Why do men lose their hair?
More than half of men over 50 show signs of hair loss, but it's not just age-related. Keep reading to find out exactly why men lose their hair.
Hair loss is experienced by most men at some point in their lives. More than half of men over the age of 50 show signs of hair loss, with this rising to 80% of men over the age of 70.
While hair loss is incredibly common, it can be distressing for some who are used to flaunting their lustrous locks. Hair is heavily associated with youthfulness in our society, and thinning hair can be upsetting for men and women alike. Let's arm you with the science behind male hair loss and chat through your treatment options, so you feel confident to take control of your own appearance.
What causes male hair loss?
Genetics
For many people, the first response to a guy who's worried about baldness is 'was your dad bald?' and that's because genetics play a big role in hair loss. Male pattern baldness is a type of baldness that's often passed to you in your genes, though it's not clear exactly how this gene is passed on. If you have close family relatives who went bald, you may be more likely to experience baldness, too.
Depending on how you are related to those with this condition may influence how early you start showing signs of hair loss. It's possible to see the first signs of hair loss in your teens. These signs may include hair thinning, or hair that feels soft, fine and is getting shorter. If this is you, don't panic. You can take steps to help prevent going bald if you are in the early stages of hair loss. Read more about that here.
Stress
It's no myth that being stressed can make your hair fall out. While chronic stress can influence hair thickness, it's usually a sudden shock or stressor that causes the biggest impact, such as a severe illness or emotional shock. Even the flu can cause temporary hair loss. Sudden weight gain is also notable as a physical shock that can cause your hair to fall out.
Many men begin losing their hair in their forties and fifties. And while physiological and genetic factors may be influencing this, this age is also associated with high stress, particularly amongst men (hello mid-life crisis).
If you are worried about hair loss, it's a good idea to take measures to improve your lifestyle. Try eating healthier meals, getting regular exercise, more sleep and limiting the stress in your life where possible.
The Immune System and Alopecia
Alopecia is a type of hair loss that's caused by an immune response. It's where your body's own immune system attacks your hair follicles, causing hair to fall out. This condition is also genetic, but if you have it, you probably starting experiencing symptoms during childhood. Often the hair grows back, but you may go through stages of hair loss throughout your life.
Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions can cause your hair to fall out temporarily. Diabetes and Lupus increases your risk of hair loss. You may also be more likely to lose your hair if you have thyroid problems or anaemia. Because of the latter, it's a good idea to check your iron levels and take a dietary supplement if needed, as low iron levels can cause anaemia and lead to hair loss.
Certain medications taken for illnesses can cause your hair to fall out temporarily. This includes medications for:
- Cancer
- Arthritis
- Depression
- Gout
- High blood pressure
- Heart problems
Looking for a solution to hair loss?
As well as leading a healthy lifestyle, you may be able to take certain medications to reduce the signs of hair loss. If appropriate, we provide a medication called Finasteride. When men experience hair loss, there is often a hormonal process occurring internally. Hair loss can occur when testosterone (the main male sex hormone) is converted into dihydrotestosterone, or DHT (another hormone). DHT can bind to receptors in the scalp and shrink the hair follicles over time, so that they can no longer support hair growth. Finasteride works by preventing testosterone from converting into DHT.
Are you worried about your hair loss? Take our free online consultation to check if Finasteride is an appropriate medication for you. If it is, our pharmacists will authorise your online prescription and deliver it to you in discreet packaging.
Is Erectile Dysfunction Always Age-Related?
While age is a common factor in experiencing Erectile Dysfunction, it's not the only cause. Keep reading to find out what else could be causing ED.
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is incredibly common, with around 70% of men experiencing the condition at some point in their lives. Do the math: that's most of the men you know, so let's get over any sort of embarrassment or stigma right now. ED is simply a bodily response to something going on physically or mentally.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile Dysfunction is the inability to keep an erection long enough to have sexual intercourse. While arousal may seem simple, there's actually a lot going on inside the body to cause an erection.
- When triggered by an arousing situation or thought, the brain sends nerve signals to the spongy tissues along the whole length of the penis.
- These signals cause the tissues to relax, which means blood can flow to the penis and fill the open spaces in the tissue.
- This increased blood pressure causes the penis to expand and become erect.
- Membranes around the tissue keep the penis erect.
If any part of this intricate process is interrupted, the penis may not be able to sustain an erection long enough to have sexual intercourse.
Is age the only factor in Erectile Dysfunction?
Put simply, no. While age is a leading influence in ED, it's not the sole cause.
Erectile Dysfunction may occur due to depleted testosterone levels. Testosterone is the male sex hormone, and it's responsible for a whole host of bodily functions, including the production of red blood cells and sperm, influencing body fat and bone mass and regulating libido.
As we get older, our testosterone levels generally decrease, which means the sexual functions of testosterone may be affected. This is the main reason why Erectile Dysfunction is associated with getting older.
Other causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Our erections are influenced by our general health and lifestyles. Remember that complex process that occurs between feeling aroused and getting an erection? Well, lots of things can interrupt that - it's not just about your testosterone levels.
Other medical causes of ED include:
- obesity
- diabetes
- heart disease
- hypertension (high blood pressure)
- high cholesterol
- enlarged prostate
- sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea
- multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
Lifestyle choices and ED
Erectile Dysfunction isn't only caused by chronic health conditions. Our lifestyle choices have a huge impact on all aspects of our health, including our sexual health. ED may also be more likely if you:
- Smoke tobacco
- Drink alcohol
- Take certain prescription medications
Psychological causes of ED
Our mental wellness plays a huge role in our sexual health. After all, the brain is the trigger for all of those physical chain reactions that lead to an erection. If you are stressed or have experienced tension, your feelings of sexual desire may be inhibited, which can cause ED. You may also be more likely to experience ED if you suffer with anxiety or depression.
There is also a link between experiencing ED just once and getting into an anxious self-perpetuating cycle. Some men may feel embarrassed or confused about their ED (though, they really needn't be - we're not robots). This negative association can cause anxiety about the next erection, which is really annoying because we know anxiety is not great for sexual wellness. You can read more about the association between Erectile Dysfunction and anxiety here.
How to get help with ED
There are a range of treatment options for ED. As well as altering your lifestyle to make healthier choices, you may be eligible for medication. Men2BeHealth offers a range of treatment options for Erectile Dysfunction. You can take a quick online quiz to find out if medication is appropriate for you, and if it is, we'll deliver it to your door in discreet packaging.
Click here to start your online consultation
Whether you've experienced ED once or a hundred times, it's never too late to take positive steps to improve your sexual health. Please don't let this hugely common condition worry you. We're all human and there's nothing wrong with exploring our options for better wellness.
Alex George is encouraging you to Post Your Pill
Antidepressants, anti anxiety medication or happy pills. Call them what you want - Dr Alex George is encouraging you to Post Your Pill.
While the topic of mental health is gaining more coverage than ever before, we're still plagued by a stigma around taking antidepressants. There are many ways to begin treating mental health, and medication is just one of them. However, if you and your doctor feel that medication is the most appropriate route for you, you should be free to pursue that treatment without any shame or stigma.
Who is Dr Alex George?
If you stay out of politics, you're not on Instagram and you don't watch Love Island, there's a slim chance you won't have heard of Dr Alex George. Dr Alex is an A&E doctor at University Hospital Lewisham. In 2017, he decided to temporarily hang up his scrubs and try his luck in the Love Island villa. Since leaving the villa, while his counterparts have pursued traditional post-reality TV careers, Dr Alex has caused quite a storm in UK healthcare and politics.
Having worked in A&E, Alex was keenly aware of the widespread mental health epidemic we have on our hands. Already heavily invested in this matter, Alex tragically lost his younger brother to suicide in 2020. Informed by his loss and his first hand experiences as an A&E doctor, he decided that more needed to be done to support young people's mental health. His campaigning led the PM to appoint him as Ambassador for Mental Health for the UK government; a role that didn't previously exist.
Dr Alex George and the Post Your Pill social media movement
While campaigning for better mental health provisions for young people, Alex has also been struggling with his own anxiety, following the loss of his brother. After giving his treatment a lot of thought, he decided to take antidepressants. While content with this decision, he knew that a stigma still existed around taking medication for your mental health. Given his public involvement in the topic, Alex felt nervous about opening the conversation around medication, but decided to do it anyway.
On Alex posted a picture of his daily dose of his medication on 27th November 2021, and since then, the post has been liked over 275,000 times, with thousands of people taking to Instagram to share a picture of their medication too.
The caption reads: "I have been thinking quite hard about whether to post this, but I feel it’s the right thing to do. So many people live with medication stigma everyday, a fear that they will be judged as being weak or discriminated against, simply for taking a pill to help with their mental health. The other day I did a pole on my stories and 75% of you have faced medication stigma. That is so sad.
I take medication, alongside therapy and self care, to help with my anxiety. I really needed this treatment but for years I didn’t access it, on reflection I was worried about what people would think. I can tell you now, I am not ashamed. I AM PROUD to take control of my own health. This does not make me weak or less able, it makes me stronger.
How many people are not getting the treatments they need AND deserve because of this very stigma? This HAS to change. This post is not about saying medication is the ‘answer’ for everyone, rather to say that for those who need it should have access without barriers or shame.
If you feel you can, join me with #postyourpill to take a stand against medication stigma 💙"
Making waves in mental health
The reception of Dr Alex's campaign has been amazing. Would you be willing to #PostYourPill?
Where does the stigma come from?
A lack of understanding
There is an age-old lack of understanding about mental health, and the impact it can have on someone's life. Those who don't understand the importance of mental wellness may be sceptical about taking medication for ailments that they can't quantify visually. E.g. if you had a broken leg, no one would tell you not to put it in a cast.
A fear of over-prescription
Because of the long waiting lists for alternative therapy in the UK, there is concern that GPs may prescribe anti-depressants as a first option, rather than considering the holistic picture. If a person is struggling and is in need of immediate support, a GP may understandably hesitate to put them on a long waiting list for other therapies (such as CBT or talking therapy), if there is a danger that their mental health may put them at risk in the meantime. You can read more about the debate in the British Medical Journal, where Des Spence argues that mental health is being overmedicalised, to Ian Reid's rebuttal that prescribing is cautious and appropriate.
A fear of addiction
Those who are sceptical about taking antidepressants may worry that they'll become addicted. However, antidepressants are not addictive medications. Your body may become accustomed to taking them, and because of that, your doctor will advise you on lowering your dose gradually when the time comes to stop taking them.
Are you struggling with a mental health issue?
If you are struggling with anxiety, depression or any thoughts and behaviours that don't feel comfortable to you, please seek help from your doctor. There are so many routes to improving your mental health, and medication is just one of them. For more information about different mental health treatments, please see the information listed on Mind.org.