Causes of hair loss, preventive measures, and understanding of male pattern baldness treatment

hair loss

Male pattern baldness often begins in the early 20s. Initially, it manifests as excessive scalp oiliness, sometimes accompanied by increased dandruff and itching. Gradually, the hair on the top of the head becomes loose and rootless, easily falling out during combing and washing. New hair grows increasingly thin and slow, leading to sparse hair on the top of the head until complete baldness, resulting in "male pattern baldness." Some men begin hair loss at the temples and hairline, with the hairline receding further, commonly known as a "high forehead." Eventually, only some hair remains on the sides and back of the head.

Causes of hair loss

Male pattern baldness is mainly related to genetic factors, endocrine factors, as well as mental stress, excessive mental exertion, staying up late and insomnia, and irregular diet.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that most patients have a constitution of blood heat and damp heat. This is exacerbated by excessive consumption of spicy, stimulating, fatty, and greasy foods, or by emotional imbalances leading to excessive heart and liver fire. This results in an imbalance of blood heat and damp heat in the body, which rises to the top of the head, eroding the hair roots and causing thin, soft hair that grows slowly and eventually falls out. Prolonged illness depletes yin and blood, leading to insufficient essence and blood in the liver and kidneys, resulting in malnourishment of the hair roots, causing dry, brittle hair that falls out and leads to baldness.

Hair loss prevention

1. A balanced diet

Men at high risk of hair loss should avoid overly oily, sweet, and spicy foods, increase the proportion of grains, vegetables, and fruits in their diet, and eat more foods rich in iron and calcium, such as black beans, black sesame seeds, and eggs. They should also increase their intake of foods that nourish hair, such as milk, lean meat, poultry, and fish. Fast food often contains a lot of fried food, so it should be avoided frequently.

2. Shampoo your hair appropriately.

Washing your hair too frequently or too infrequently is not good. Two to three times a week is ideal, with water temperature around 40 degrees Celsius. Gently massage your scalp while shampooing to cleanse and promote blood circulation. Choose a non-irritating shampoo. After shampooing, let your hair air dry. If using a hairdryer, be careful not to use too high a temperature, as excessive heat can damage hair follicles and the scalp. Regularly combing your hair removes dandruff, adds shine, massages the scalp, promotes blood circulation, and enhances blood supply and nutrition to the hair roots.

3. Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

Ultraviolet rays in sunlight can damage hair, causing it to become dry and yellow. Therefore, it is important to avoid excessive sun exposure in the summer and take precautions when swimming or sunbathing outdoors.

4. Relax your mindset

The increasing prevalence of male pattern baldness among younger men is closely linked to excessive stress and insufficient sleep. High stress levels, chronic tension, anxiety, and fatigue lead to poor sleep quality, which can exacerbate hair loss. Relaxing and improving sleep quality can help improve hair loss. Parents in families with a genetic predisposition to male pattern baldness should learn to help their children manage stress.

5. Reduce hair dyeing and perming.

Frequent dyeing and perming of hair can cause it to lose its shine and elasticity, and even turn yellow and brittle. The interval between dyeing and perming should be at least 3 to 6 months.

6. Don't wear a hat for too long.

Wearing hats and helmets for extended periods can suffocate hair, especially around the hairline where pressure from hats or helmets can loosen pores and cause hair loss. Therefore, it is not advisable to wear hats and helmets for too long.

7. Stay away from tobacco.

Smoking is already recognized as a risk factor for hair loss. Families at high risk of male pattern baldness should take steps to keep their children away from tobacco.

8. Avoid prolonged internet use.

Excessive internet use and gaming are also contributing factors to the younger age of onset of male pattern baldness. Men who spend more time on computers daily are more prone to hair loss. This is related to excessive nervous stress. Prolonged internet gaming keeps the central nervous system in a state of tension, which can cause autonomic nervous system disorders, dysregulation of skin blood vessel contraction, and local vasoconstriction in the scalp, reducing blood supply and leading to malnutrition of hair follicles and ultimately hair loss.

9. Self-scalp massage

Studies have shown that some patients with seborrheic alopecia have microcirculatory disorders, mainly manifested as slow blood flow. After treatment with blood-activating and stasis-removing drugs, microcirculation improves to varying degrees as hair grows back. Self-massage of the scalp can also improve local blood circulation, which is beneficial for slowing down hair loss, promoting hair growth, and relaxing the mind.

The method for self-massage of the scalp is very simple. Use the fingertips of both hands to gently press and knead the scalp, starting from the hairline and moving towards the top of the head and then towards the back of the head, repeating several times. After the massage, you will feel a slight warmth and relaxation in your scalp. You can do this anytime when you are tired from work or while watching TV in the evening.

Can male pattern baldness be cured?

With current medical technology, treatment can improve symptoms such as excessive oil production and dandruff, and control hair loss. However, if you are already bald, or have thinning, short, or fine hair, it is impossible to restore your original appearance, because the hair follicles have already atrophied.

Therefore, young people with a family history of hair loss should pay attention to early treatment. This means seeking timely treatment at a dermatology department as soon as symptoms such as excessive scalp oil, dandruff, itchy scalp, and thinning hair begin to appear. Once these symptoms are relieved with medication, the hair growth phase will stop shortening, the hair follicles will stop shrinking, and the hair will stop thinning and falling out. This achieves the goal of treatment.

Many people believe that hair loss is caused by kidney deficiency, and many hair growth health products also advertise that they have kidney-tonifying effects. However, most kidney-tonifying drugs are warm in nature, and young and middle-aged male hair loss patients are already in a state of blood heat and damp heat. Taking kidney-tonifying and hair growth drugs will not only fail to cure hair loss, but will also worsen their condition.