Hereditary Hair Loss
Hereditary hair loss is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Hereditary hair loss has another name used more in medical contexts Androgenetic Alopecia.
What we know today is that about 90% of all men who lose hair have suffered from hereditary hair loss. However, hereditary hair loss is not reserved only for men only, it is also common for women to suffer from it, but not to the same extent as in men. Because hereditary hair loss is quiet common in men, it is also commonly referred to as male hair loss.
How do you know if you have been afflicted with hereditary hair loss?
There are several indicators of whether or not one has suffered from hereditary hair loss. The best option is of course not to try to guess the answer, but to seek out a specialist on hair or consult your doctor.
If you still stand in front of the mirror and do not take the step of looking for a doctor, there are some signs that indicate hereditary hair loss that can look out for.
Male hair loss usually follows certain patterns when it comes to hair loss. Usually, it begins with the hairline creeping up higher and feeling that the hair is generally thinner. Something that is typical of male hair loss is that the hair at the head and the temples usually do not fall off.
Try pulling 20-hairs between your thumb and forefinger. Gently but firmly pull the hairs and preferably pull the hair from the head. If more than 6 hairs come off when you pull it, you can suspect that you suffer from hair loss.
You can also look at your relatives. Compare photos of mother and grandparents and see if they started losing hair and at what age. Hereditary hair loss is as the name says something that is inherited and if you know that many of your relatives have lost hair or suffer from male hair loss then you can suspect that it is your turn. There are many myths when it comes to hereditary hair loss and one of them is that it is inherited only from the mother's side. It has turned out not to to be certain, so you can get it both from the father or the mother.
Why do you lose hair?
Androgenetic alopecia (hereditary hair loss, male hair loss) is a condition in which you are particularly sensitive to a by-product of testosterone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes the hair follicles to shrink, they have a shorter life span and are more likely to stop producing healthy hair.
In women, hormone disorders can trigger hereditary hair loss. Women undergo major hormonal changes at menopause and during pregnancy, however, birth control pills may also have the same effect. A difference in women is that, their hair loss usually does not go in the same way as male hair loss. In women, the whole hair becomes thinner instead of only in some places.
Can you counteract hereditary hair loss?
If you suspect you are suffering from hereditary hair loss, is the race running? The answer is that there is still hope and much you can do for preventive purposes to keep your hair, or at least keep your hair for a while.
You can stimulate hair growth and fight hereditary hair loss by regularly massaging the scalp or asking someone else to do it. Except that it is nice and that you feel good about it, the blood flow to the scalp also increases. An increased blood flow to the scalp leads to more nourishment come to the hair follicles and the hair growth to become stronger. Try to massage your scalp a few minutes every day, but do it with care so that you do not lose more hairs. This simple method is recommended by many to avoid hereditary hair loss.
An alternative is to occasionally make an oil pack. There are many today who wash their hair too often and disturb their own fat production. You can compensate this by making oil packs for your hair. There are many ingredients that are beneficial to your hair and scalp, such as avocados, eggs, apple cider vinegar and last but not least olive oil.
Ironically, excessive washing of the hair can lead to dry scalp or fatty hair. Try to wash your hair less often and you will notice that the quality of the hair will improve in the long run.
Besides massage it is also important that you give your hair the best conditions they can get with the help of a good nutritional diet to prevent hereditary hair loss. Hair needs proteins, minerals and vitamins. Protein is found in foods such as eggs, tuna, shellfish, meat in general, beans (soybeans, kidney beans), cottage cheese and quark.
The minerals the hair mainly needs are magnesium, calcium, zinc, copper and iron. These minerals are needed for various reasons but all play a role in building up the hair and countering hereditary hair loss. Iron is most important for women. Too little iron can lead to anemia which in turn affects the hair negatively.
When it comes to vitamins, there are lots of vitamins that all help the hair grow and thrive. Therefore, it may be good to start by taking multivitamin on a regular basis as a first step to combating hereditary hair loss. Many believe that vitamins b5 and b8 are the most effective when it comes to stimulating hair growth. Other vitamins that you should get in you include C and vitamin E. Vitamin C is needed to form collagen, which is essential hair growth. Vitamin E in turn is good for blood flow.
Keep in mind that even if you start by massaging your scalp and taking vitamin supplements, hair is something that grows slowly and it can therefore take several months before the result is visible.