Bald Head? The Essential Hair Regrowth FAQs

It’s no secret that baldness comes with a large number of complications. Although some men have no trouble pulling it off, many find that their confidence suffers once hair loss begins to set in.

If you’re concerned about having a bald head one day, it’s important that you understand everything you need to know about baldness. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide that outlines the most important details. Let’s get started.

Why Does Baldness Happen?

For much of history, researchers had no idea why people lost their hair. Although many came up with a variety of different theories, scientists have only recently discovered the true cause.

A byproduct of testosterone known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the primary reason why hair loss occurs. This is true for both men and women, as both genders have this hormone present within their bodies. As you might expect, the male body produces much more testosterone.

But, it is one’s sensitivity to DHT that causes them to go bald. If you have a particularly high DHT sensitivity, there’s a strong chance that DHT will miniaturize the hair follicles located around your scalp and temples. Over time, these follicles are eventually ‘shut off’ by the presence of DHT. This is why baldness is commonly linked to both old age and high testosterone.

The truth is, however, that it’s possible for somebody to have an excessively high level of testosterone and also have an abnormally low sensitivity to DHT. In this scenario, that individual would experience all of the effects of high testosterone (full beard growth, increased muscle mass, etc.) without experiencing baldness.

Unfortunately, your baseline sensitivity to DHT is entirely genetic, and it can even vary highly between siblings who have the same two parents.

What Are Common Baldness Myths?

Unfortunately, there is an abundance of misinformation about baldness. This leads many people to try treatments that don’t work or to avoid taking action until it’s too late.

Let’s explore a few of the most common myths that you should know about.

Wearing a Hat Causes Baldness

Contrary to popular belief, wearing a hat on a regular basis does not cause baldness. But, doing so could contribute to minor hair loss under one circumstance: wearing a hat that is far too tight for your head could reduce blood flow to your hair follicles.

In this case, your follicles will not be receiving the requisite amount of nutrients. Over time, you might notice that you are shedding more hair than usual, your hair looks thinner, etc.

So, you can rest assured that your favorite baseball cap isn’t leaving you with premature hair loss – just make sure to buy one that fits.

Only Your Mother’s Genes Are Responsible

Since the primary gene for baldness is located on the X chromosome, many researchers once attributed hereditary baldness to your mother and her side of the family. Interestingly, however, your father’s side of the family also plays a role.

You are more genetically predisposed to going bald if men on both sides of your family exhibit significant hair loss. If men on your mother’s side have full heads of thick hair into old age but men on your father’s side go bald relatively young, your chances are somewhere in the middle.

Keep in mind that, like many other genetic traits, there is no guarantee that you will keep or lose your hair simply based on your family history. Interestingly, it’s entirely possible for somebody who has no family history of baldness to lose most of their hair at a relatively young age.

Only Older People Go Bald

When an older person loses their hair, people rarely pay attention. Hair loss is associated with aging and many elderly people look like they are “supposed” to be bald.

The truth is, though, that it is not uncommon for people to begin losing their hair at a relatively young age. Occasionally, hair loss could occur as early as the mid to late teens. This myth also makes it difficult for younger people to notice hair loss when it begins to occur since they don’t believe it could ever happen at their age.

In general, men begin to exhibit mild symptoms of hair loss (such as temple recession and slight crown thinning) during their 20s. During their 30s, the signs become more prominent and this trend continues into the 40s and 50s. By the time a male reaches his 60s, chances are he has experienced a significant amount of hair loss.

Women go through the same process on a much lesser scale. In fact, there are plenty of women in their 80s and 90s who still have plenty of hair. This is due to the fact that women have less testosterone in their bodies and also a lower amount of DHT sensitivity.

Shampoo Is the Culprit

Some people have the outlandish belief that shampoo is what causes hair loss. They might even go as far as to avoid shampoo products altogether while only using water to wash their scalp. While it is true that certain shampoos contain harmful ingredients that could affect the texture and quality of your hair, they aren’t going to shut off your follicles as DHT would.

So, keep this in mind next time you’re shopping for hair products. Cheap hair products that damage your hair could cause breakage and shedding, which could lead you to believe you are experiencing hair loss.

What Other Factors Contribute to Hair Loss?

Although hair loss is largely genetic, there are certain factors that could result in experiencing this condition prematurely. But, these scenarios are almost always temporary and can be reversed by changing your habits.

Let’s explore a few that you should know about.

Medication

Certain medications can cause your hair to fall out of your scalp. But, it is highly unlikely for medication that you take to interfere with the lifecycle of your hair follicles. In general, most people experience medication-related hair loss from antidepressants, drugs that lower your cholesterol levels, and drugs designed to prevent blood clots.

As previously mentioned, this is often temporary and will subside once you discontinue the use of these substances. So, don’t be alarmed if you notice that your hair is falling out after you begin the use of certain medications.

It’s much better to take your medication as prescribed and worry about your temporary hair loss issue afterward.

Hormonal Changes

As your body exhibits hormonal changes, you might notice an increase in the rate at which you lose your hair. In fact, this is the reason why hair recession begins in the late teens as puberty concludes.

But, hormone-related hair loss isn’t limited to puberty. Traumatic brain injuries could result in drastic hormonal imbalances afterward, something that could inadvertently lead to hair loss. Additionally, those who receive medical treatment in the form of hormone injections may also notice their hair begin to thin or recede.

If you feel as though unexplained hormonal changes are the cause of your hair loss, it’s highly recommended to get in touch with a medical professional as soon as possible.

Vitamin Deficiency

Someone who has a deficiency in certain vitamins is more prone than the average person to exhibiting hair loss. Vitamin D, for example, is partly responsible for stimulating the growth of hair follicles. So, a deficiency in vitamin D could affect both the growth and integrity of your hair.

The same can be said about the absence of sufficient levels of zinc and selenium. For most people, however, eating a balanced diet and supplementing with a multivitamin should be enough to stave off nutrient-related hair loss.

How Can I Prevent Baldness?

Unfortunately, it is simply impossible to prevent baldness. As we mentioned earlier, baldness is a genetic trait that can be traced back through both sides of your family’s lineage.

If you are predisposed to losing your hair at some point, there are only so many steps that you can take. The good news, however, is that it is not impossible to regrow your hair. Under the right circumstances, it’s fairly common for the average person to experience slight to moderate regrowth.

How Can I Regrow My Hair?

Although it might sound too good to be true, there are methods you can follow in order to facilitate this process. Keep in mind, however, that these procedures will not work overnight and will require a high level of consistency in order to be effective. Listed below are some of the most notable.

Scalp Massages

It might sound unrealistic, but it’s possible that regular scalp massages can help regrow some of your hair. Scalp massages accomplish two separate tasks:

• They help stretch out the cells of your hair follicles
• They facilitate blood flow to your scalp

When performed regularly for a sufficient duration (approximately 15 to 20 minutes), you should see results within 2 to 3 months. Additionally, you might also notice that your hair becomes thicker and appears more healthy.

Dermarolling

For those who are unfamiliar with this process, it involves using miniature blades to create micro-incisions along your hairline and any other problem areas. The logic behind this method is that as your body heals it will allocate more nutrients than normal to the affected area.

Many people have noticed a significant regrowth over a period of 6 to 12 months from dermarolling. But, this method does not come without its risks.

It’s imperative that you only administer a slight amount of pressure to your scalp — otherwise, you could experience significant harm. To further complicate matters, injuring yourself while using this method will prevent you from continuing as you recover, potentially impeding progress.

Hair Loss Solution

Chances are that you are aware of the various hair loss medications that exist on the market today. Unfortunately, these are not guaranteed to provide sufficient results and could also come with a handful of negative side effects.

For instance, one of the more popular medications is often responsible for issues with libido, fatigue, depression, etc. In some cases, these issues become chronic even after the user discontinues the medication. This is particularly alarming since younger men make up the bulk of the demographic that uses hair loss medication, as they could potentially be causing lifelong issues at an early age.

Instead, researchers encourage those suffering from hair loss to lean toward hair loss solutions. These are natural products that you apply directly to the affected area in order to stimulate regrowth. This allows you to forego the harmful effects that conventional medication has on your body since there is no need to metabolize it.

Although some individuals respond to hair loss solutions better than others, most users experience a notable amount of regrowth within a relatively short period of time. Hair loss solutions serve as a great alternative for those who are looking for a more effective treatment that doesn’t come with harmful side effects.

Dealing With a Bald Head Might Seem Difficult

But, there are steps that you can take in order to help slow down and even reverse the process. if you are particularly concerned about having a bald head one day, keep the above information in mind so that you can make the decision that’s best for you.

Want to learn more about what we at RegenRx have to offer? Feel free to reach out to us today and see how we can help.