As much as many men don’t like to admit it or face the facts, hair loss is extremely common. Roughly two-thirds of men will face hair loss at some point in their lives, with that number increasing as they age. Kristopher O’Connell, DO, a with Northern Light Primary Care in Hampden, talks with men about this issue regularly, helping patients get the ball rolling on prevention and, in some cases, regrowth.
First, however, Dr. O’Connell always likes to dispel the myths about hair loss with his patients. “A lot of people think that hair loss is caused by poor hygiene or stress, or that it is solely passed down from your mother’s side, or maybe that wearing a hat causes balding,” he says. “And that’s simply not the case.”
Though there are certain inflammatory conditions caused by infectious or autoimmune diseases, men’s hair loss is generally genetic. Hair follicles are extra sensitive to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, better known as DHT. “Over time, those follicles can shrink and produce thinner, shorter hairs, and eventually may stop producing those hairs in certain areas of the scalp,” explains Dr. O’Connell, noting that hair tends to recede over the areas of the temple and the crown of the head.
While we all know hair loss isn’t dangerous or doesn’t put you at any risk of serious physical illness, male pattern baldness can significantly change an individual’s thoughts about how they are viewed socially, which can cause stress, anxiety, and depression. However, there are treatments available that have advanced significantly over the years, says Dr. O’Connell, and those may be able to slow or partly reverse hair loss for some people.
“Minoxidil is a common product most people have heard about, which can be purchased over the counter and can be applied directly on the skin,” he says. “There are also prescription forms, such as oral finasteride, which can block the DHT effects on the scalp, and it’s important to know these can take months to see improvements, if you do see any at all.”
Dr. O’Connell also notes that, while topical therapies generally have few, if any, side effects, oral medications can decrease blood pressure, block testosterone, and may even cause some sexual side effects for some people.
“It’s important to talk with your doctor and see what options might be best for you,” he adds. “Also, keep in mind that this happens to most men at some point in their lives. If you’re interested in taking action, I would highly recommend starting that conversation as soon as possible, because the earlier you catch it and address it, the more likely it is that you can do something about it.”