In Men's ongoing battle against baldness nearly $1 billion a year is spent by American males in staving off hair loss that happens in 2 out of 3 of these courageous warriors. As of this writing, there still is no cure in sight against a shiny bald pate. And while male pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss, the argument about the real causes of baldness is still yet to be determined. Male pattern baldness however, according to recent studies, can be caused by defective progenitor cells, a type of hair follicle stem cell, in the scalp.
The study, published in the Journal Of Clinical Investigation, suggest that men with receding hairline that goes all the way to the crown, characteristic of male pattern baldness, all had malfunctioning progenitor cells. These progenitor cells appeared to be stunted and would not mature fully in order for the hair growth cycle to complete. With this discovery, researchers could now develop a treatment that reactivates and restores the defective progenitor cells. Although there are a lot of myths about the cause of hair loss that have been passed on from generation to generation that may be true or unfounded, most grew out of legend rather than scientific facts. This recent findings helps clear out the growing list of myths about baldness.
Myth #1: Sexually active men go bald sooner.
False. Research shows that testosterone levels in bald men who are more sexually active were found to have levels no higher than their less active counterparts.
Myth #2: Wearing a hat can strain and pull hair out.
False. Unless the hat is causing scalp or hair injury, then wearing a hat or a baseball cap will not loosen the hair follicles or cause hair strain that will lead to the hair falling off.
Myth #3: Emotional stress leads to hair loss.
True. Emotional stress has been associated with loss of hair. There are 2 types of hair loss due to stress; one is called Telogen Effluvium which can occur after 2 or 3 months. However, hair can regrow back after the source of stress has passed; the other is called Alopecia Areata which leads to bald spots on the scalp so is also known as spot baldness.
Myth #4: Baldness comes from the mother's side.
True, but not statistically true. Although mothers contribute a bigger role when it comes to passing down the genes, especially the X Chromosome gene which relates to baldness, research statistics suggest that men are more likely to start losing hair earlier if they have a father who also started going bald sooner.
Myth #5: Physical trauma can cause hair loss.
True. Physical trauma have been observed to cause dramatic loss of hair in a short time. However, depending on the conditions the hair can grow back to what it was after the episode has passed. In other cases, the event can speed up the balding process and cannot be reversed.
Myth #6: Baldness comes with getting old.
False. Hair loss can strike at any age even right after puberty to some. Men and women in their 20s and 30s can start to have thinning hair.
Myth #7: Rogaine and Propecia treatments can prevent hair loss.
True. Rogaine, a topical treatment that when applied to the scalp regularly, can help slow hair loss. Propecia, a prescription pill, can also prevent hair loss and is more effective in younger people who are just in the early stages of thinning hair. Although effective, there is a downside, Rogaine must be applied two times a day and can irritate the scalp, while Propecia can reduce the sex drive (libido).
Myth #8: Hairspray and Gel cause baldness.
False. Putting gel or hairspray, washing hair with regular shampoo or dandruff shampoo, teasing the hair, or using curling irons will not cause baldness. However, doing too much of it and abu