What are the major causes of hair loss in men and what is the role of heredity?

Hair loss in men

Common causes of hair loss in men are different from women, heredity, dihydrotestosterone, stress and high sexual activity are the main causes of hair loss in men, which we will examine in this article:

Inheritance

In many men, the cause of hair loss is heredity, as is the case with many physical traits inherited from the paternal or maternal family.

Men whose hair loss is hereditary usually experience hair loss between the ages of 18 and 19, and by the age of 25 they lose a large portion of their hair or suffer from complete baldness on the top of the head and only hair around the scalp. And remains above their necks.

Since the cause of this type of hair loss is genetic, there is no definitive treatment for it and only medical treatment (solution and medicine) can reduce the rate of hair loss. If your father, uncle, or male family member has had severe baldness or thinning hair since a young age, it is possible that the cause of your hair loss is hereditary.

There is no specific test to determine if hair loss is inherited, and only a doctor can check the pattern and age of onset of hair loss and family history to determine whether hair loss is inherited or not.


Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)

Excess dihydrotestosterone is the most common cause of hair loss in men, this type of hair loss is more common in the ages of 25 to 33 years and over 50, although at any age there is a possibility of increasing the amount of this hormone in the body. In men over the age of 50, an increase in the hormone DHT, in addition to hair loss, causes other problems such as inflammation of the prostate gland and its enlargement.

Men secrete a hormone called testosterone, which is called the male hormone. What makes the difference between men and women is the effects of this hormone on the body from birth to adulthood, facial beard, body hair, bass voice, muscle strength. And other male characteristics are due to the greater secretion of this hormone in the body of men than women.

The higher the level of this hormone in men, the more masculine physical and mental traits are observed, even in women who have higher levels of this hormone in their body than others, some masculine features can be seen.

Testosterone alone does not cause hair loss in men, but an enzyme in the body called 5 alpha reductase converts it into a destructive form called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Dihydrotestosterone causes thinning, fluffy and eventually hair loss over time, but it is interesting that it has a positive effect on the hair of other parts of the body and one of the reasons that men after the age of 25 have less hair and body hair volume. It is added that this is the case.


Inflammation

Inflammation causes damage to the cells and tissues of the body and depending on which part of the body it occurs, it causes many diseases such as heart attack, Alzheimer's, hair loss and so on.

Many men and even women experience hair loss with severe itching of the scalp and skin allergies, which is a sign of inflammation in this area.

Smoking, exposure to chemicals, air pollution, over-consumption of omega-6 and omega-9 oils compared to omega-3s, processed foods, and insufficient consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables all increase inflammation in the body.

Another major cause of inflammation is the proliferation of free radicals (oxygen free atoms) in the body, which increases oxidation or, in simple terms, rust. Some vitamins E and C and selenium have antioxidant properties and neutralize free radicals, and their deficiency causes an increase in free radicals, followed by inflammation in the body.

New research shows that nutrition and lifestyle are directly related to inflammation in the body.


Stress

When we are under stress, several biochemical reactions occur in our body, one of which is an increase in the level of the hormone cortisol, the secretion of this hormone causes a large amount of magnesium, zinc, vitamin C, B6 and B5, and the continuation of stress causes depletion. Nutrient reserves are mentioned and will cause problems such as decreased body energy, fatigue, weakness, lack of stress control and anger and hair loss.

Excessive sexual activity

Excessive ejaculation, whether in the form of sexual intercourse or masturbation, has caused numerous biochemical and hormonal reactions in the body that can exacerbate hair loss in men. New research shows that excessive ejaculation upsets the balance of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone.

The normal rate of ejaculation is 3 to 4 times a week for men under 25 and 2 to 3 times a week for men over 25, and more than this amount in most men exacerbates hair loss.


Excessive consumption of iron-containing food sources

Iron is one of the essential elements in the body and is used to produce blood, but when its reserves are too high, it causes diseases such as high blood pressure, hair loss, diabetes and fatty liver.

 Iron is one of the elements that the body has no natural way of excreting and only if some blood leaves the body, some iron is excreted through it. Excess iron and blood concentration is a common problem in men, and this is one of the reasons why doctors recommend donating blood or cupping every once in a while, because it reduces blood concentration and iron stores. .

Women lose some blood due to menstruation, so they rarely have problems with iron overload and blood concentration.

On the other hand, with age, the body's need for iron decreases and its reserves in the body increase, and it is recommended that men eat iron-rich foods such as red meat, eggs, lentils, spinach, etc. in moderation.

Excess iron in the body also increases the production of free radicals and inflammation.

Deficiency of vitamins and minerals

Due to declining food quality and lifestyle today, deficiencies in some vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D and B vitamins, are seen in many people, for example, according to the Vice President of the International Congress on Osteoporosis. 70% of Iranians are deficient in vitamin D and 60% are deficient in calcium.

The important point is to first measure the amount of minerals and vitamins in the body with tests to determine the appropriate type and dose of dietary supplements by your doctor.

Diagnosis and treatment of causes of hair loss in men

The first and most important step in treating hair loss is to diagnose its causes. Apart from inheriting other causes of hair loss, it can be traced to blood tests and hair analysis tests.

You should note that each of the causes of hair loss has its own medical treatment and it is recommended that you do not spend your time and money without considering the cost and time, many of which are advertising and ineffective.