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As we age, it is natural to experience thinning and loss of hair. Hair loss is often more pronounced in men and can occur even during early adulthood. Some men experience more hair loss than others. Some men may complain of overall thinning of the hair whereas others may find themselves completely bald over a period of time. Hair loss can mean a receding hairline or bald patches or even hair loss over the entire body. None of this is uncommon.

There are a number of causes for hair loss in men. These include:

• Heredity – If you have family members who still sport a full head of hair, you may be one of the lucky ones without a hair loss problem. If your father or grandfather is bald or has little hair, the odds are that you will suffer from the same fate.

• Male Pattern Baldness – Hair loss caused by male pattern baldness is related to genetics and the male sex hormones. If you suffer from male pattern baldness, you will notice a pattern of receding hairline followed by the thinning of the hair at the crown. Ultimately, this forms a horseshoe pattern of hair around the sides of the head with a bald patch in the center.

• Emotional or physical trauma – A sudden loss of hair following any type of physically or emotionally traumatic event can be attributed to shock. As your mind and body slowly recover, your hair will start growing back again.

• Poor nutrition – Hair needs nutrients, vitamins and minerals to grow. If you find yourself losing more hair than normal, it may be time to change your diet and include more foods rich in iron and zinc for sustained hair growth.

• Alopecia areata – The condition causes bare spots on the scalp and is caused by a combination of genetics and stress

• Fungal infections – Tinea capitis is a type of fungal infection that affects the scalp. This results in round scaly bald patches over the head and can be treated by regular use of an anti-fungal shampoo and medications.

Treatment for loss of hair or male baldness depends on the person concerned. Some men are not affected by their hair loss and have no need for any form of treatment or cure. Others may react adversely to their hair loss and turn to medical or cosmetic treatments to remedy the situation. For those looking for natural or home remedies for hair loss, there are alternatives such as:

• Crush and rub red onions all over the scalp and bald patches to help increase hair growth. It is believed that the sulfur content in red onions works as a stimulant and improves hair growth. Red onions are also a natural anti-bacterial agent and help treat hair loss caused by infections.

• Mix two tablespoons of olive oil with one teaspoon of powdered cinnamon and apply this solution to the hair and scalp. Leave it on for thirty minutes and rinse well. Do this once a week for the best results.

• Massage the scalp with vitamin E oil to increase hair growth and prevent hair loss.

• Increase your intake of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as nuts, seeds, and oily fish. The minerals and proteins found in such foods help regenerate hair follicles and promote hair growth.

• Another treatment to cure thinning hair in men is to massage a mix of egg yolk and honey on to the scalp. Leave this on the hair for half an hour before rinsing off well with warm water.

If none of these home remedies make a difference to the hair loss, medications such as Minoxidil lotion or Finasteride have been proven to help halt hair loss and promote re-growth. Plastic surgery for men such as hair transplants or flap surgery is also a permanent solution for hair loss and baldness.

Reference:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002160/