How Long Does it Take to Go Bald? Lordhair Answers!
- Written by Lordhair Team
- Dec 25, 2020
- |
- 12 min read
Listen to the full text"How long does it take to go bald?"
The question has been baffling men across the globe for decades now. Some recession of hair on both sides of the scalp means there is nothing to worry about. Right? Here are some more questions famously asked by men across the globe:
Does baldness happen in the thirties or forties?
Will I lose my hair slowly or quickly?
Is there any way I can stop hair fall as I age?
To put it simply, there is no dearth of questions related to the hair fall timeline. Don’t worry, you will find answers to all of them after reading this post!
In this blog, Lordhair will not only tell you about how long it takes to go bald but will also share its causes, symptoms, and popular treatments. Learning about them could help you pick the right recovery option.
First, let us take a close look at how long it really takes for men to go bald:
How long does it take to go bald?
The degree of baldness varies from men to men. So, the answer to the mind-boggling question is “it depends”. That said, dermatologists believe that it typically takes 15-25 years for men to go bald completely. Men that are experiencing receding hairline at 20 could expect a shiny bald head between 35 and 45 years of age.
In some extreme cases, men go completely bald within 5 years of hair thinning commencement. It is therefore almost impossible to put a finger on how long the process will take.
The good news is that no matter what happens, you won’t get bald overnight.
Symptoms of baldness
Most men think that hair fall is the most common sign of baldness. However, a lot of them don’t know that losing some hair strands daily doesn’t mean baldness is kicking in. We all lose around 50 to 100 hair strands per day.
Baldness in men can be best described by an exacerbation of the alopecia condition, which is characterized as a small bald spot on the scalp where the hair cannot grow. There are different ways to identify hair loss.
The following are some common symptoms of baldness among men:
- Receding hairline: It is one of the most common symptoms of baldness among men. The process usually starts around the temple region. From there, the thinning hairline moves back across the top of the head, forming an M-shape around the scalp.
- Aggressive hair loss: An increase in the amount of hair stuck to the pillow, towel, or sink is often an early indicator of baldness among men. A lot of hair on the comb and hand after a styling session also means that hair loss is quickly settling in.
- Thinning of the crown area: It is another known symptom of baldness among men. Thinning of hair at the crown area could happen over time. Usually, men notice shedding at the top of their heads many years before baldness becomes fully visible.
- Itchy or flaky scalp: Dermatologists state that an itchy or flaky scalp can also be an early sign of baldness. In addition to that, the overproduction of sebum can block hair follicles and cause hair loss among men.
Causes of baldness
Now that you know how much time baldness typically takes as well as its popular symptoms, it becomes important to understand its possible causes. Baldness is typically related to one or more of the following factors:
#1 Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) has a great effect on male baldness. It is derived from testosterone. When men get older, their testosterone (about 10%) gets converted to DHT with the involvement of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. These hormones then link to receptors on hair follicles present in the scalp, causing them to shrink and become less capable of supporting a healthy head of hair.
The hair follicles affected by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) gradually produce thinner and shorter shafts and eventually cause them to disappear. Men suffering from this cause will witness a loss of hair at the sides of their crown and might even face a receding hairline.
#2 Stress
Stress can also make men go bald within years. According to dermatologists, it triggers telogen effluvium which pushes large numbers of hair follicles into the ‘resting’ phase. The affected hair strands might fall out suddenly while combing, taking a bath, or washing hair.
Stress can also lead to an irresistible urge among men to pull out hair from the scalp, eyebrows, and other areas of the body. If one notices sudden or patchy hair loss or more than usual hair loss when combing or washing the hair, visit an doctor before the condition gets worse.
#3 Androgenetic alopecia
As another common cause of hair loss that makes men go bald, also referred to as male-pattern baldness, it is a condition in which a male loses his hair in a well-defined pattern, beginning above both temples. Over time, the hairline recedes to form a characteristic M shape.
Hair also thins at the crown area (top of the head) which progresses to partial or complete baldness. A variety of genetic and environmental factors likely play a role in causing androgenetic alopecia among men. This condition can even result in permanent hair loss if not taken care of on time.
Different forms of alopecia causing baldness among men. Treatments included!
#4 Drug and supplements
Medications that are designed to treat a variety of health conditions can also cause side effects, and hair loss among males can be one of them. Drugs and supplements trigger baldness by interfering with the normal cycle of scalp hair growth. At first, hair strands go into the anagen phase where hair strands last for two to seven months.
However, as time passes, hair strands enters the telogen phase that lasts for about three months. At the end of this phase, hair begins to fall out. Some men may regrow their hair over time, while others might face permanent baldness.
Baldness Treatments
Most of the time, baldness is caused genetically among men. Such type of hair loss is difficult to reverse. However, there are some treatments that can help you slow or reduce hair loss, or may even stimulate partial hair strands growth.
The following are well-known treatments to overcome baldness:
#1 Rogaine
Rogaine is an over-the-counter liquid or foam used to treat male pattern baldness. Better known as Minoxidil, it is a popular hair gain treatment approved by the US Foods and Drugs Administration. Rogaine tends to work best for men who have been balding for less than 5 years.
This medication for hair loss works as a peripheral vasodilator. It helps widen and loosen blood vessels to increase blood flow. Rogaine increases the flow of blood and nutrients to the hair follicles, stimulating hair growth. Men suffering from baldness can use it as a 2% and 5% solution.
However, don’t overuse Rogaine as it has its share of side effects. Here are some known side effects of Minoxidil:
- Scalp irritation
- Hair growth in adjacent areas
- Changes in hair texture or color
- Sudden, unexplained weight gain
- Faintness or dizziness
- Swelling of your hands or feet
- Chest pain
We recommend you to take a prescription from a dermatologist before using Rogaine as a treatment for baldness.
#2 Hair systems
Unlike Rogaine, a hair replacement system has no side effects. Also called a modern wig, toupee, or hairpiece, it is a non-surgical solution that helps men overcome baldness within a matter of minutes. A hair system comprises natural human hair woven into a skin-friendly base.
The base provides the men with high breathability, durability, and comfort, while the high-quality strands deliver a hyper-realistic look. Check out this video to witness how Lordhair’s hairpiece helped Chris overcome baldness:
Advantages of getting a hair system
There are several benefits of wearing a hair replacement system to recover from chronic or partial hair loss. We have listed 2 popular ones only.
- Convenience: Hair systems are a great way to recover from aggressive hair loss within minutes. Men with major hair loss in the crown region and frontal hairline choose hair wigs to quickly recover and regain confidence.
- Low cost: Hair systems are affordable as well as practical recovery solutions if your hair loss is pretty extreme or limited to a specific region. By spending less than US$1000 a year, you can enjoy a full head of hair!
Browse hair systems for men to recover from crippling baldness
#3 Balanced diets
Those experiencing sleepless nights because of baldness should definitely consider this. According to hair and health experts, eating a balanced diet with the right nutrients can help promote hair growth, especially if an individual is experiencing hair loss due to poor nutrition.
Foods like eggs, fish, nuts, and sweet potatoes are an excellent source of biotin that may help men in regaining hair on their heads. Edibles fortified with Vitamin D could also help men grow thicker and stronger hair strands on bald spots.
Final words on hair loss
Balding is one of the most excruciating experiences that most men face at least once in their lives. No matter how much we hope and prepare to avoid it, most of us would have to come face-to-face with it at some point. The best thing to do is to go with one or more of the above treatments. Planning to get a surgery or trying medications to recover? We highly recommend speaking with a dermatologist.
If you are thinking of purchasing a hair system, why not buying it from leading hair system brands like Lordhair. Got any queries to ask regarding hair loss and recovery? Send them to support@lordhair.com and have them answered by our hair experts!
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