When it comes to looking for information surrounding hair loss and its effects, the internet is an overcrowded space filled with unhelpful misconceptions around what actually causes it. When it comes down to it, the truth is that there are realistically a lot of different causes to hair loss within men (but when it comes to solutions there aren’t as many), so if you’re looking for answers then you’ve really come to the right place.
Today, we’re going to debunk some of the most common hair loss myths to help you make the decision that’s right for you, and figure out the actual cause of your hair loss.
Having too much testosterone causes hair loss
This one is one of the most widespread theories that is going around on the internet, but in reality it’s not actually the testosterone that’s to blame. The hormone that is at fault for hair loss is dihydrotestosterone, also known as DHT. DHT is created as a byproduct of testosterone, so we can understand the roots behind the theory, and is known as one of the most common causes of hair loss and baldness in men.
The reality of the situation though is that hair loss is something that is experienced by men who have high and low levels of testosterone, so there’s really not a correlation there. We’re going to have to write this one off as a complete myth because of that, so while it’s possible that you have too much testosterone and are losing your hair, there isn’t really a direct correlation.
Wearing a hat will suffocate your hair
When it comes to people who are suffering from hair loss, one of the first things that they are likely to do is attempt to cover up their receding hairline or balding crown by wearing a hat. Doesn’t matter whether it’s a beanie hat or a snapback, they’re thought of as a quick fix that keeps it out of sight and out of mind. Unfortunately though, if you take a look online you’ll find people who believe that wearing a hat can actually cause your hair to fall out.
Some good news for hat wearers though is that wearing a hat won’t suffocate your hair, in fact it doesn’t cause any real effect at all. The follicles will get all the oxygen that they need directly from the bloodstream, so it’s not possible to suffocate them from the outside. You’re completely safe to wear whatever you want on your head, whether it’s a fashion choice or being used to hide hair loss.
Is hair loss your mum’s fault?
Something that has been mentioned both online and offline for a long time is that not only is your hair loss hereditary but that it comes from your maternal grandfather (your grandfather on your mums side). First things first, you can stop looking for photos of your grandfather now as it’s not necessarily his fault, because while hair loss is affected by genetics, it’s not strictly from the maternal side.
Genetics do play a very important role in hair loss, more specifically your genes influence the extent that DHT actually affects your hair follicles. They key takeaway here though is that while it is based in genetics, this comes from both sides of your family so you can stop blaming your mum for the reason why you’re going bald.
Being overstressed is causing your hair to fall out
This one is one that is a little bit trickier to debunk, as periods of trauma and stress can definitely trigger hair loss. The big thing here though is that hair loss of this kind generally is never really permanent.
This form of hair loss is known as “Telogen Effluvium” and is known to be experienced when issues such as stress or even nutrient deficiencies are happening. What this means is that the hair follicles actually stop regenerating for a while, meaning that any new growth is actually stopped.
The problem with figuring this out is that it’s difficult to pinpoint a trigger for everyone, as everyone is completely different. Sometimes stress can be caused by work or difficulties at home, and other times it can be something more trivial, but there’s no shame in experiencing hair loss from stress. The good news is that stress induced hair loss is likely to grow back once you get through the stressful period, and if it doesn’t then it’s more than likely that stress isn’t the cause.
Hair loss is something that doesn’t affect young people
Now this one is completely false (and we won’t even sit here and debate it). Male pattern baldness (MPB) is something that can be developed as early as being a teenager, so really there isn’t a set point where it can actually kick in across the board. Statistically, hair loss affects approximately 30% of men before they reach age 30, so there’s really no age limit behind being affected by hair loss.
While it is true that more men will experience hair loss as they age, there isn’t a set point where it will happen, you might start at 16 and you may not experience it at all, it’s just luck of the draw really.
So there you have it, we’ve debunked 5 of the most common hair loss myths that are found online, covering everything from fashion choices through to genes and everything in between. If you’re suffering from hair loss and have any questions, your best solution is to get in touch with a member of our team to arrange a completely free, no-obligation consultation today.