Balding.co.uk

Going bald is a natural phase in most men's lives. Two thirds of all men in the UK will eventually be affected by hair loss, which means 7.4 million men are losing their hair at any one time.

But at what age is it okay to allow the ageing process to start to take its course? According to a recent NHS survey, almost half of men in their 30s have started to experience noticeable hair loss and many feel that it is too soon to allow hair loss to change the way they look forever.

Many men, and the women who are affected too, feel sensitive about their hair loss and it can affect their confidence and self esteem. Fortunately the attitude of many doctors has changed in recent years and what GPs might once have dismissed as 'only natural' is now understood to be a problem that needs to be taken seriously. For younger men especially, hair loss can have a psychological impact and even diminish quality of life.

What causes hair loss?

Male hair loss, or male pattern baldness, is the most common type of hair loss. Some men have areas on the scalp that are very sensitive to the male sex hormones that circulate in their bloodstream called DHT. The hormones can make the hair follicles shrink and eventually they become so small that, once hairs fall out, they cannot be replaced. As we lose between 40 to 120 hairs every day, this inability to replaces hairs causes the gradual balding process. It is gradual because different follicles are affected at different times.

Women can also suffer this type of hair loss, also known as androgenic alopecia, especially those whose parents or grandparents have experienced female pattern hair loss.

Indeed, in general pattern balding runs in families for both sexes. For men, if your father or grandfather went bald early, you have a greater chance of losing hair at an early age too.

Are there other types of hair loss?

Yes, women who can suffer hair loss after pregnancy or during excessive dieting and for both men and women hair loss can follow major surgery or be a sign of hormonal problems, stress, a fungal infection or underlying illness. Therefore it is always best to seek advice from your GP if you are concerned about unusual hair loss.

TREATMENTS AVAILABLE FOR BALDNESS

Fortunately, there are now some excellent treatment options for common pattern baldness and there really is no need to let hair loss affect your life. Procedures may take time to alter the appearance, but it is possible to roll back the years and many men and women have successfully done so and seen an improvement in their confidence, relationships and even careers as a consequence.

Medication

There are two main treatments and both can have very good results. Minoxidil (sold in the UK as Regaine) is a drug that was originally developed for high blood pressure and hair growth was found to be a (now very useful) side effect. This over-the-counter lotion is said to see 60 per cent of patients have varying degrees of benefit but the effects can wear off as soon as treatment is stopped.

Propecia is a medication in tablet form that partially blocks the effects of the male hormones that weaken the hair follicles and cause baldness. 80 per cent of patients are said to have seen further hair loss stop by using the treatment and re-growth in the areas of hair loss. Again, treatment must be maintained to continue improvement in hair growth.

Cosmetic surgery

Surgery offers the chance of a more long-term solution to hair loss and these days there is less pain associated with hair transplants as well as less scars and optimum cosmetic results. It is possible to create a very natural appearance with hair transplant surgery.

In the UK, most surgeons use a new technique called FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction), which involves transplanting skin from hair-covered areas (usually at the back of the head) to bald areas. Different levels of 'plugs' of skin can be transferred - from standard (8-10 hairs per follicle) to micro (1-2 hairs per follicle) - and the grafts work due to the section of skin retaining its own characteristics after being moved. Hair grows from the 'plug' in the new position. These resilient, life-long follicles only need to be transplanted once because, once in place, they will continue to grow naturally.

Scalp reduction is another technique, which is most suited to those with a small, well-defined bald spot on the back of the head. Surgeons can literally reduce the size of the scalp to make hair loss impossible to spot. This procedure can be done under local anaesthetic.

In general, hair surgery involves financial investment and a medical procedure that needs to be carried out by a surgical professional. It is vital that you choose your surgeon carefully, ideally via personal recommendation or through the Institute of Trichologists or the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

Other treatments

Laser Comb. This treatment uses a healing science called Low Level Laser Therapy, which basically sees light penetrate the scalp to stimulate hair growth. It can be carried out in a salon by a trained professional or your can purchase the patented device for use at home.

MHT Scalp pigmentation. This procedure, also known as the 'hair tattoo' is a very specialised scalp tattooing procedure, which works very well on receding hairlines and balding crowns. The ink used to form a permanent tattoo on the scalp replicated real hair worn in a cropped or close-shaven style.

Where to go next?

There is no specific form of treatment for hair loss that is proven to work over any other and it is important that, if considering tackling baldness, you book a consultation with a Hair Loss specialist at a registered specialist clinic. You need to consider some simple questions before proceeding:

1. What kind of look am I trying to achieve?
2. What is my overall budget, including any time off work following surgery?
3. Does my GP think that my baldness if having a negative affect on my self esteem or my relationships?

Why not speak in confidence with one of our baldness experts? Just fill in your name and number at the top of the page and we will call you discretely. Our consultation is completely free so you have nothing to lose.