There are several medical treatments that may help to stop or reverse the balding and thinning which many men naturally experience as they age. Before determining whether medicine might help, however, we should consider the possible causes. What at first may seem like balding may not be the case at all. Hair becomes drier, finer and grayer as we age.
Dry Hair Problems
As we age, our hair dries out. Oil glands in the skin which lubricate skin and hair become less productive. This lack of natural lubrication and protection can leave hair brittle and vulnerable to breakage and fraying. Dry damaged hair appears thinner than it really is but this can be remedied with healthy natural treatments such as gentle herbal shampoos, rinses and conditioners.
Fine Hair Problems
By the time a man is forty-years-old, each of his hair shafts have become approximately 5% thinner than they were when he was twenty. Hair becomes finer because hair is primarily made up of protein and, as we age, our body’s ability to efficiently manufacture protein decreases. Here, dietary changes can be of some help. Additionally, special hair products exist which plump up the hair shafts, creating the appearance of greater volume.
White, Silver or Gray Hair
The way light reflects off of hair changes as our hair loses its pigment. This lightening occurs because the cells at the base of the hair follicle stop producing melanin as we age. Lighter coloration also serves to make hair appear to be thinner than it really is, and any actual thinning or balding will seem exaggerated.
Recent research at Duke University shows that stress is a major cause of graying hair, whether that stress comes from rearing a strong-willed teenager or from a chronic debilitating illness. Of course, hair colorants and dyes can mask gray hair, but a healthful diet and stress reduction will help as well.
Real Hair Loss and Balding Scalp
Finally, as a man ages his hair really does fall out and is replaced at a less rapid rate. Factors which aggravate this natural process include poor diet, stress, drugs and hormones. Genetic factors (male pattern baldness) and autoimmune disorders ( alopecia areata) can also be the culprit.
Treatments for Hair Loss
Some men may find an answer to their hair loss in medicine.
- Rogaine® is an over-the-counter product which is applied directly to the scalp.
- Propecia ® is available by prescription and is taken in pill form.
Some men find that these preparations thicken hair, prevent future hair loss, and cause new hair growth. These products are not over-night cures, though. They work slowly and for some men, they don’t work at all. Finally, if the treatments ever stop, your hairline will retreat to where it was before treatment began—and likely, further.
Natural Treatments for Hair Loss
Many supplements and herbal remedies are advertised as baldness cures, but so far there has been no proof that any of them work. The best natural treatment for loss is a fresh wholesome diet, plenty of rest and stress reduction. Along the same lines, natural gentle shampoos and rinses will help to keep hair at its healthiest.
Hair Transplants and Surgical Hair Replacement
The final possible remedy to hair loss is surgery. Unfortunately, these procedures are uncomfortable and expensive—and like any surgical procedure, there are risks involved.
Reference
- At Last, A Reason Why Stress Causes DNA Damage. (2011). Retrieved August 24, 2011 from Duke Medicine News and Communications Web site: DukeHealth.org.
- Hara, M.R., et al (2011) A stress response pathway regulates DNA damage through β2-adrenoreceptors and β-arrestin-1. Nature, Retrieved August 24, 2011 from Nature.com.
- Hoffman, D. (1993). An Elders’ Herbal: Natural techniques for promoting health and vitality. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
Maria Blanco - Writer/Editor, Certified Family Herbalist, Naturopath, Holistic Nutritional Consultant
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