Hair loss doesn’t know gender or race. According to a study in the Annals of Dermatology, androgenic alopecia (AGA) or male-pattern baldness affects up to 73% of Asian men and women. The problem can also begin early.
A Tsinghua University survey among 4,000 students showed about 60% of them already experienced some level of hair loss. More than 35% of them revealed they noticed their hairline receding, which is a hallmark of AGA. Anecdotal evidence also showed that those seeking treatments could be as young as 24 years old. The generation today might be losing their hair faster than their parents.
Regardless of the kind and level of baldness, those who experience it may undergo periods of depression and anxiety due to poorer self-esteem. It isn’t surprising anymore why products such as Hairmax Advanced 7 are becoming popular in the market. But why does hair loss happen in the first place, and what forms of treatment are ideal?
Causes of Baldness
People can experience baldness for many reasons. Alopecia areata, for example, occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the follicles, which produce the hair. The condition can prevent these follicles from creating new hair.
AGA is more complicated, especially since genetics can play a role. A 2017 PLOS One study revealed more than 150 genetic regions that may be responsible for the condition. This number was way higher than what scientists previously knew.
The research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, meanwhile, explained that it might occur due to the inactivation of the stem cell. The team compared the scalp of non-balding and balding persons who underwent a hair transplant. They then discovered that while both have the same number of stem cells, the latter lacked progenitor cells. These are types of cells that can differentiate to other cells but cannot divide or replicate themselves indefinitely.
Hormones can also explain baldness, particularly among men and women. The ladies may also lose their hair, but the problem might not be as prominent as the males because of estrogen. The Dermatological Society of Singapore also pointed out the following as other reasons:
- Trauma such as hair pulling
- Skin disease
- Abnormalities in the hair shaft
- Systemic disorders
- Traction such as hairstyling
The Best Forms of Treatment
Is there a cure for hair loss? It depends on the cause. A loss due to traction and trauma are easier to deal with. If the root cause is a medical condition, treating it may also prevent further hair loss.
It becomes challenging when the cause is genetic, such as in male-pattern baldness. There’s always the possibility hair loss will occur again. It doesn’t mean that you have to suffer the shame for years. For example, you can consider hair transplants, which involve hair grafting.
This procedure, however, is extensive, time-consuming, and expensive. If you want something affordable or have less-severe hair loss, you can opt for a device such as Hairmax. This device delivers laser light to stimulate the already-weak follicles into producing hair faster. It is portable and clinically certified, so it is generally safe to use.
When it comes to hair loss, you have two options: embrace it or do something about it. Either way, you can never go wrong.
