It begins with Geheimratsecken, the forehead becomes higher, the hair at the back of the head thinner and thinner. Every second man suffers from more or less severe hair loss (alopecia). In addition to a vast range of promising but mostly ineffective remedies, there are now also therapeutic approaches that promise success. What causes can hair loss in men have and what to do when the hair falls out?
Hair loss in the cycle of hair growth
A hair is not a lifelong companion, but only belongs to the hairstyle for about two to six years. During this time it is constantly growing (1st phase), it grows visibly. And suddenly: stop (2nd phase). After this strenuous growth phase, the hair allows itself two to four months of rest and then falls out (3rd phase). In this natural way, you lose 80 to 100 hairs a day. A new hair is formed in the same hair root and pushes through the scalp. But what if this natural hair cycle is disturbed and the hair becomes thinner and less? This can manifest itself in various forms:
- As hereditary hair loss
- As diffuse hair loss
- As circular hair loss
Hereditary hair loss
If the hair thins, especially on the forehead or crown, it is a matter of predisposition; the tendency to hair loss parents have practically laid in the cradle of those affected. The male sex hormones (androgens) play a decisive role in male hair loss. It is now known that hereditary hair loss is caused by an inherited sensitivity of the hair roots in certain areas of the scalp to a degradation product of testosterone (dihydrotestosterone). Modern therapeutic approaches are based on this, for example the active ingredient alfatradiol, which inhibits the breakdown of testosterone on the scalp. In hereditary hair loss, the hair bulb reacts like a mimosa to the body’s own hormones that control hair growth. In the hair roots of the affected areas, there are particularly many receptors for dihydrotestosterone (which damages hair growth). In addition, the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone is particularly active here. Both factors cause the hair to become shorter and thinner. Eventually, only very fine and short hairs grow. This type of hair loss is called hereditary hair loss, also called hormonal hair loss or alopecia androgenetica. Typical in men is the receding hairline with the receding hairline.
Diffuse hair loss
Is the hair loss distributed over the entire scalp and not specifically localized? Then medicine speaks of diffuse hair loss or alopecia diffusa. The hair bulb is intact, but it is not sufficiently supplied with nutrients such as amino acids (for example, cystine) and vitamins of the B group via the bloodstream. This has consequences: The hair bulb eventually stops working. The lifespan of the hair is shortened and it falls out prematurely. Increased hair loss is the result. This requires treatment if more than 100 hairs regularly fall out every day. There are over-the-counter medicines against diffuse hair loss in the pharmacy, which supply the hair root with sulfur-containing amino acids and B vitamins.
Circular hair loss
Another form of hair loss is circular hair loss, also called alopecia areata. This particular form of hair loss is characterized by circumscribed, sharply defined bald patches of varying sizes. Alopecia areata is an inflammatory, usually reversible hair loss. The cause is unknown. It is likely that immunological processes (affecting the body’s defense mechanism) play a role in the development of the disease. Hereditary factors also seem to be important, since in about 25 percent of cases the disease runs in families. The therapy of circular hair loss absolutely belongs in the hands of a doctor. When choosing a doctor, make sure that he or she has experience in treating alopecia areata.
Numbers around hair
- Number of hairs on the head: circa 100,000
- Monthly hair growth: 1 centimeter
- Total daily hair production: 30 meters
- Life span of the hair: two to six years
- Hair falling out daily: 80 to 100
Did you know that:
- Men’s hair grows faster than women’s hair
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hair grows faster in warm weather
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Hair grows more slowly with age
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cutting or shaving does not affect hair growth
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men’s hair is denser than women’s hair
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the hair color and the number of hairs decrease with age