Although long black hair is a beautiful adornment, the appeal or need of thick hair is not less for men. They also feel the appeal and need of hair when the whole empty field is visible on the head, i.e. the appearance of baldness. The hairless appearance brought a momentary sigh. Most people in the world start losing hair after a certain age. Many people become bald after fifty years. However the onset of baldness is not limited to the elderly. Thirty-year-old youths are also affected by baldness – this precedent is not less today.
In fact, apart from the various sorrows caused by baldness, the reasons behind baldness are not less. About 30 percent of the world’s people grow bald within thirty years. Today’s article is about the story of men, the causes of baldness, and why it is the most prominent in the list of its victims.
Do you know what causes baldness?
First of all, it is normal to lose about a hundred hairs a day. However, excessive hair loss is not normal. Baldness is scientifically called Androgenetic Alopecia, Androgenic Alopecia and ‘Pattern Baldness’ in English. Two factors are blamed for baldness – genetics (genes are the part of DNA in human chromosomes that play a role in making proteins) and dihydrotestosterone, a type of androgen hormone found in men. Some have a few strands of hair on both sides or back of the head, while the entire head of some has become a blank field.
Before knowing the process of baldness, let’s shed some light on the root of the hair. Our lovely hair is made up of parts called ‘hair follicles’. This hair follicle is the area under the scalp where hair is produced, and grows for about 2 to 6 years, then according to the laws of nature, growth ceases for a while and then falls out. Then new hair grows back and the cycle continues. Thus the process of hair growth, growth, shedding, and regrowth continues in human life.
The male hormone testosterone is converted into dihydrotestosterone by the action of internal enzymes in the human body. According to dermatologists and researchers, “the amount of these enzymes present in one’s body is hereditary.” Dihydrotestosterone is a hormone that disrupts and slows the normal hair growth cycle and makes hair become thinner and shorter. Apart from making the hair brittle, this hormone also disrupts the process of replacing the shed hair with new hair.
History of baldness
Some people start balding on the back of the head, while others start from the area around the eyes or two. In some cases, an area similar to the English letter ‘M’ is formed in the head, and in some cases, the entire head becomes empty. Basically hair loss is more noticeable in three areas of the scalp-
- Many people start losing hair from the hairline at the very front of the head. It is said that only 5% of people maintain that pubic hairline as they progress from adolescence to adulthood. In most cases, this hair loss rate is mild. However, in many cases, the hair in the area around the two eyes continues to fall out and in many cases, a hairless area like the English letter ‘M’ is formed.
- Many people lose hair on the back surface of the head which gradually spreads all around.
- Thinning of hair on the mid-frontal part of the head is more common especially in Asian men. Even in women whose hair thins with age, this trend is noticeable.
This balding hair loss spreads from one hair follicle to another hair follicle. No area in between is spared. Spread as if a chemical substance were spreading it in a diffusion process. But no chemicals are responsible for baldness. Even when some of the hair from the balding area is transplanted to other parts of the body, the hair continues to thin out, making it appear as if it is still on the head instead of elsewhere on the body. This suggests that there is a change in the DNA of the hair follicles that is forcing them to behave this way.
Apart from this type of hair loss, there is another type of hair loss that is not usually visible to us. The hair that grows on the head is different from the hair that grows on other parts of the body. A tuft of hair growing from numerous follicle units emerges from a specific cavity on the scalp. Each tuft contains 2-5 hairs. Since only these primary hairs are present at birth, newborn hair is thin and flexible. Over the next two to three years, when other hairs grow in, the density and volume of the hair increase.
Androgenetic alopecia first affects the hair that grows later. As the hairs become shorter, at some point there is no hair left but a single hair from each cavity. Thus the hair becomes thin. Baldness begins when that single hair also suffers the same fate. In this case, it may happen that even though 50% of the hair on the head falls out, baldness may not occur. Although hair loss can be seen by looking at the density of girls’ braids or bangs, boys’ hair is short, so it is difficult to understand it until baldness occurs. In this case, looking at the sunburned scalp can be understood.
As mentioned earlier, genes and hereditary factors are responsible for these two types of hair loss. A person with hereditary baldness has a higher risk of developing baldness. Again, the environment has some effect. Identical twins tend to lose hair at roughly the same age and at the same rate and pattern. However, in many cases, baldness can also occur due to various diseases.
Understanding Bald Head Care
Even without hair, your scalp needs love and care. It’s skin, after all! A healthy scalp means a happy head. Let’s dive in!
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Why Bald Head Care Is Important?
- It protects from the sun.
- It prevents dryness and flaking.
- It keeps the scalp clean.
- Hair Care for Bald Head: Unveil Your Shine!
Cleaning Your Bald Head
Do not think that there is no need to use shampoo because of baldness. Accumulation of oil and dirt makes baldness look uneven. Bald skin may appear white and crusty. So clean the bald regularly. Using soap or liquid soap makes bald patches look rougher. So shampoo regularly.
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Use moisturizer:
Just as it is important to keep the whole body and skin moisturized, it is also necessary to keep the hair moisturized. So drink plenty of water. Applying a light moisturizer at bedtime will also keep the scalp healthy. Before going out in the sun, apply sunscreen to the skin as well as the rest of the body.
Massage:
It is wrong to think that you only need to massage oil if you have hair. Oil should be used even if bald. Apply light pressure on the scalp with fingers and massage all over the scalp. Start from the forehead and reach the palate, from there slowly come down to the neck. You will get relief, along with better blood circulation, and the shine of the bald head will increase.
Sun Protection for the Bald Head
The sun can be harsh. Protect your scalp like this:
- Wear a hat when outside.
- Use a sunscreen made for scalps.
- Reapply sunscreen every two hours.
Exfoliation: Is It Necessary?
- Exfoliation removes dead skin. It can keep your scalp smooth.
- Do it once a week.
- Be gentle, don’t scrub hard.
- Choose an exfoliator meant for the scalp.
Tips for a Healthy Bald Head
Here are quick tips to remember:
- Drink plenty of water.
- Wear light-colored hats.
- Avoid harsh chemicals.
- Get regular check-ups.
- Aloe vera maintains the pH balance of the hair and scalp. Aloe vera maintains the pH balance of the hair and scalp. However, those who have skin problems can boil its shell and use it. Apply this paste to your hair. Also, massage the scalp with the help of fingers. Then wash with shampoo. Soak fenugreek seeds in water overnight. Then grind it in a blender and mix it with sour curd and honey. Apply it on your scalp before taking a shower, and wash it off with shampoo and conditioner when dry.
- Boil neem leaves in water and cool them. Wash with this water twice a week after shampooing and conditioning.
- There is no combination of vitamin B and protein in hair. Mix one spoon of curd, one spoon of honey, and one lemon juice well and apply it on your hair. Then wash with shampoo when dry.
When to go to the doctor?
It is better to see a doctor if you have excessive hair growth. Then the cause of hair growth can be confirmed. Appropriate treatment is also available.
Fenugreek water:
Fenugreek or fenugreek seeds have long been used orally by diabetics, heart patients and weight watchers to control high glucose levels. Fenugreek is a source of iron. So fenugreek seeds increase blood flow to the scalp, nourishing it and improving hair quality. Besides, vitamin B3 found in fenugreek seeds rejuvenates follicles. Also, fenugreek seeds are rich in lecithin which helps in hair growth.
Learn how to use fenugreek seeds for scalp care here:
- It is normally made by moistening twenty-five grams of fenugreek seeds in a hundred ml of boiled water overnight.
- Strain the thick liquid in the morning. Use it as a conditioner after shampooing. Wait for 10 minutes. Then wash off. This treatment makes the hair more shiny.
- You can also use fenugreek paste as a hair mask to improve scalp health. Learn how to make fenugreek paste here
- Take 2 spoons of fenugreek seeds. Now soak it in water for 24-36 hours.
- Mix the seeds with two spoons of lemon juice, curd, and a single spoon of honey.
- Apply the paste on the hair for 1-2 hours and then wash it off.
- Cleanse your hair completely.
This fenugreek paste is the perfect medicine and treatment for those who are prone to hair loss and baldness due to excessive hair loss. Alternatively, a paste of these soaked seeds along with some curry leaves can be used on the hair to prevent dandruff.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does personality have to do with baldness?
Baldness cannot be a hindrance to the development of one’s personality. Many famous people including Solomon (The greatest of the Ottoman Empire), and Shakespeare were bald. But not everyone has such a strong personality. In fact, a head full of thick black hair has always been recognized as a major measure of human beauty. So a businessman, a successful rich young man with a large amount of money on his head also resorted to the doctor. Almost crying, he said, that because of baldness, his marriage is on the verge of collapse. This inferiority complex cannot be blamed.
What Are The Best Moisturizers For A Bald Head?
Maintaining a hydrated scalp is crucial, and aloe vera or coconut oil-based moisturizers are highly recommended for their natural soothing properties.
How Often Should I Wash My Bald Head?
2-3 times a week clean your bald head with a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser to remove oil and dirt without over-drying your scalp.
Can Sun Damage Affect A Bald Scalp?
Yes, without hair protection, a bald scalp is vulnerable to UV rays. Use sunscreen before going anywhere.
Are all balds the same? Is it all androgenetic alopecia?
It is not. Some localized diseases are hair problems alone, such as alopecia areata or alopecia totalis. For some, baldness is just a symptom of a larger disease. For example, thyroid disease causes hair loss. Patients suffering from any major diseases like jaundice, dengue, typhoid, etc. suffer from nutritional problems. As a result, the hair falls because the nutrients do not reach the hair. Apart from that, baldness is also a serious disease called systemic lupus erythematosus. In some cases, spatial baldness is a manifestation of mental illness. For example, hair-pulling mania or trichotillomania. Stomach disease also often causes baldness. Again, pregnant women or lactating mothers also experience hair growth. Because then there is a lack of nutrients in the body.