5 Early Signs of Hair Loss

HAIR LOSS, two words you hope to live without. No one wants to go bald, but many people will have to tackle it at some point in their lives.

There are more than 80 million hair loss sufferers in the United States alone, and men account for more than 70% of that number. In fact, 66% of men will experience some form of male pattern baldness by age 35. Trust us, you are not alone.

It’s important to point out the early indicators of hair loss and determine what solution is best for you.

Why do we lose our hair?

A recent study showed that 79% of male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is inherited. There are other hair loss causes like forms of alopecia, stress, side effects from medications, physical trauma, and much more.

The 5 signs of hair loss

1. The Baldness Gene

If baldness runs in your family, there’s a good chance that what you’re noticing is a genuine problem. Patterns in your family are usually indicative of what you can expect to see in the mirror. The myth that hair loss only comes from your mother side is actually not as supported as you’d think. It is a relatively new field of research and some studies have shown that balding genes are on the Y chromosome (Men get the X chromosome from their mothers), complicating this myth by making fathers’ genes also an important factor to hair loss. Either way, if hair loss runs in your family, it can play a big factor in your future.

2. Hair in the Shower

When showering, it is common to lose a few strands of hair. It is also perfectly normal to wake up and find a few hairs on your pillow. In fact, it’s okay to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, and even up to 250 strands on the days you wash your hair, according to Web MD. However, if this is a more than a regular occurrence, it may be that you’re losing hair faster than what can be considered normal daily shedding. For those that experience their first clump of hair in the shower, that moment can be incredibly stressful and eye-opening.

3. Thinning at the crown

Thinner hair around your crown – A typical early indicator of hair loss, most men who experience thinning hair are losing it around their crown before other areas, therefore visible skin in the area is a real giveaway.

4. Your hairline is receding

Contrary to common belief, by the time most men notice recession of their frontal hairline, they’ve probably lost a lot of hair in the form of generalized thinning. Some men do experience hairline recession first, which can be daunting as a receding hairline is perhaps the most visible sign of hair loss.

5. Flaky scalp

Sebum is produced by the skin, which helps to keep the hair healthy. However, when hair is thinner than before, sebum can build up and irritate the follicles, causing an itchy or flaky scalp.

You’re losing your hair. What should you do about it?

First things first – relax and take two deep breaths. Hair loss isn’t the end of the world, and there are things you can do about it.

We would urge you to avoid diving into the plethora of hair loss lotions, potions and pills available online. Very few are backed by any authoritative clinical studies, and even fewer produce real, consistent results.

Topical products that contain minoxidil (Rogaine), or drug-based options with finasteride (Propecia) can sometimes work, but to see any real benefits from these options, you must catch hair loss very early on and its efficacy is truly case by case. Furthermore, there are some unpleasant side effects to consider, from inflammation of the scalp to erectile dysfunction. Also, keep in mind, finasteride (Propecia) was released almost 27 years ago and minoxidil (Rogaine) over 20 years ago – these products have been available for years and there are still tons of people struggling with hair loss.

You may contemplate getting a hair transplant but with any major surgery, there are a lot of things to consider. Check out this article we wrote talking about hair transplants vs. scalp micropigmentation.

What about scalp micropigmentation?

For obvious reasons, we’re strong advocates for SMP because it’s the service we deliver every day in our clinics. But consider the pros and cons.

Not only is scalp micropigmentation non-invasive, low maintenance, and drug-free, it’s also the only answer to hair loss that provides 100% guaranteed results. There are many ways to deal with going bald, but we believe this treatment makes the most sense for a lot of people.

To learn more about the scalp micropigmentation treatment and how we could help you cover the early signs of hair loss, contact our team to arrange a free and informal consultation.