Hair loss and a receding hairline are just one of the signs that age is starting to take a toll on our bodies. For men, there is a very good chance that it's only a matter of time before you start to notice that your hairline is receding. For a fifth of men, androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness as it commonly know as, starts as they reach puberty. They will probably have extensive hairloss by the age of 30 or even younger. For them, male pattern baldness is extremely rapid and extensive.

For a sixty percent of men, the process of hairloss is far more gradual. It also starts later on in life. Regardless of the time frame however, near total baldness across the majority of the head areas affects most of the male adult population.

Female Hair Loss

Hairloss for men is more socially acceptable. Women on the other hand, often face a more traumatic experience from unexpected hair loss. While early adolescence and the 20s are potential problem times for women susceptible to generic hair loss, menopause is an equally critical time.

Hair Growth

The rate of hair growth is 3mm per week (faster than any other part of the body except bone marrow).

This process of hair loss and hair regrowth is continuous and natural - it is only when daily hair loss greatly exceeds this rate that an unnatural condition may be present. The human head has an average of around 100,000 hair follicles, which can each produce about 20 hairs in a lifetime

Does Hair Colour Make a Difference?

People with red hair have 25% fewer scalp hairs than those with brown hair; whilst blonds have over a quarter more scalp hairs than brunettes. This fact may account for the belief that men with red hair are more likely to go bald than anyone else.

Normally, this would be an ample amount of hair for one person, if it weren't for many factors, including particularly D.H.T. or Dihyrotestosterone.

DHT - A Factor in Male Hair Loss

This is a powerful hormone in our bodies, which can adversely affect the hair on our head. It is very important for a person to have proper nutrition to maintain hair. When DHT reaches the hair follicles and dermal papilla, it tends to prevent proteins, vitamins and minerals from providing the necessary nourishment to sustain life in the hair of these follicles. Due to this, the hair follicles tend to reproduce at a slower rate and this in turn either shortens the growing phase of the hair follicles or lengthens its resting stage.

This can result in a shrinking of the hair follicle, which makes hair growth more difficult and makes hair more vulnerable to falling out.

Other Hair Loss Factors

In addition to the chemical effects of D.H.T. other factors can affect the growth of hair. Stress, poor nutrition and of course old age also affect adversely an individuals ability to reproduce hair at fast enough rates.

Hair Loss Treatment, Prevention and Hair Loss Products

If you want to reverse or prevent hair loss, what can be done? - There are a lot of treatments available from creams to Hair Transplants - many are quite costly, and all achieve mixed results. It is essential that you do your research into all of the alternatives that are available on the market.

Remember always that new / improved treatments are constantly being developed. This means that even if you have had no success in the past a solution that works for you may become available at any time.