The new year is a time when all of us look in the mirror and make the choice to better ourselves in one way or another.
Whether that is cutting out lifestyle choices that have been affecting us, whether that involves regaining that self-confidence we have lost, or even if it is as simple as working off any indulgences over the past year, there are ways we can help.
One particular concern that affects men over winter is losing hair, but with affordable finasteride and other treatments such as minoxidil, pattern hair loss can be reduced and its appearance even potentially reversed.
Which treatment is right for you? What causes hair loss in the first place? And which signs should you be concerned about?
Should You Be Worried About Hair Falling Out?
Most men will experience some hair loss every single day. According to the NHS, we lose up to 100 hairs every day, typically without noticing.
This is part of the natural process of hair shedding, a four-step cycle of hair growth, loss and renewal where hair grows, separates from the follicle, rests in place and finally sheds.
In most cases, this is nothing to worry about; whilst losing between 50-100 hairs can sound alarming, this is from a scalp of over 100,000, with up to 90 per cent of those in an actively growing state.
However, if you actively notice your hair falling out in clumps or drastically thinning, then it could be a sign of an underlying condition that could lead to permanent hair loss.
What Is Not A Warning Sign For Hair Loss?
Because hair loss was not fully understood until the advent of treatments such as minoxidil (Regaine), a lot of very common conditions are misdiagnosed as potential signs of hair loss, when in reality they are either extremely common or have alternative causes.
In particular, the following are not warning signs for hair loss:
- Dandruff: Whilst a flaky scalp is usually a sign that you need a more suitable shampoo, or could have a skin condition that needs treating, it does not typically signify hair loss.
- Itchy Scalp: It may mean you are suffering from eczema, but unless it is accompanied by scarring, it usually does not affect your hair.
- Split Ends: Dry hair, brittle or broken hair has a wide range of causes, some of which overlap with common causes of temporary hair loss, but it does not cause it on its own.
- V-Shaped Hairline: A widow’s peak is a completely natural hairline, and whilst some are caused by receding hair around the temples.
What Causes Hair Loss?
Hair loss is caused by a range of genetic and environmental factors, but we are primarily focused on the former because they are the ones most likely to require treatment.
Hair loss caused by medication, malnutrition or extreme stress, for example, is typically reversible once the hair follicles are given time to grow hair again and the cause of the hair loss is treated.
Similarly, scarring hair loss caused by injury, burns or fungal infections is typically permanent and requires surgery to fix.
Generally, your parents and grandparents are a good barometer for how well you will maintain your hair, but lifestyle choices such as poor diet, smoking and alcohol can exacerbate this.
What Is Finasteride?
Used to help treat enlarged prostate conditions, finasteride can also help to slow down hair loss by stopping the transition of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This is the process that leads to men with high testosterone levels losing their hair sooner.
How Do You Take Finasteride?
You will typically take finasteride in tablet form, with one tablet to be swallowed each day with water. It should not be crushed nor chewed.
As it is a slow process, it can take several months to see the results. However, this also means that accidentally skipping a day will not affect the overall results.
What Effects Can Finasteride Have?
In 99 per cent of cases, people will take finasteride without any issues, but the main side effects to be mindful of include:
- Lowered sex drive.
- Erectile dysfunction.
- Delayed or limited ejaculation.
What Else Can Cause Hair Loss?
- Stress, which is often known as telogen effluvium. This hair will grow back when you are less stressed, however.
- Hormonal imbalances, which can be caused by illnesses, some types of medication and, once again, stress.
- Nutritional deficits, particularly vitamin B7 (biotin), iron and zinc.
- Super-tight hairstyles and aggressive styling.
- Rapid weight loss, including by using injectable medications such as semaglutide.
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