• 40% of men will have noticeable hair loss by age 35, 65% of men by age 60, and 80% of men by age 80.
• 75% of British men believe hair loss cannot be prevented.
• British men are the most likely in Europe to worry about balding however they are the least likeliest to do anything about it.
• Normal hair loss is considered to be 100 hairs shed per day, based on the average scalp containing 100,000 hair follicles.
• 87% of British men don’t know that there are scientifically proven and medically approved hair loss treatments.
• And the most surprising statistics, roughly a third (30%) of hair loss sufferers would give up sex if they could get their hair back.

Here at City Man we understand the personal anguish that hair loss can bring, and the difficult journey that you might have to face to try and find a solution. One of the founding members of City Man suffered with hair loss and discovered first hand what a mine field hair loss treatments can be.

If you’re losing your hair, it can be a very sensitive subject. And at times, it might feel that you’re the only one, surrounded by friends sporting a full head of hair.

However, no matter how you might feel, hair loss is a common problem in the UK. More than 1 in 3 people are affected, the majority of which are men.

The good news is that there have been huge strides in developments and there are now successful treatments available for hair loss of all types.

Understanding The Cause Of Hair Loss

When people refer to hair loss, they often don’t appreciate that it’s not a one size fits all problem. Hair loss can occur for many different reasons and in some cases it’s necessary to address the underlying issue to get a good result.

Not all types of hair loss are permanent and identifying the cause may be sufficient to reverse the trend and restore proper growth. However this isn’t the case for everyone, and in some cases hair transplants are necessary to regain the hair that’s been lost.

“We have seen over 10,000 cases of hair loss, even though we see a pattern, every case is treated as an individual. One person to another does not have the same skin type, lifestyle, expectations, medical background, personal circumstances or time, we look at everyone holistically and then make a treatment plan that works”

– Warren – Landmark Hair Loss Clinic

There are a wide range of potential causes; below is a quick run through of the most common

Landmark Hair Loss Clinic Client – Scott

Normal shedding

If you notice that your hair sheds when you wash or brush it, you may be concerned that you’re experiencing hair loss even if there’s no noticeable thinning visible.

The typical person sheds approximately 100 hairs every day, and 80% of our hair will fall out simply through routine brushing and washing. Therefore if you notice some hair loss it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s cause for alarm.

The vast majority of people will grow more hairs than those that fall out so you’ll never notice any thinning or bald spots. If your hair looks the same as usual, and the amount of hair loss isn’t excessive or increasing, there’s no need to worry.

Male pattern baldness

This is the typical type of hair loss that’s seen in men, and has a genetic component. Whether you suffer from male pattern baldness or not is a lottery, and simply down to whether you inherited the gene or not.

The exact cause hasn’t yet been pinned down precisely but it’s believed to be caused by an over-sensitivity in the hair follicles which react to a byproduct of testosterone.

Around half of all men in the UK will suffer from male pattern baldness by the time they reach 50 years of age, but it typically starts much younger. Men with the gene will normally start to notice thinning and receding hairlines while they’re in their 20s and 30s.

This is the most common type of hair loss and it usually follows a specific pattern. The first area to be affected is the hairline which begins to recede; this is followed by thinning at the temples and the crown. The degree of hair loss varies from one individual to another but in some, it leads to complete baldness.

The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery say that 40% of men will have noticeable hair loss by the age of 35, not an insignificant number.

Alopecia Areata

Most commonly seen in individuals aged 15-29, Alopecia Areata can affect both genders and causes small clumps of baldness, usually the size of a coin.

This hair loss can happen at any time but is typically temporary, with the hair growing back within a few months. Frequently the first hair to grow back is fine and downy and may be white in appearance. This is then replaced with normal hair.

In some individuals Alopecia Areata can go on to develop into Alopecia Totalis which means that there is no hair left on the scalp. Another severe variant is Alopecia Universalis where there is no hair on either the body or the scalp.

Vitamin Deficiencies

You may have heard that certain vitamins are good for your skin and hair but did you know that a deficiency can cause hair loss?

A diet that’s low in vitamins B12 and D, as well as iron, can trigger hair loss by prematurely triggering shedding. As well as a poor diet, surgery, illness, and over-exercising can all cause a vitamin deficiency that affects the hair.

Illness

Aside from harsh treatments such as chemotherapy which can cause hair loss, there are a number of illnesses which can also result in the loss of locks. Ringworm, psoriasis, and eczema are the most common of these.

Despite what the name sounds like, ringworm isn’t a parasite but a fungal infection. It’s contagious and passed on by sharing brushes, sheets and towels with an infected person. The condition typically leads to bald, scaly patches in the hair but a medicated shampoo and oral treatment can provide effective treatment.

Psoriasis can affect any of the skin on the body, causing thickened, scaly lesions. When it occurs on the scalp it can cause hair loss. Treatment is focussed on descaling the skin but steroids are sometimes required to reduce the inflammation.

On its own eczema doesn’t cause hair loss, but this and other associated skin conditions such as dermatitis can cause itchiness. The scratching can lead to damage to the scalp, as well as breakage and loss of hair as a result.

Mistreatment

There are a number of different hair processes that can weaken the follicles and if repeated over a prolonged period can cause the hair to break and split. Some examples include backcombing, hair dye and straightening, and even heavy-handed brushing. The hair loss won’t be permanent but in the short term can cause hair weakness, leaving it liable to split, break or feel lank and thin.

Talk To A Professional

Hair loss is distressing for both men and women, but with such a wide variety of causes there really isn’t a one size fits all approach. Understanding the cause is the most important factor as it may be simple to correct. For those cases that can’t be simply remedied, you’ll find a vast market of different treatments available, including both surgical and non-surgical options.

It’s always good to get professional advice, to save spending money on treatments which aren’t suitable. The very experienced folk over at Landmark are always happy to help so if you want general advice or a full consultation just get in touch. If you’re phone-shy, they’re even happy to chat over WhatsApp.

“Many of our clients now choose to message over WhatsApp, easy to send over pictures, discuss options and in some cases even price up the treatment all over WhatsApp, people are busy, the world is changing so we have to change with it”

– Landmark Hair Loss Clinic

Landmark Hair Loss Clinic Clients

In the meantime, keep an eye out here at City Man as we’ll be featuring plenty of articles on the subject of hair loss in the months coming up.

Want to make a free consultation with Landmark Clinic? Then get in touch, they offer in-clinic consultations, over Skype, Whatsapp, a simple phone call or even a location near you. Furthermore, all those who quote City Man get 10% off all treatments and surgeries

The post The Balding Truth appeared first on City Man Magazine.