The pattern of hair loss in women differs from male pattern baldness. In women, the hair becomes thinner all over the head, and the hairline does not recede. Androgenetic alopecia in women rarely leads to total baldness.

Androgenetic alopecia in men has been associated with several other medical conditions including coronary heart disease and enlargement of the prostate, a walnut-sized gland in males that is located below the bladder. Additionally, prostate cancer, disorders of insulin resistance (such as diabetes and obesity), and high blood pressure (hypertension) have been related to androgenetic alopecia. In women, androgenetic alopecia is associated with an increased risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is characterized by a hormonal imbalance that can lead to irregular menstruation, acne, excess body hair (hirsutism), and weight gain.

How common is androgenetic alopecia?

Although androgenetic alopecia is a frequent cause of hair loss in both men and women, it is much more common in men. This form of hair loss affects an estimated 35 million men in the United States alone.

Androgenetic alopecia can start as early as a person’s teens and risk increases with age; more than 50 percent of men over age 50 have some degree of hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia is often hereditary. In other words, if losing ones hair is a family trait, it is highly likely that those further down the family tree will also be affected.

Can Androgenetic alopecia be treated?

Yes. For more information, please see our Alopecia Treatment page, our case studies and our gallery.

The treated area on Lesio’s hairline shown below was still quite red when the photograph was taken, as his treatment had just been completed.

The effects of baldness

Even if an underlying medical condition exists that is causing hair loss, baldness itself does not cause any physical damage or discomfort. The emotional and psychological effects of hair loss can however, have a significant impact on a persons self-esteem, and therefore, their quality of life.

At HIS Hair Clinics, we are often asked to provide hair loss advice, for those suffering from genetic hair loss, as well as various forms of alopecia and other conditions. What is apparent, is that losing ones hair creates a variety of feelings and insecurities including lack of self-worth, poor self-image, even to the point of believing oneself to be unattractive, and a general sense of feeling old and passed their prime.

Perhaps most significant, is the effect these feelings can have, on the day to day lifestyle of the individual. We have met clients who stopped socialising, deliberately avoiding going out with friends, family and colleagues. Several clients who had previously been happily married, have reported marital problems, often due to a lack of sex drive, a manifestation of their poor self-image. Many single guys struggle to meet eligible partners, due to a general avoidance of social situations, and a lack of confidence.

Baldness is not a life sentence

For those suffering from thinning hair, it is important to remember that baldness does not have to rule your life. Believe it or not, a lack of hair does not carry the same social stigma that it used to. Many women actually find bald men more attractive! Just look at celebrities like Vin Diesel, Jason Statham and Bruce Willis. Even under the critical spotlight of the world’s media, these men are not perceived to be any less attractive as a result of their baldness.

Solutions ARE available

In years gone by, the only viable solutions for hair loss were a hair transplant, hair systems or the constant wearing of a hat. Nowadays, the range of solutions is endless.

Short term solutions such as temporary concealers are now available, alongside a range of ongoing hair treatment options such as the HairMax Lasercomb, topical lotions including Rogaine and Nanogen Nanogaine, pills such as Propecia and Procerin, as well as a range of vitamins for hair loss such as Advecia.

Of course, permanent solutions are also an option. These include hair transplant surgery and our very own MHT^® technique.

Losing ones hair is usually a natural process, largely dictated by your genes and to a lesser extent, your lifestyle. In fact for many people with a family history of baldness, combined with a stressful or unhealthy lifestyle, losing your hair can be almost an inevitability. Sudden hair loss on the other hand, usually occurs for another reason. Here we examine the main reasons why your hair may fall out quite suddenly.

Your body goes through cycles of hair replacement on your scalp. There is a resting period of 2-3 months, then the hair falls out and a new hair grows in its place. It’s normal to have hair loss daily but excessive sudden hair loss should be investigated, as there is most likely an underlying cause.

Sudden hair loss caused by alopecia

The most common cause of sudden hair loss is one of many forms of alopecia. Alopecia is defined as a hair loss disease that affects men, women and children. The onset of hair loss is often sudden, random and frequently recurrent. While the disease itself is not damaging to the person’s health, coping with alopecia can prove challenging. Androgenetic Alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness, is responsible for naturally occuring hair loss as a person ages. There are however, other strains of alopecia that manifest themselves in a far more aggressive manner.

For example, Alopecia Areata causes baldness in soft, round patches on the scalp or elsewhere on the body. Alopecia Areata sufferers may go onto remission briefly, permanently, or never recover. Unfortunately like other forms of alopecia, the condition is wholly unpredictable. In addition, Alopecia Totalis, currently believed to be an autoimmune disorder, can result in the entire loss of head hair, and can occur quite suddenly. Alopecia Universalis furthermore, usually results in an entire loss of all body hair, including the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes. Regrowth of hair is always a possibility, even for those with 100% hair loss suffered over many years, however it is not possible to predict when regrowth will occur. See our alopecia treatment page for more information.

Another cause of sudden hair loss is wearing your hair in too tight of buns, braids, or ponytails. Referred to traction alopecia, this causes the roots to become weakened and scarred, permanently damaging the hair system. It may also cause your hair to grow in a direction contrary to its normal growth structure.

Thyroid disease

Less common than alopecia, but still prevalent in many people, is thyroid hair loss. Thyroid disease, overactive or under-active, often accounts for sudden hair loss, which is readily treatable. A pregnant woman may experience hair loss because of the loss of hormones after delivery. As soon as her hormone levels rise over time, her hair will stop falling out. The condition is also common in men, caused by hormone imbalances.

Medical intervention

Medications such as blood thinners and birth control pills can cause sudden hair loss. Hair may even fall out after a long illness however this effect is usually temporary. Possibly the most well documented cause of sudden hair loss in patients, is as a result of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy.

Lifestyle factors

A poor diet or lack of exercise, combined with high levels of stress or lack of sleep, can cause the body to age prematurely. All manner of symptoms may arise from such a lifestyle, including poor skin and nail condition, and also hair loss in some cases. It is however, rather uncommon for lifestyle choices to cause rapid hair loss, although it is not unheard of.

What can you do to avoid sudden hair loss?

It’s important to see a doctor for any sudden loss of hair. The underlying reasons, caught in due time, can be controlled by medication or lifestyle changes. Beware of hair loss products that claim to replace hair immediately or seem to be wonder drugs. A professional medical doctor should be consulted on any medication in order to avoid complications if you are taking any other drugs. There are also certain vitamins for hair loss which may provide some benefits.

In many cases, avoiding the problem simply isn’t an option. If you are suffering from a condition such as alopecia, or are bound to certain medications, you may not have much choice. The MHT^® Micro Hair Technique however, can offer for many people, the ideal solution. Developed to simulate the appearance of real hair, the MHT^® technique is fast gaining global acclaim as the most innovative hair loss solution available.

If you would like further information, or require impartial hair loss advice, please contact us. Alternatively, our forum community is extremely supportive and may be able to provide you with additional information regarding their own experiences. You can find our forum here.

Whenever your body requires extra energy, or when energy levels are deficient, the hair cells are shut down automatically to redirect the energy elsewhere. Such a deficiency could be related to poor diet or lifestyle, however there may be an underlying health problem that is responsible.

There are three main types of hair loss. The most common in men is male pattern baldness, although female pattern baldness can cause hair loss in women. Various forms of alopecia may also be responsible, and of course, there is thyroid hair loss. It is worth mentioning that as a man losing his hair, you are most likely suffering from male pattern baldness, a perfectly normal and natural condition. Only a doctor will be able to determine for sure however, therefore it is worth checking to establish whether alopecia or thyroid hair loss may be responsible.

A doctor has at their disposal, a range of drugs to treat loss of hair caused by a thyroid problem. Furthermore, alternative therapies such as evening primrose oil are found to be quite useful in correcting thyroid hair loss, in at least a proportion of cases. Aromatherapy is also found to be effective. Essential oils of thyme, cedar wood oil, lavender, and rosemary mixed altogether and applied on the hair can help. Ayurveda medicines such as bhingaraj oil or brahmi oil have also been used, although we cannot confirm their effectiveness. Both oils should be applied to the scalp without disruption for at least 3 months. In addition, the ayurvedic herbs amla and ashwagandha will also help stimulating hair growth.

Finally, more direct action may be appropriate. As well as our MHT^® scalp pigmentation techniques, alternatives such as hair transplant surgery may be suitable for some people. For more specific advice, please feel free to contact us.

Apart from anti-androgen medication, there are also a number of vitamins for hair loss available, that contain natural substances for blocking this transformation to DHT. These are also effective in treating hair loss. These supplements contain all-natural herbal, vitamin and mineral DHT inhibitors as active ingredients. They generally contain no harsh chemicals and also do not cause any side effects that hair loss medication causes.

Why is healthy food important for your hair?

Nutrition plays a major role in the health of your hair. A balanced diet that contains natural vitamin supplements, proteins and mineral supplements can help in the healthy growth of hair follicles. If nutrition is insufficient, the hair follicles will shed. Natural health supplements can help your scalp get what it needs for creating beautiful, full-bodied hair and also help them to sustain productivity as you age.

Proper care and food are essential for healthy hair. For proper hair care treatment, a suitable diet, regular exercise and herbal treatments can all play a part.

The role of vegetables

Food rich in silica and iron can help prevent hair loss and support growth of healthy hair, especially leafy vegetables that are rich in iron. Eating vegetables daily helps towards smooth and shiny hair, that is likely to outlast the head hair of a person with an unhealthy lifestyle.

For effective hair loss prevention, make sure your diet contains plenty of beetroot, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, carrots, mint, radish and basil. If you combine herbs and vegetables on a regular basis, your hair will benefit in the long term.

Spices and fruits also help

Some spices such as turmeric and cumin are very helpful for healthy hair growth. Fruits act as essential nutrient providers, so make them part of your daily diet. Berries, melon, citrus fruits, grapes and raisins are also rich in nutrients, essential for hair loss prevention. Coconut is also said to help in avoiding premature graying and shedding of hair.

Avoid unhealthy habits

Habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol regularly, as well as carbonated drinks and caffeine, have an overall detrimental effect on your health, as well as the health of your hair. Avoid constant brushing and combing of your hair. Instead, treat it with respect by towel drying gently, and avoiding excessive use of strong heat or hair styling products. Finally, avoid tight hairstyles, as this can lead to traction alopecia.

It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss, therefore it is understandable that many people wish to understand the various hair loss causes, and why specifically, it is affecting them in particular.

What causes excessive hair loss?

There are a number of excessive hair loss causes, however the most common cause unfortunately, is genetics. Hair loss often skips generations, so it is not necessarily the fault of your immediate parents. For most men with a family history of hair loss, there is little that can be done to absolutely ‘cure’ the loss of your hair.

There are however, other hair loss causes that may be applicable, depending on your circumstances:

About 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is related to the stress of the illness and is temporary.

Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. This hair loss usually can be helped by treatment thyroid disease. Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance. Correcting the hormone imbalance may stop your hair loss.

Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they’ve had a baby. This loss is also related to hormones. During pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels, that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts again.

Some medicines can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss improves when you stop taking the medicine. Medicines that can cause hair loss include blood thinners (also called anticoagulants), medicines used for gout, high blood pressure or heart problems, vitamin A (if too much is taken), birth control pills and antidepressants.

Certain infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children. The infection is easily treated with antifungal medicines.

Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to find the cause so that it can be treated.

Can certain hairstyles or treatments cause hair loss?

Yes. Men or women sporting tight hairstyles that pull on your hair, can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia. If the pulling is stopped before scarring of the scalp develops, your hair will grow back normally. However, scarring can cause permanent hair loss. Hot oil hair treatments or chemicals used in permanents (also called “perms”) may cause inflammation (swelling) of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and hair loss.

What is common baldness?

“Common baldness” is usually a reference to male pattern baldness, also called androgenetic alopecia. Male-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Men who have this type of hair loss usually have inherited the trait. Men who start losing their hair at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness. In male pattern baldness, hair loss typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head.

Women may develop female pattern baldness. In this form of hair loss, the hair can become thin over the entire scalp.

Can my doctor do something to stop hair loss?

Perhaps. Your doctor will probably ask you some questions about your diet, any medicines you’re taking, whether you’ve had a recent illness and how you take care of your hair. If you’re a woman, your doctor may ask questions about your menstrual cycle, pregnancies and menopause. Your doctor may want to do a physical exam to look for other causes of hair loss. Finally, blood tests or a biopsy (taking a small sample of cells to examine under a microscope) of your scalp may be needed.

Is there any treatment for hair loss?

Depending on which of the above hair loss causes is affecting you, treatments may be available. If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Recognising and treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss.

Medicines may also help slow or prevent the development of male pattern baldness. One medicine called Minoxidil (branded as Rogaine), is available without a prescription. It is applied to the scalp, and both men and women can use it. Another medicine, Finasteride (branded as Propecia), is available with a prescription. It comes in pills and is only for men. It may take up to 6 months before you can tell if one of these medicines is working. Procerin is another medication available.

Drugs such as Rogaine, Propecia or Procerin may help to reduce hair loss, however their effectiveness is an issue of much debate. What is certain however, is that such drugs do not work for everyone.

What about MHT^®?

MHT^®, or Micro Hair Technique, offered by HIS Hair Clinics is not a cure for hair loss, and will not therefore, enable your hair to grow back. It does, however, provide a very effective camouflage for hair loss, that unlike wigs or temporary concealers, offers a permanent solution for hair loss sufferers.

For more information, see our before and after photos, contact our existing clients in our hair loss forum, or contact us directly to ask any questions you may have.

So, is there anything we can do to speed up the hair growth process? Many people will be disappointed to hear that the answer is probably “no”. Research suggests that the speed at which a person’s hair grows depends on genetics, and that none of the lotions and potions on the market will speed it up.

Hair Growth Advice

For a healthy person, without any specific problems, the hair follicle growth pattern is determined genetically. So, if you’re longing for long hair, the best thing to do is to use a conditioner and just have the ends trimmed regularly. It may take a while longer than you’d like, but it’s far better to wait for healthy long locks than to have it straggling in rat’s tails.

Relax and eat a healthy diet.  Although there are no magic solutions, experts and hair care professionals do think that certain factors affect the way hair grows. Anxiety, poor nutrition and stress all have a negative effect. So stop worrying about how long it’s taking, eat well and indulge yourself with a course of massages to improve circulation.

Not only does the speed of hair growth depend on our genes, but it tends to slow as we get older. Past a certain age, our hair will never be as strong as it was when we were in our teens. Women suffering hair loss have traditionally had vitamins recommended. Everyone’s needs are different, and if you have specific problems you should seek professional advice, but vitamin B, iron, zinc and magnesium are all essential for healthy hair. See our post for advice about vitamins for hair loss.

Shortages of iron or vitamins, hormonal imbalance, including thyroid problems, and the use of certain medicines can have a negative effect on hair growth. 
 Many specialists agree that your hair will grow better if you follow a balanced diet. Healthy eating is good for our bodies, and it’s good for our hair, too. That means plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, so if your mother told you to eat your greens to make your hair shine, she may have been right!

Although diet can only play a limited role, eating well and avoiding stress should let you show off a healthy head of hair for a little longer. For those suffering from hair loss, it is generally agreed that a healthy lifestyle can prolong the life of your hair, and boost your confidence.