Why Am I Going Bald?

14th March 2003, 02:32 PM

I am in my early thirties, male, and I have had thining hair since my mid-twenties.

I have been all over the 'net trying to find the causes of male hair loss, but all I am finding are crack-pot explainations and cures.

I know the basics: it is genetic, but can anyone direct me to some good sites or information on what causes male hair loss?

14th March 2003, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by John Bryce
I am in my early thirties, male, and I have had thining hair since my mid-twenties.

I have been all over the 'net trying to find the causes of male hair loss, but all I am finding are crack-pot explainations and cures.

I know the basics: it is genetic, but can anyone direct me to some good sites or information on what causes male hair loss?

Just cut to the chase and buy some Rogaine.

Marvel Frozen · 14th March 2003, 03:32 PM

Testosterone is responsible for hair loss, so if you don't want to go bald, then be sure to castrate yourself before adolescence.

14th March 2003, 06:43 PM

Then why does only the hair on the top of my head thin? Does all that testosterone rise to the top of my head? Sorry, I'm sceptical of that reason.

garys_2k · 14th March 2003, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by John Bryce
Then why does only the hair on the top of my head thin? Does all that testosterone rise to the top of my head? Sorry, I'm sceptical of that reason.

I would just suspect that different follicles are more sensitive to it, and that this sensitivity changes over time in a particular pattern.

I do believe certain androgenic blockers will prevent hair loss, but I'm not positive.

14th March 2003, 06:55 PM

One second thought, maybe Marvel Frozen is right about that testosterone and baldness thing:

fishbob · 14th March 2003, 06:57 PM

A true story - overheard in a barber shop - in Alaska.

Customer with thinning hair - I'm thinking of shaving my head. Will you do that?

Barber - Are you married?

Customer - No

Barber - You have a girlfriend?

Customer - No

Barber - You have a hat?

Customer - Yes

Barber - OK, I'll do it.
--------------------------------------------------
There is probably not much you can do about it - so get a hat.

Marvel Frozen · 15th March 2003, 12:59 AM

These two sites have some information on the causes of hair loss:

http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/003246.htm
http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/001177.htm

Nie Trink Wasser · 16th March 2003, 04:25 PM

rogaine helps

nioxin shampoo and scalp treatment helps fight DHT buildup in your scalp ( http://www.nioxin.com/ )

you may also try this www.demodexsolutions.com ...... you may think it is crackpot, but if your scalp is red and itching, then you probably should use this stuff...it has helped repair my scalp.

most of the problem is caused by stress. Most of the stress comes from really viscious dermatologists who dont want to help and just tell you to use rogain or whatever that pill is. Human beings like to watch you squirm and feel insecure about your hair.....so #1 is to not worry about it....shave it short and start taking better care of your scalp.

My theory is that balding is mange. Females bald as well, but for some reason, most of these "studies" are directed to males. I think that "mange" is passed down from a family member at an early age and men are either more sensitive to it or they dont take care of their scalps like women do, but thats just my theory.

look at those sites I gave you.....they help.

a_unique_person · 16th March 2003, 04:51 PM

IIRC, you can blame it all on your mother. You got the genes from her.

GreyWanderer · 16th March 2003, 04:55 PM

Is it so bad being bald really?

Nie Trink Wasser · 16th March 2003, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GreyWanderer
Is it so bad being bald really?

in our culture, yes it is.

GreyWanderer · 16th March 2003, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nie Trink Wasser

in our culture, yes it is.

Well, there are a lot of famous people that are bald. And it's not necessarily viewed as a handicap. But I guess being bald fits some people more than others. I mean, some people look really cool bald.

Nie Trink Wasser · 16th March 2003, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GreyWanderer

Well, there are a lot of famous people that are bald. And it's not necessarily viewed as a handicap. But I guess being bald fits some people more than others. I mean, some people look really cool bald.

name one person that looks better bald than with hair and consider their role in our culture.

balding is a handicap. I'd say it's worse (socially, in our culture) than being deformed. A deformed person is respected. If your bald, you're the butt of a joke, bottom line.

GreyWanderer · 16th March 2003, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nie Trink Wasser

name one person that looks better bald than with hair and consider their role in our culture.

balding is a handicap. I'd say it's worse (socially, in our culture) than being deformed. A deformed person is respected. If your bald, you're the butt of a joke, bottom line.

Ok, those I remember just now...

Patrick Stewart (the guy who plays Picard in Star Trek (ok, he's old, so maybe he doesn't count)

Moby (not sure if he's bald or just shaves his hair)

Hmm, when I think about it, many of those people I think of just shaves their hair. But what's the big difference?

Nie Trink Wasser · 16th March 2003, 08:34 PM

Moby ?

Patrick Stewart ?

you can tell when someone is bald easily over someone who shaves their head.

A bald person must keep their head shaved so that the hair doesnt grow out and become too obvious.

The difference is that if you just shave your head, you are considered attractive. If you shave your head because you are balding, you're not attractive any longer, but shaving it somehow makes it seem a bit better.

A girl will settle for a balding guy, but the cold hard truth is that it's a weakness.....sort of embarrassing to them....its just how the world works.

It's like going to the pound and picking out a dog that has mange over a healthy puppy.

yep.

16th March 2003, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marvel Frozen
These two sites have some information on the causes of hair loss:

http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/003246.htm
http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/001177.htm

Thanks. Good information.

16th March 2003, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nie Trink Wasser
look at those sites I gave you.....they help.

Thanks for the information.

16th March 2003, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nie Trink Wasser
A girl will settle for a balding guy, but the cold hard truth is that it's a weakness.....sort of embarrassing to them....its just how the world works.

I tend to agree. Old men are bald. A young man going bald may seem old to a young woman. Also, hair loss might be seen subconciously as unhealthy to a woman, and, from an evolutionary standpoint, women look for mates that have good genes. I think it has a lot to do with that evolutionary drive.

Oh, well. I guess I'll be adopting; if you can adopt as a single parent.

Nie Trink Wasser · 16th March 2003, 08:59 PM

the problem with genetics causing baldness is that I know plenty of guys who have a full head of hair (and are over 30), but their dad is bald and whole family is full of baldbaldbald men............

Dragonrock · 17th March 2003, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nie Trink Wasser
Moby ?

Patrick Stewart ?

you can tell when someone is bald easily over someone who shaves their head.

A bald person must keep their head shaved so that the hair doesnt grow out and become too obvious.

The difference is that if you just shave your head, you are considered attractive. If you shave your head because you are balding, you're not attractive any longer, but shaving it somehow makes it seem a bit better.

A girl will settle for a balding guy, but the cold hard truth is that it's a weakness.....sort of embarrassing to them....its just how the world works.

It's like going to the pound and picking out a dog that has mange over a healthy puppy.

yep.

Girls may feel this way, but I believe that women aren't embarassed by bald men. After a woman turns about 23 they grow up enough that the only thing they find embarassing is a bad combover. But then again, everyone should be embarassed by a combover.

BillHoyt · 17th March 2003, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nie Trink Wasser
the problem with genetics causing baldness is that I know plenty of guys who have a full head of hair (and are over 30), but their dad is bald and whole family is full of baldbaldbald men............

NTW,

The trait is considered sex-influenced. The main gene is on the X-chromosome, which comes from the mother. This gene triggers the follicle reaction to DHT. So, when a man gets the baldness gene from mom, and has high levels of DHT, he goes bald. While your dad can give you the high levels of DHT, only your mom can give you the DHT reaction gene.

Cheers,

14th March 2003, 02:32 PM	#1
John Bryce Guest Posts: n/a	Why Am I Going Bald? I am in my early thirties, male, and I have had thining hair since my mid-twenties. I have been all over the 'net trying to find the causes of male hair loss, but all I am finding are crack-pot explainations and cures. I know the basics: it is genetic, but can anyone direct me to some good sites or information on what causes male hair loss?
John Bryce Guest Posts: n/a

14th March 2003, 02:34 PM	#2
Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Why Am I Going Bald? Quote: Originally posted by John Bryce I am in my early thirties, male, and I have had thining hair since my mid-twenties. I have been all over the 'net trying to find the causes of male hair loss, but all I am finding are crack-pot explainations and cures. I know the basics: it is genetic, but can anyone direct me to some good sites or information on what causes male hair loss? Just cut to the chase and buy some Rogaine.
Guest Posts: n/a

14th March 2003, 03:32 PM	#3
Marvel Frozen Thinker Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 237	Testosterone is responsible for hair loss, so if you don't want to go bald, then be sure to castrate yourself before adolescence.
Marvel Frozen Thinker Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 237	__________________ "Holy macaroni! I can't believe I'm seeing bigfoot. He's in focus! Oh, I've waited my entire life for this moment!"

14th March 2003, 06:43 PM	#4
John Bryce Guest Posts: n/a	Then why does only the hair on the top of my head thin? Does all that testosterone rise to the top of my head? Sorry, I'm sceptical of that reason.
John Bryce Guest Posts: n/a

14th March 2003, 06:46 PM	#5
garys_2k Muse Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 756	Quote: Originally posted by John Bryce Then why does only the hair on the top of my head thin? Does all that testosterone rise to the top of my head? Sorry, I'm sceptical of that reason. I would just suspect that different follicles are more sensitive to it, and that this sensitivity changes over time in a particular pattern. I do believe certain androgenic blockers will prevent hair loss, but I'm not positive.
garys_2k Muse Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 756	__________________ - Gary

14th March 2003, 06:55 PM	#6
John Bryce Guest Posts: n/a	One second thought, maybe Marvel Frozen is right about that testosterone and baldness thing:
John Bryce Guest Posts: n/a

14th March 2003, 06:57 PM	#7
fishbob Seasonally Disaffected Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chilly Undieville Posts: 5,666	A true story - overheard in a barber shop - in Alaska. Customer with thinning hair - I'm thinking of shaving my head. Will you do that? Barber - Are you married? Customer - No Barber - You have a girlfriend? Customer - No Barber - You have a hat? Customer - Yes Barber - OK, I'll do it. -------------------------------------------------- There is probably not much you can do about it - so get a hat.
	__________________ When you believe in things you don't understand, then you suffer . . . " - Stevie Wonder "Stupidity - a callow indifference to facts or data" - Stuart Firestein -neuroscientist. I hate bigots.

15th March 2003, 12:59 AM	#8
Marvel Frozen Thinker Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 237	These two sites have some information on the causes of hair loss: http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/003246.htm http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/001177.htm
Marvel Frozen Thinker Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 237	__________________ "Holy macaroni! I can't believe I'm seeing bigfoot. He's in focus! Oh, I've waited my entire life for this moment!"

16th March 2003, 04:25 PM	#9
Nie Trink Wasser Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,333	real solutions rogaine helps nioxin shampoo and scalp treatment helps fight DHT buildup in your scalp ( http://www.nioxin.com/ ) you may also try this www.demodexsolutions.com ...... you may think it is crackpot, but if your scalp is red and itching, then you probably should use this stuff...it has helped repair my scalp. most of the problem is caused by stress. Most of the stress comes from really viscious dermatologists who dont want to help and just tell you to use rogain or whatever that pill is. Human beings like to watch you squirm and feel insecure about your hair.....so #1 is to not worry about it....shave it short and start taking better care of your scalp. My theory is that balding is mange. Females bald as well, but for some reason, most of these "studies" are directed to males. I think that "mange" is passed down from a family member at an early age and men are either more sensitive to it or they dont take care of their scalps like women do, but thats just my theory. look at those sites I gave you.....they help.

16th March 2003, 04:51 PM	#10
a_unique_person Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Mt Disappointment Posts: 33,313	IIRC, you can blame it all on your mother. You got the genes from her.
	__________________ *Continually pushing the boundaries of mediocrity.* Everything is possible, but not everything is probable. For if a man pretend to me that God hath spoken to him supernaturally, and immediately, and I make doubt of it, I cannot easily perceive what argument he can produce to oblige me to believe it. Hobbes

16th March 2003, 04:55 PM	#11
GreyWanderer Thinker Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 140	Is it so bad being bald really?
GreyWanderer Thinker Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 140	__________________ "Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." - J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings

16th March 2003, 06:36 PM	#12
Nie Trink Wasser Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,333	Quote: Originally posted by GreyWanderer Is it so bad being bald really? in our culture, yes it is.

16th March 2003, 06:57 PM	#13
GreyWanderer Thinker Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 140	Quote: Originally posted by Nie Trink Wasser in our culture, yes it is. Well, there are a lot of famous people that are bald. And it's not necessarily viewed as a handicap. But I guess being bald fits some people more than others. I mean, some people look really cool bald.
GreyWanderer Thinker Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 140	__________________ "Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." - J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings

16th March 2003, 07:19 PM	#14
Nie Trink Wasser Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,333	Quote: Originally posted by GreyWanderer Well, there are a lot of famous people that are bald. And it's not necessarily viewed as a handicap. But I guess being bald fits some people more than others. I mean, some people look really cool bald. name one person that looks better bald than with hair and consider their role in our culture. balding is a handicap. I'd say it's worse (socially, in our culture) than being deformed. A deformed person is respected. If your bald, you're the butt of a joke, bottom line.

16th March 2003, 07:29 PM	#15
GreyWanderer Thinker Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 140	Quote: Originally posted by Nie Trink Wasser name one person that looks better bald than with hair and consider their role in our culture. balding is a handicap. I'd say it's worse (socially, in our culture) than being deformed. A deformed person is respected. If your bald, you're the butt of a joke, bottom line. Ok, those I remember just now... Patrick Stewart (the guy who plays Picard in Star Trek (ok, he's old, so maybe he doesn't count) Moby (not sure if he's bald or just shaves his hair) Hmm, when I think about it, many of those people I think of just shaves their hair. But what's the big difference?
GreyWanderer Thinker Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 140	__________________ "Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." - J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings

16th March 2003, 08:34 PM	#16
Nie Trink Wasser Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,333	Moby ? Patrick Stewart ? you can tell when someone is bald easily over someone who shaves their head. A bald person must keep their head shaved so that the hair doesnt grow out and become too obvious. The difference is that if you just shave your head, you are considered attractive. If you shave your head because you are balding, you're not attractive any longer, but shaving it somehow makes it seem a bit better. A girl will settle for a balding guy, but the cold hard truth is that it's a weakness.....sort of embarrassing to them....its just how the world works. It's like going to the pound and picking out a dog that has mange over a healthy puppy. yep.

16th March 2003, 08:40 PM	#17
John Bryce Guest Posts: n/a	Quote: Originally posted by Marvel Frozen These two sites have some information on the causes of hair loss: http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/003246.htm http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/001177.htm Thanks. Good information.
John Bryce Guest Posts: n/a

16th March 2003, 08:42 PM	#18
John Bryce Guest Posts: n/a	Re: real solutions Quote: Originally posted by Nie Trink Wasser look at those sites I gave you.....they help. Thanks for the information.
John Bryce Guest Posts: n/a

16th March 2003, 08:56 PM	#19
John Bryce Guest Posts: n/a	Quote: Originally posted by Nie Trink Wasser A girl will settle for a balding guy, but the cold hard truth is that it's a weakness.....sort of embarrassing to them....its just how the world works. I tend to agree. Old men are bald. A young man going bald may seem old to a young woman. Also, hair loss might be seen subconciously as unhealthy to a woman, and, from an evolutionary standpoint, women look for mates that have good genes. I think it has a lot to do with that evolutionary drive. Oh, well. I guess I'll be adopting; if you can adopt as a single parent.
John Bryce Guest Posts: n/a

16th March 2003, 08:59 PM	#20
Nie Trink Wasser Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,333	the problem with genetics causing baldness is that I know plenty of guys who have a full head of hair (and are over 30), but their dad is bald and whole family is full of baldbaldbald men............

17th March 2003, 06:45 AM	#21
Dragonrock Militant Elvisian Tacoist Join Date: May 2002 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 9,856	Quote: Originally posted by Nie Trink Wasser Moby ? Patrick Stewart ? you can tell when someone is bald easily over someone who shaves their head. A bald person must keep their head shaved so that the hair doesnt grow out and become too obvious. The difference is that if you just shave your head, you are considered attractive. If you shave your head because you are balding, you're not attractive any longer, but shaving it somehow makes it seem a bit better. A girl will settle for a balding guy, but the cold hard truth is that it's a weakness.....sort of embarrassing to them....its just how the world works. It's like going to the pound and picking out a dog that has mange over a healthy puppy. yep. Girls may feel this way, but I believe that women aren't embarassed by bald men. After a woman turns about 23 they grow up enough that the only thing they find embarassing is a bad combover. But then again, everyone should be embarassed by a combover.
	__________________ ...it rings a bell in my head that just don't chime...--pillory There is no God but the Great Taco In The Sky and Elvis is his prophet.

17th March 2003, 06:48 AM	#22
BillHoyt Enlightening rod Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Right behind you... Posts: 5,842	Quote: Originally posted by Nie Trink Wasser the problem with genetics causing baldness is that I know plenty of guys who have a full head of hair (and are over 30), but their dad is bald and whole family is full of baldbaldbald men............ NTW, The trait is considered sex-influenced. The main gene is on the X-chromosome, which comes from the mother. This gene triggers the follicle reaction to DHT. So, when a man gets the baldness gene from mom, and has high levels of DHT, he goes bald. While your dad can give you the high levels of DHT, only your mom can give you the DHT reaction gene. Cheers,