How to recognise the signs of hair loss?

If you are wondering how to find out if you are becoming bald, you are not the only one. It’s a question that many men and women ask themselves every day when they look in the mirror and see that they are losing volume or density or that their hairline is receding. And despite baldness being a very common and even natural problem, especially in men over a certain age, it can be a source of worry and termination, affecting our emotional health.

It is now very common to ask about the cost of a hair transplant in Turkey and have the operation, as thousands of people do every year. However, hair loss can also be the first sign of a more serious health problem. What causes hair loss? What are the first symptoms? Why do some men go bald? How can I save my hair?

What causes hair loss – are these the first signs of baldness?

We ourselves can detect the first signs of hair loss, especially when this loss is abnormal or excessive and reaches worrying levels. The most important thing to find the source of the problem and provide the best and correct treatment is to consult a specialist as soon as we detect the first symptoms. In any case, remember that some factors, such as seasonal hair loss, can cause abnormal hair loss, but this is temporary and the hair will grow back later.

Among the causes that can cause hair loss and eventually baldness are:

• Infections of the scalp
• Stress and emotional shocks
• Genetic heredity
• A poor or unbalanced diet. Hair loss can also be triggered by eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia
• Hormonal imbalances (thyroid problems, menopause, etc.)
• Certain medications cause hair loss as a side effect
• Use of products, treatments or hairstyles that are too aggressive for the hair or scalp

Can a DNA test predict whether I will become bald?

A scientific study on the genetic prediction of male pattern baldness, published in 2017 By the University of Edinburgh, it was found that there are 287 genes in human DNA that can cause hair loss; interestingly, we can find 40 of them in the X chromosome, which we inherit directly not from men … but from our mothers.

So researchers then developed a method to try and predict whether a person will become bald in their lifetime and when this will happen, given whether they have these genes. However, the results show that genetics creates probabilities, but ultimately the triggers are actually hormonal, which can simultaneously be triggered by external factors.

This means that although certain genes can increase our likelihood of baldness, and we can identify a lower or higher risk of future baldness using a DNA test, the fact is that you cannot predict with 100% accuracy if this will happen or when, as there are many other factors that intervene.

What are the first signs of baldness

Is there any way to know if I am going to be bald? As we have already mentioned, we are not sure, but there are many signs and factors that can signal the first stages of baldness.
Discover 5 ways you can observe if you are experiencing baldness:

• Hair in the pillow and in the shower

We lose hair every day, and in fact losing between 50 and 100 follicles a day can be considered normal; at certain times of the year, such as autumn, this number can even increase. Finding hair on a pillow or in the shower does not mean that we will become bald; the problem is when the amount of hair is excessive or when we lose whole strands. We need to watch and see if this is something temporary or if we are dealing with a more serious problem.

• Men: Loss of hair on forehead and crown

Typically, hair loss in men begins in the frontal area as the frontal line recedes; hair loss on the top of the head (crown) is also another typical symptom of male pattern baldness, affecting 80% of men.

• Women: reduced hair density

When it comes to female baldness, hair loss usually starts on the forehead or as a loss of hair density. However, the good news is that in women, hair loss is often caused by temporary factors such as stress, hormonal changes such as menopause or poor diet.

• At what age do men get bald?

Why do men lose their hair as they get older? It’s a fact that age is one of the main factors causing hair loss. There is no exact maths involved, but according to most scientific studies, by the age of 50, as many as 50% of men are bald; and after 35, 40% of men have clear signs of hair loss.

• Genetics

In theory, there is a higher risk of developing baldness if you have family precedents for baldness; but as we saw earlier, research suggests that there are other factors that can activate the genes responsible for male pattern baldness or not, and these genes can be inherited from both men and women. Therefore, even if your father or grandfather is bald, it does not necessarily mean that you will be bald too.

What can I do to save my hair and get rid of baldness?

In conclusion, genetics is not everything. A healthy lifestyle, a good diet or avoiding stress can be decisive in saving our hair. Now that you have gained information on whether you are becoming bald, the most important thing is to seek out a specialist when you see the first signs of hair loss.