Member of the Month Oct 2013
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Hey PursuingPerfection,
Personally, I do not find that thinning hair or baldness detracts from a man's attractiveness at all; provided he doesn't attempt the "comb-over" look. Now having said that, I do understand that many men, such as yourself, are uncomfortable with hair loss. So besides the option of taking medications for the rest of your life (Rogaine, Propecia) or investing in the cost of a hair transplant, here are some things that may help...
Determine the cause...
Doctors often diagnose balding by sight alone: If your hair is only on the sides and middle top of your head, the bare areas form the letter M (as in male-pattern baldness). But thinning that spreads across your scalp and not to your crown or temples often indicates an underlying health issue. Hormonal or nutritional deficiencies, such as thyroid problems, low iron, or low protein, can cause shedding. In other words, don’t assume it’s genetic. It is therefore recommended to see a dermatologist as soon as thinning begins so you can have a scalp biopsy to rule out any potential illnesses.
Switch your shampoo...
Dozens of shampoos claim to make your hair look thicker, but only one ingredient has been shown to truly preserve your hair. Ketoconazole, an antifungal used to fight dandruff, may save your hair by reducing production of testosterone (and therefore DHT) in hair follicles, according to scientists at the University of British Columbia. In fact, in a Belgian study, balding men who used a 1 percent ketoconazole shampoo two or three times a week for six months saw a 17 percent reduction in hair shedding. Try Nizoral A-D, the only nonprescription shampoo that contains ketoconazole. Lather up with a quarter-sized dollop two or three times a week; any more could dry out your hair and cause breakage. Use non-irritating baby shampoo in between.
Eat smarter...
Cleaning up your diet. Start by skipping fried foods; this may reduce oil-gland activity, slowing the switch from T to DHT, according to research from India. And watch the desserts: The insulin flood from consuming a lot of sugar can trigger the release of testosterone, making it available for conversion to DHT.
Consider Laser Therapy...
In 1967, a scientist zapped the skin of shaved mice with lasers to see if the light caused cancer. It didn’t spark the big C, but it did trigger the big H: hair. This led to low-level light therapy, an FDA-approved treatment for mild to moderate male-pattern baldness. In a new Korean study, people with hair loss who regularly wore a light-therapy helmet at home noted increases of 22 percent in thickness and 15 percent in hair density after 24 weeks. You can either have a doctor administer the treatments or invest in a LaserCap, a device that fits under a baseball cap.
Personally, I do not find that thinning hair or baldness detracts from a man's attractiveness at all; provided he doesn't attempt the "comb-over" look. Now having said that, I do understand that many men, such as yourself, are uncomfortable with hair loss. So besides the option of taking medications for the rest of your life (Rogaine, Propecia) or investing in the cost of a hair transplant, here are some things that may help...
Determine the cause...
Doctors often diagnose balding by sight alone: If your hair is only on the sides and middle top of your head, the bare areas form the letter M (as in male-pattern baldness). But thinning that spreads across your scalp and not to your crown or temples often indicates an underlying health issue. Hormonal or nutritional deficiencies, such as thyroid problems, low iron, or low protein, can cause shedding. In other words, don’t assume it’s genetic. It is therefore recommended to see a dermatologist as soon as thinning begins so you can have a scalp biopsy to rule out any potential illnesses.
Switch your shampoo...
Dozens of shampoos claim to make your hair look thicker, but only one ingredient has been shown to truly preserve your hair. Ketoconazole, an antifungal used to fight dandruff, may save your hair by reducing production of testosterone (and therefore DHT) in hair follicles, according to scientists at the University of British Columbia. In fact, in a Belgian study, balding men who used a 1 percent ketoconazole shampoo two or three times a week for six months saw a 17 percent reduction in hair shedding. Try Nizoral A-D, the only nonprescription shampoo that contains ketoconazole. Lather up with a quarter-sized dollop two or three times a week; any more could dry out your hair and cause breakage. Use non-irritating baby shampoo in between.
Eat smarter...
Cleaning up your diet. Start by skipping fried foods; this may reduce oil-gland activity, slowing the switch from T to DHT, according to research from India. And watch the desserts: The insulin flood from consuming a lot of sugar can trigger the release of testosterone, making it available for conversion to DHT.
Consider Laser Therapy...
In 1967, a scientist zapped the skin of shaved mice with lasers to see if the light caused cancer. It didn’t spark the big C, but it did trigger the big H: hair. This led to low-level light therapy, an FDA-approved treatment for mild to moderate male-pattern baldness. In a new Korean study, people with hair loss who regularly wore a light-therapy helmet at home noted increases of 22 percent in thickness and 15 percent in hair density after 24 weeks. You can either have a doctor administer the treatments or invest in a LaserCap, a device that fits under a baseball cap.
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