That may be the question that you are asking yourself: Why am I losing hair? Well, don’t worry, there is a well-known biological reason for it, and 34,999,999 other men in the United States experience it too (assuming you live in the United States).
Very rarely (relatively speaking), the cause of hair loss in men could be something abnormal, such as stress, nutritional deficiencies, or some other problem. If you notice your hair falling out rapidly, you need to make an appointment with your doctor. More likely, however, your hairline recession is due to a common process known as androgenetic apolecia, or “male pattern baldness,” which over 85% of men experience. This accounts for more than 95% of men who experience hair loss, so your hair loss is most likely due to this natural process, rather than some disease or abnormal situation.
This type of hair loss (characterized by a receding hairline, losing hair at the crown, and sometimes losing all hair on the top of the head) is due to an enzyme called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a byproduct of testosterone. The genetics of some men causes their body to produce a substance known as 5-alpha-reductase when they reach a certain age. This enzyme reacts with the testosterone in the man’s body, producing a new substance known as dihydrotestosterone. This substance binds to hair follicles and weakens them before they are able to complete their growth phase. Eventually, this causes hair follicles to fall out and balding to occur.
That’s right. The culprit for male pattern hair loss is a single chemical known as DHT. The good news is that some of a man’s hair is permanently resistant to these effects. The hair on the back and sides of your head will most likely remain intact for the rest of your life, even if you experience hair loss. That is why even men who experience the most hair loss still have a “wreath” of hair around their head.
It is important to know that DHT is the root cause of hair loss in men, because it means that the solution to hair loss is very simple (theoretically speaking): find a way to either stop the production of DHT or offset the effects of DHT. If DHT stops being produced, it will stop attacking your hair follicles, and your hair will be able to grow normally. Thus, it is very important to realize that:
Any product that does not directly block DHT is probably useless in stopping hair loss. (The exception to this would be products that enhance hair growth enough to offset the weakening effects of DHT.)
Therefore, any shampoo, supplement, drug, vitamin, food, etc. that does not block DHT will have no effect whatsoever on the root cause of your hair loss (unless it stimulates hair growth and offsets the effects of DHT). This is important to keep in mind when you are buying products to address your hair loss, so that you do not waste money.
Are there any special foods, nutrients, or exercises that will significantly reduce DHT, the culprit of hair loss in men? That doesn’t appear to be the case. This means that even if you eat healthy and exercise often, you could still experience hair loss. You should not trust every claim out there about a certain product or procedure that supposedly will give you hair back or stop balding; it is important to make sure the product being offered has scientific research to back it up.
What types of products have been scientifically demonstrated to block DHT, the cause of hair loss? Surprisingly to some perhaps, Rogaine (or generic minoxidil) is not one of them. Instead, Rogaine works to stimulate hair growth, theoretically counteracting the weakening effect by DHT. Even though Rogaine does not block DHT, studies have shown that it can be effective in increasing hair growth in a mild way. It is worth trying, but because it does not block the source of the hair loss, you may need to supplement it with something else if you have a receding hairline.
The only FDA-approved drug that actually blocks DHT is finasteride, often sold as Propecia or Proscar. Finasteride is available as pills and is definitely effective in slowing/preventing hair loss and promoting hair growth, precisely because it blocks the main cause of hair loss (DHT). The only issue to be aware of is that finasteride can have some internal side effects, because it is taken in pill form. It has been known to cause erectile dysfunction and/or libido loss in some men who take it. It is important to know the risks so that you can make an informed decision as to whether or not you want to try something like this.
The important thing is that once you know what the actual cause of your hair thinning is, you can focus on solutions that address the root of the cause if you want to maintain the hair that you currently have.
To examine your particular hair loss situation and how to address it, click on the following link:
Maintaining Hair For Men 