Causes of premature balding and effective hair loss solutions.

Baldness in men is almost a foregone conclusion. Most men accept that eventually they will lose their hair, and while most men expect thinning hair once they reach there mid 50's, they hope to have a full head of hair until then. Therefore to start losing your hair in your mid 20's or even earlier can be very distressing. Why is it some men suffer with premature balding and what are some effective hair loss solutions?

Knowing the causes of premature baldness can help in finding an effective solution.

The exact causes of  balding prematurely, or androgenic alopecia, has puzzled researchers for many years, but in recent years advances have been made in understanding the causes and determining what does NOT contribute to hair loss at an early age, for example, diet, climate or race have been found to have very little influence on whether a man experiences hair loss or not.

What early balding appears to come down to is genes and, ironically, testosterone. What makes men grow hair in the first place when they reach puberty, appears in some cases, when combined with a testosterone derived hormone called DHT, to slow down the growth of hair follicles on the scalp. Therefore, if the presence of DHT can be minimized, theoretically the hair loss process can be reversed or slowed down.

The most well known drug for reversing hair loss by controlling the presence of DHT, is Propecia (finasteride). Another popular drug called Rogaine (minoxidil) is also used as a male hair loss treatment. This drug started out as a treatment for high blood pressure, but one of the side effects was seen to be increased hair growth. Just how it works is still unknown. However, both these drugs are approved by the FDA and have had proven success in partially restoring hair loss.

An alternative to drugs as a hair loss solution is to try a natural hair loss product. Natural extracts of saw palmetto and fenugreek have been proved to reduce DHT and increase blood flow to the scalp, another important factor in reversing hair loss. There are an increasing number of hair loss treatments that include these and other natural products that can help reverse the balding process.

A third option is to go the surgical route. Hair transplants have come a long way in the last few years and there are various techniques depending on the type of baldness you have. There is micro grafting, slit grafting, punch grafting and scalp reduction.

A fourth option and one that requires accepting baldness as a fact, is to cut your hair short or go for the shaved look. Fortunately at the moment fashion favors this look with athletes, actors and other famous personalities going for the shaved look. Fundamental to any hair care routine is to keep the hair clean and oil free, and gently massage the scalp to encourage blood circulation.