When men start losing their hair, it’s tempting for them to blame it on genetics… or perhaps just plain bad luck.
More often than not, male hair loss does have a strong genetic component, so this instinct isn’t too far off. With that said, there can actually be a wide range of factors that lead to thinning hair, including several aspects of your lifestyle.
Before blaming everything on your genetic makeup, take some time to think about the lifestyle factors that may be causing your follicles to go dormant. Here are a few of the major ones.
1) Obesity.
Your body’s natural hair growth processes are regulated by hormones; as such, anything that throws your hormones off balance can ultimately cause your hair to thin. Obesity more than meets that description. When you’re overweight, it places stress on hormonal processes throughout your body, particularly impacting production of insulin and thyroxine. The upshot: Obesity causes hormonal chain reactions that can sometimes stymy hair growth.
2) Smoking.
Cigarettes are bad for you in so many ways, not least because they are vasoconstrictors. That means they restrict blood flow throughout your body. That’s why smoking can have so many ill effects on your skin. And, it’s why smoking is bad for your hair: If your smoking habit diminishes blood flow to the follicles, then they won’t be able to produce healthy hair.
3) Poor nutrition.
Your body needs nutrients in order to work properly. That’s true for all bodily functions, including hair growth. In order for the follicles to do their job properly, you need to feed them a rich balance of iron, protein, and essential vitamins and minerals. Poor nutrition may mean your follicles don’t have the sustenance to grow hair, which can ultimately lead to baldness.
4) Scalp conditions.
If you have a skin disorder, it could put you at risk for hair loss. That’s especially true if you suffer from seborrheic dermatitis… or, as it’s more commonly known, dandruff. If left untreated, this condition can lead to redness, itching, and general irritation of the scalp. And it may also lead to significant hair loss.
5) Steroid use.
Most of the time, male hair loss is caused when testosterone binds with your hair follicles and prevents them from doing their job properly. And one of the fastest ways to cause a major testosterone influx is to start using steroids. Basically, any artificial boost to your testosterone level will increase whatever genetic predisposition you have toward hair loss.
These are just a few of the lifestyle factors that may cause your hair to start thinning.
The good news is that there are always hair restoration solutions, and ways to look and feel like your best self again.
If you have any questions about why you’re losing your hair, or if you think you’re ready for a hair transplant, we invite you to contact Luminary Cosmetic Medicine & Hair restoration and book a free consultation.
