Roughly two-thirds of men will start experiencing hair loss by their 30s. Some guys embrace the change and shave it all off—Pitbull’s bald look is still iconic to this day. Others might look for ways to slow down hair loss.
If you’re Team Hair, seeing more strands on your comb than your head can be nerve-racking. Companies are capitalizing on the fear: selling serums, hair masks, shampoos that promise luscious locks. But does any of it actually work?
There’s no magic potion to help you regrow hair you’ve already lost, says Melissa Piliang, MD, dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic. Instead of gambling your time and money on products that may or may not work, she recommends focusing on these expert-approved strategies.
What to Do If You’re Losing Hair
THERE ARE MANY reasons guys prematurely bald. Some of it is from genetics or a health condition. For example, the autoimmune condition called alopecia areata causes hair loss.
Then there’s lifestyle factors you can control. Stress is one of the most common causes for a type of temporary hair loss called telogen effluvium. In the height of pandemic stress, dermatologists tell MH they saw a number of these cases. With this, hair thins but often grows back. If you’re seeing or feeling thinning hair, try these dermatologist-approved strategies to help make it stop.
Minoxidil (Rogaine)
Rogaine won’t restore your lost hair, but it can help you hold on to what’s left. The FDA-approved topical medication increases blood flow and delivers more oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles.
Liquid Rogaine can cause irritation and leave a greasy coating on your hair, so Dr. Piliangopt recommends the 5 percent foam. Rub it into your scalp in the morning and again at night for the most benefit. Just keep in mind that new hair growth is likely to be shorter and thinner. This means your locks won’t be as full as they once were.
Another medication, finasteride (sold as Propecia), is an oral medication and may also help you hold onto hair. Some people prefer to start with minoxidil, which hasn’t been linked with erectile dysfunction or decreased libido.
Nutrafol
“Nutrafol is a popular hair loss supplement that contains a proprietary blend of nutraceuticals that help hair grow thicker and fuller,” says dermatologist and MH advisor Corey L. Hartman, MD. Its vitamin and herb ingredients are intended to help reduce levels of the testosterone byproduct (dihydrotestosterone) that can cause hair to thin.
Lasers
Laser devices are the only other hair-loss treatment in addition to minoxidil and finasteride that’s been FDA approved in recent years. But how well they work to keep hair loss at bay is still under question.
The devices use low levels of light and are sold as wands or helmets for $200 to nearly $900. A helmet called iGrow, for instance, costs $449 and needs to be worn for about 25 minutes every other day. One large study published over a decade ago in American Journal of Clinical Dermatology found men who zapped their scalps three times a week saw an increase in hair density after 26 weeks.
That said, most of the research on laser devices has been paid for by the products’ manufacturers, so they’re not exactly unbiased. In fact, independent reviews have come reporting these products as semi experimental and aren’t guaranteed to work.
Ketoconazole shampoo
Swap your standard shampoo for a brand with 1 percent ketoconazole, such as Nizoral, or ask your doctor to prescribe the 2 percent version.
“It’s marketed as an anti-dandruff ingredient, but there’s solid research ketoconazole is an anti-androgen,” explains Dr. Piliang. Anti-androgens block the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, that hormone byproduct that shrinks hair follicles. Massage the shampoo into your scalp, step out of the shower stream, wait two to three minutes, and rinse.
Vitamin D
Some cases of hair loss have been linked to low vitamin D levels. While every guy needs healthy vitamin D levels, it isn’t generally linked to the more common form of hair loss. But there is research, Dr. Hartman explains, that suggests a lack of D may be associated with alopecia areata. “Vitamin D plays a role in stimulating hair follicles, so when levels are low, new hair growth can be stunted,” he explains. In other words, vitamin D helps hair reset its growth phase.
Corticosteroid treatments
Sometimes hair loss is caused by inflammation from medical conditions such as autoimmune disorders. In the case of alopecia, for instance, corticosteroid medications can be injected into the scalp to help stop inflammation. In one study of 127 patients with patchy alopecia areata, over 80 percent given corticosteroid injections had at least half of their hair regrow within 12 weeks. Treatments are given every 4 to 8 weeks and help stimulate new hair growth.
Meditation and exercise
Shedding more hair than normal or noticing large bald patches all of a sudden? You may want to evaluate your stress levels. Stress essentially puts hair follicles in a resting stage, so they no longer grow—that’s what happens with telogen effluvium.
“Telogen effluvium typically does not lead to baldness because by definition, only the hairs in the telogen, or resting, phase are affected,” explains Dr. Hartman. “Only 15 to 20 percent of the total hair is in the telogen phase at any given time, so theoretically it is not possible to go bald from telogen effluvium. However, there are exceptions to every rule and while I have never seen a case of baldness solely due to TE, there are patients that experience chronic TE that can cause more significant hair loss.”
Telogen effluvium or not, it’s helpful to get your stress levels down. Classic ways to manage stress include meditation and a quick pump at the gym. (Not sure where to start? Try this 30-day meditation challenge aimed at relieving stress).
Iron
An iron deficiency may be the cause of thinning hairline for some people who follow a plant-based diet, says cosmetic dermatologist Robert Anolik, MD. The type of iron found in animal products, like shrimp and eggs, is better absorbed in the body. People who eat iron from plants, like lentils and spinach, may need to eat more of the nutrient overall. The National Institute of Health recommends 8 to 27 milligrams of daily iron for adults. If iron is the cause of hair loss, it should start to grow back once iron level are restored. Though it may take a few months.
When in doubt, see a dermatologist if you’re concerned about losing hair. They can help with diagnosing the reason behind the hair loss and tailor a treatment plan that best fits your needs.
Michelle Malia is an ultrarunner and health writer in NYC. When not writing or running, she spends her time tending to her plants, sipping hoppy IPAs, and trying to make her 200-square-foot apartment as functional as possible.
Melissa Matthews is the Health Writer at Men’s Health, covering the latest in food, nutrition, and health.
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