How to know if you’re losing your hair
Photos Rachelle Simoneau
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Hair loss affects many men at different stages of life. But there are a few telltale signs to let you know when it’s getting serious.
Hair loss has always obsessed men. Few seem to be able to escape it. According to an Ifop survey from 2015, 13% of French men declare themselves to be suffering from baldness, and three out of four men among the remaining 87% still believe that they are losing their hair. If according to the site of the French Society of Dermatology, it’s generally at 40 years old that the loss begins, 15% of men in their twenties and 30% of those in their thirties would be concerned. To find out if this is your case, certain signs may be warning signs.
Be careful, everyone loses hair
Obviously, seeing hair on your brush or in your hands after your shampoo can be worrying. It’s still helpful to remember that all human beings lose hair on a daily basis: between 50 and 100 per day, says the Association of the American Academy of Dermatology. The quantity depends on the person. It’s up to everyone to estimate if they’re losing more than normal. What’s more, external factors can cause this number to change without there being any question of the onset of baldness. For example, it’s estimated we shed more hair in autumn than in spring.
Examine the correct area of hair
In the majority of cases, the cause of hair loss in men comes down to three factors: a hereditary predisposition, male hormones, and age. This is called androgenetic alopecia. The latter follows a well-defined pattern, described on the Norwood-Hamilton scale. Named after two scientists who worked on alopecia, it classifies the development of baldness into seven stages. It’s in the early stages that you have to look for clues to spot the beginning of hair loss.
Hair loss: look for the right signs
IGenerally, if your hair loss is temporal (at the temples) and frontal (around the front of your head), this is a common first stage. Then it’s at the level of the vertex (the top of the skull) that the hair starts thinning. So these are the most important areas to monitor to spot incipient baldness. In the fifth stage, the skull and frontal lobes are completely bald. Less common than androgenetic alopecia, hair loss can also manifest itself as hair becoming thinner and thinner. This is most commonly recognized when light is reflected on the skull and the scalp is highly visible.
The best method: compare photos
In both cases, it’s not always easy to realise it. Having an objective look at oneself is complicated and loved ones sometimes avoid giving their opinion for fear of being offensive. The simplest strategy is to compare photos taken in the same position and in the same light. One of the best options to immortalise your hair from all angles, including the back, is the bathroom mirror. By taking a photo every two to three months, you can see the evolution of your hair.
This process can be stressful- you may well end up greying your hair before you even lose it. While some turn to preventive care and transplants, baldness can also be a real liberation for others.