A quarter of all men who have reached thirty years of age have some baldness.
Testosterone is a hormone closely related to hair loss, and its effects are estimated to be one of the leading causes of baldness in men.
This article describes the relationship between testosterone and baldness and avoiding hair loss.
Testosterone and baldness
The connection between testosterone and baldness is not new.
Hair follicles are susceptible to the effects of this hormone.
The stronger the hair root is exposed to dihydro-testosterone, one of the forms of testosterone in men, the more chances this hair has to die.
For this reason, an excess of testosterone at an early age is one of the most frequent causes of baldness when reaching 40 years of age.
By age 60, more than 70% of men are bald or are beginning the hair loss process. (1) This is an issue of great concern in adult men.
Causes of baldness
Like tree leaves, hair loss can be caused by external factors. Changes in temperature, constant high levels of stress, and a poor diet are causes of baldness.
However, studies have shown that 60% of the causes of hair loss in men are associated with genetic factors. In other words, the leading cause of baldness is the information that we carry in our DNA. (2)
Scientists believed that alopecia genes were transmitted only through the maternal line a few years ago. However, the latest studies confirm that this is not so. The genes for baldness are passed on from both the father and the mother. (3)
If your father or grandfather has had some degree of baldness, the chances of hair loss increase by 2.5 more.
The causes of baldness are:
- genetic factors
- constant stress
- feeding
- external factors – temperature
Stages and degrees of baldness
The stages and degrees of baldness depend on its causes. Statistics show that around 95% of all baldness cases in men go through an androgenetic stage.
In these cases, the hair stops growing in the parietal area, and the frontal area of the head then progresses to the following areas. The stages of baldness can be seen in the following image:
Antiandrogens – drugs to lower testosterone
As we already mentioned, testosterone is directly related to baldness in men.
Having high testosterone levels for long periods increases the likelihood of hair loss.
Some medications work to lower testosterone; these are called antiandrogens. While these can effectively prevent the early stages of baldness, they have side effects, so they are not recommended.
Does diet affect hair loss?
A poor diet can affect hair loss indirectly. In particular, a diet deficient in vitamins and minerals – especially B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc, and selenium can cause baldness.
Unbalanced nutrition can exacerbate baldness even in men who do not have abnormal testosterone values.
The fundamental structure of hair is made up of 2 proteins: keratin and collagen. For this reason, when the diet is poor in essential amino acids, a progressive weakening of the hair and roots can occur.
Baldness and sport
Some strength sports, such as throwing or weightlifting, are capable of excessively increasing testosterone. When the testosterone level reaches extreme values, the alopecia process can be accelerated.
However, believing that you will go bald from playing sports is a mistake.
Moderate and regular physical training improves microcirculation in epithelial tissues. This generates a better availability of nutrients to all parts of the body, including the blood vessels that surround the hair.
It is also people who do sports are usually more aware of food. These typically include more fruits, vegetables, and cereals, all essential foods for hair to grow.
If you are a man and moderately do sports, this will not negatively influence hair loss. However, if you take it you are not nourished correctly, and you complement it with high-intensity marks, the chances of going bald are greater.
Are sports supplements a cause of baldness?
First of all, it is essential not to put all sports supplements in the same bag.
Supplements that do not alter testosterone levels, such as whey protein, creatine monohydrate, mass gainers, and BCAA amino acids, do not affect hair loss. There is no evidence of any effects on baldness after consuming this type of supplement.
In contrast, supplements that cause a sharp increase in the level of testosterone in the body have been confirmed to be able to promote baldness. The classic example is anabolic steroids. The rise in testosterone they cause causes the premature death of hair follicles.
Baldness and depression
Bald young adults with bouts of depression are typical. Although baldness is not considered a disease, it is advisable to take preventive measures to avoid conflicts and psychological disorders.
Low levels of self-esteem due to dissatisfaction with the perception of the image are frequent in men with stages of premature baldness.
Depression can cause changes in testosterone levels that can impact a man capable of deteriorating his quality of life.
ABSTRACT
- The main factor that influences baldness is genetics; diet and exercise can control it to a lesser degree.
- The sharp increase in testosterone levels in the body positively affects hair loss.
- Moderate exercise or sports is not a cause of baldness; on the contrary, it is a way to prevent hair loss.
- The use of sports supplements that affect testosterone levels, such as anabolic steroids, is capable of causing an early development of baldness.
- Supplements that do not affect hormone levels are not capable of causing hair loss.
