No matter what anyone says, there are millions of men who dread the loss of hair. Most of them fear looking less of a man or being tagged as old (which is crazy because many women do not put a premium on head hair as being the benchmark for sexy). In fact, bald is sexy and gives the message that you are confident, oozing with manliness, and tend to focus on who’s in front of you rather than checking how you look every time you pass a mirror.
What is Baldness
Alopecia is defined as hair loss and can refer to any part of the body. Most men start losing their hair during their 50s as part of the aging process. This is why men fear baldness because it is a telling sign that “you are growing old” which sounds awful compared to growing older which implies increased wisdom and maturity. Among some men, baldness can become a psychological issue and cause extreme distress.
The kind of hair loss or baldness is generally categorized as hereditary or genetic and non-genetic. Hereditary means it runs in the family and there are several types such as spot balding, total hair loss, severe hair loss including eyelashes and eyebrows, and male (or female) pattern hair loss. Non-genetic baldness is caused by a sickness, abuse of hair products and overstyling, vitamin deficiency, a thyroid condition, or hormone problem.
Is There a Safe Cure?
Baldness can be slowed down but cannot be cured, at least not yet. There is an ongoing study at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in California that is working on hair regeneration using human stem cells. Until they come up with something significant and safe, you can try any of the following methods.
Steroid Injections will only work if you have spot baldness. A month after several steroid injections or topical treatments, you should expect new hair follicles to start growing but there is a 50/50 chance of failure once you stop the injections. You may experience thinning of your skin and temporary pain for the injection treatment and itchiness, stomach ulcers or diabetes if you opt for a long term topical solution.
Prescription Drugs: Finasteride and Minoxidil (5%) are used to treat male pattern balding. Finasteride is a daily tablet while FDA approved Minoxidil is a twice daily scalp lotion. Both options require at least several months use before any hair growth is visible and once you stop using either drugs, the hair loss will resume within months. While Minoxidil has no serious side effects, Finasteride may cause libido loss or erectile dysfunction.
A wig is always an alternative that is non-invasive, affordable, and no longer looks like a plant on your head. Many men have turned to wigs because of their realistic appearance and easy maintenance. Great looking men like Jason Alexander and Jeremy Piven look incredibly handsome with their hairpieces. Plus, with a wig, it is possible to slowly ease into baldness without shocking your sensibilities or those of whose opinions matter to you.
Immunotherapy is a good solution for total loss. It is a chemical solution applied weekly and with increasing dosage. Results will show after 3 months unfortunately, there are side effects like mild skin eczema, enlarged lymph nodes, or patchy skin. Once any of these side effects are seen, treatment has to stop and hair loss will continue.
Laser treatment is affordable laser therapy that is FDA-approved. You will have to use it a few times every week for approximately 15 minutes each session. There are now several companies offering this product and it is recommended that you read the instructions carefully before using it.
Micrografting and hair transplants are both restorative for total baldness. You will need to find someone who can do it so it looks natural. The newer methods are far better in terms of aesthetic results and the cases of blotched procedures are now practically part of hair history. Most qualified professionals are able to do fantastic jobs on transplants.
Hair researchers recommend staying away from supplements or miracle products that promise complete hair growth. At the very least, read the fine print because the product could just any one of the prescription drugs with better packaging.
Here is something good to know about baldness in whatever form. US researchers did a study on hair loss and in 2010 released their results. Once hair loss starts, expect your libido to increase because of higher testosterone levels which, by the way, also means lower risk for testicular cancer. Now, still wondering why many bald men seem to have it so good?
If you're experiencing baldness, it’s time to embrace a new look and find out just how spectacular life can be whether you decide to go bald or hide it. After all, hair or no hair, it’s all about how you carry yourself and the attitude and confidence you bring to the table.
Date Published: 11 June 2015
