factors, the most common being genetic predispositions, aging and hormones. However, you can prevent most of them! In the following, we will describe in detail what are the main causes of hair loss, what are the consequences, and how to prevent them.
The main causes of hair loss in men
The study of the causes of hair loss focuses on two processes:
1. Physiological processes outside the skin: aesthetic problems of hair and hair care
2. Biological processes within the skin in the hair follicle: microscopic, biochemical (hormonal, enzymatic) and molecular changes
Physiological process of hair loss
Hair loss is a completely normal physiological process if we are talking about losing 70 to 100 hairs a day. Namely, in the normal process, hair grows, rests and falls out, and new hair grows in its place. In some conditions, hair falls out more, for example when washing your hair. However, when this loss exceeds the limits of normal, that is, when more than 100 hairs fall out, the hair does not have time to regenerate, and this becomes very visible. In some men, over time, hair stops renewing completely, which leads to baldness.
The biological process of hair loss
The body possesses endogenous defense mechanisms, such as antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic antioxidant molecules (vitamin E, vitamin C, glutathione, ubiquinone), protecting it from free radicals by reducing and neutralizing them. With age, the production of free radicals increases, while endogenous defense mechanisms decrease. This imbalance leads to progressive damage to cellular structures, probably resulting in the aging phenotype. Hair aging is manifested by a decrease in melanocyte function or graying and a decrease in hair production or alopecia.
Is alopecia a disease?
Alopecia comes in many forms and is often considered an autoimmune disease, especially when it causes reversible hair loss or hair loss in a limited area. Such limited areas can occur anywhere on the body, but the most commonly affected areas are the scalp and beard. Extreme forms of alopecia are alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis. Alopecia totalis causes complete hair loss from the scalp, while alopecia universalis causes the loss of all body hair.
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form and is primarily a consequence of hereditary, androgenic and age-related processes that result in a progressive decrease in the visible density of hair on the scalp in men. Androgenetic alopecia affects at least 50% of men under the age of 50, and about 80% of men in later life. In women, the percentage is somewhat lower, affecting 16% of women under the age of 50 and about 30% of women over the age of 50.
Age and hair loss
Although alopecia can manifest as early as the age of 16 (before the age of 16, it is by definition called premature alopecia), baldness has traditionally been considered an attribute of aging at all times and in all cultures.
Aging is a complex process involving various genetic, hormonal and environmental mechanisms. Like the rest of the skin, the scalp and hair are subject to intrinsic or chronological aging, and extrinsic aging due to environmental factors.
1. Internal (intrinsic) factors are related to individual genetic and epigenetic mechanisms with interindividual variation. Examples are genetic predispositions in families and androgenetic alopecia (AGA).
2. External factors include ultraviolet radiation (UVR), smoking, and diet.
External and internal factors are interconnected and influence each other. However, recent research has focused specifically on oxidative stress - an intrinsic factor that plays a major role in the hair aging process. Experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that reactive oxygen species, or free radicals, are highly reactive molecules that can directly damage cellular structural membranes, lipids, proteins, and DNA.
via GIPHY
Smoking and hair loss
In addition to being one of the leading causes of death in the general population, smoking is also associated with adverse effects on the skin and hair. The mechanisms by which smoking causes hair loss are multiple, and are primarily related to the adverse effects of tobacco smoke on the hair microvasculature, causing imbalances and damage that lead to changes in the DNA of the hair follicle.
How to prevent and stop hair loss?
Hair loss in men is easier to prevent than to treat. The best way to start is to eat a healthy diet and take care of your body. Here are some tips that you can apply in your daily life.
1. Increased mineral intake. Magnesium, zinc, and calcium are essential for the health, strength, and development of hair and bones.
2. Take vitamins. Vitamins are essential for our health, but when it comes to hair, take care of antioxidants and vitamins A, C and E.
3. Scalp massage. The most pleasant way to prevent hair loss is to massage the scalp. While washing your hair or applying an anti-hair loss tonic , massage your scalp with your fingertips in circular motions. This stimulates circulation, increases blood supply to the hair roots, and strengthens the roots themselves.
4. Avoid bathing in hot water. Do not wash your hair with hot water as this weakens the hair roots.
5. Take care of your digestion. Healthy digestion and liver function are closely linked to hair health.
6. Healthy diet. Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B6, B12, folic acid and adequate protein are responsible for healthy hair. You can find omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish such as tuna and sardines and in nuts. The best sources of vitamin B6 are bananas, and folic acid can be found in fresh fruits and vegetables. Of course, you can find protein and vitamin B12 in meat and dairy products and in eggs.