How to Stop a Receding Hairline

Most British men suffer from hair loss as they get older. Some might have to face this problem at an early age, such as if they have a family history of male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia. A receding hairline is one of the earliest and the most prominent signs of male pattern baldness.

For some men, hair loss might stop at just a receding hairline, while it can turn into complete baldness for others. A receding hairline can be traumatic, especially for young men. However, medical advancements have made it possible to stop and even reverse this depressing condition.

In this article, we will discuss the common reasons behind hair loss and what you can do to stop or reverse your hair loss.

Causes of a Receding Hairline in Men

Unfortunately, many men are affected by hair loss problems at some stage of their lives. Androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness is at the top of this list. Studies show that about two third of men suffer from some extent of hair loss by the age of thirty-five, and this number increases up to 80% as they reach their 50s.

There are several reasons that can cause hair loss in men, including the following:

Hormonal Imbalances

Hormonal imbalances, especially dihydrotestosterone or DHT imbalance, are known to be responsible for the majority of hair loss cases. DHT is a potent androgen or male sex hormone that plays a crucial role in primary and secondary sexual characteristics in men. While a normal level of this hormone is vital for many biological processes, an excess of DHT production can have paradoxical effects on the scalp and body hair. A higher DHT level can result in hair loss as it gradually shrinks the hair follicles until they are no longer viable for hair production. At the same time, it can cause excessive body hair growth (Chen, 2020).

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes you to lose hair in small or large patches. In some cases, it can also result in complete baldness.

Anagen Effluvium

Anagen effluvium is characterized by rapid hair loss from chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments. This type of hair loss usually stops after your treatment is completed.

Traction Alopecia

Hair follicles can be damaged as a result of physical pressure. If you use tight hairstyles that put too much pressure on hair follicles, your hair follicles can be damaged to an extent that they can no longer produce new hairs. This type of hair loss is known as traction alopecia.

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium is a condition where a bald spot appears out of nowhere. This condition is caused by severe physical and emotional stress.

Tinea Capitis

Tina capitis or ringworm of the scalp is caused by a fungal infection that affects the scalp or hair shafts. This condition results in scaly and itchy bald spots that can expand over time.

Vitamin Deficiencies

Vitamin deficiencies, including deficiency of B vitamins, selenium, zinc, and vitamin D, can also result in hair loss in a few cases (Almohanna, 2019). Don’t be fooled however by thinking that taking a couple of vitamins will fix your hair loss. Although being vitamin deficient can cause hair loss, it almost never is the cause of hair loss. It’s extremely rare.

Treatment Options for Hair Growth

Many hair loss treatments, including medicinal prescriptions, shampoos, and conditioners, can help you with your hair loss problem.

Here is what you can try if you have a receding hairline:

Finasteride

Finasteride is an NHS-approved treatment of male pattern baldness that is available in the form of oral tablets. You can buy it in the form of prescription pills, which are commonly available with the brand name Propecia.

Finasteride has shown consistent results in terms of hair growth, and many studies have shown it to be effective in 80% of men who use it regularly (SATO, 2011).

Finasteride helps hair growth by blocking the production of DHT, which is the main culprit in androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is another NHS-approved drug for androgenetic alopecia. It is a topical treatment readily available in topical solution or foam. Many studies have proven the efficacy and safety of Minoxidil, especially when used along with Finasteride (Suchonwanit, 2019).

Over-the-Counter Products

Many over-the-counter hair products are available that claim to increase hair growth. These include shampoos, conditioners, oral tablets, and topical sprays. The turth on the matter however is that none of these really work. Those who are selling this product will obviously tell you otherwise, but it’s nonsense. We’ve done extensive research on this subject and can tell you quite directly that products like caffeine shampoo, biotin and saw palmetto do not work for male hair loss. Men who are interested in an in-depth review on these products can refer to our linked articles on the left.