In our society, there is the expectation that men will bald at some point in their lives and that women will at most experience hair thinning as they get older. However, not much thought is given as to why men are typically bald but women do not. Let's discuss what makes men and women different and how New Look Institute can help restore your head of hair no matter what stage of hair loss you are in.
Hormone That Has the Largest Impact on Hair
Androgens, especially testosterone play the largest role in hair loss. Androgens are male sex hormones that are responsible for the sexual development of men. These hormones are the reason that men have facial hair, chest hair, and a deep voice, and women do not. Androgens including testosterone have important roles in both women and men including the regulation of normal hair growth.
Why are Men and Women Different?
Hormones make all the difference when it comes to hair loss patterns in men and women. Even though women have small amounts of androgens, the primary female sex hormone is estrogen and for men, it is the androgen testosterone. Higher levels of androgen in males and lowers levels in women is the reason why men tend to bald and women typically only experience thinning.
Androgen's Role in Hair Loss
Testosterone is the androgen primarily responsible for hair loss in men. Enzymes transform testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. This causes the hair follicle to shrink and produce shorter, thinner hairs. The process is called follicular miniaturization. Not only is the hair follicle affected, but the hair's growing phase is shortened and the length of time between shedding hair and growing new hair increases. This results in hair thinning and hair loss.
This is a slow process, which is why men do not begin to lose their hair until they are older. Premature balding is an exception to this rule, in which men can begin losing hair in their early 20s if they are genetically predisposed.
Do Women Bald?
Yes, technically women can bald although females are more prone to hair thinning as opposed to complete hair loss. Estrogen levels drop when women reach menopause. This means that the existing levels of testosterone are more noticeable. For instance, some women begin to experience facial hair growth. The ability of testosterone to have more of an effect on the body can also lead to thinner hair growth. However, hair thinning and loss in women is evenly distributed throughout the scalp rather than patchy baldness or a receding hairline.
It is so uncommon that women who experience complete balding are usually tested for androgen levels to make sure that there isn't an underlying medical condition at play.
What Can You Do?
Whether you are a man experiencing early or late-stage balding or a woman with thinning hair, New Look Institute is here to help. As San Jose's leading hair restoration studio, we offer a variety of hair restoration solutions to fit any need, goals, and budget including topical thickening products, laser hair growth therapy, trichology, hair restoration systems for men and women, and a variety of hair loss treatments.
Restore your hair to its former glory or choose a whole new look! The options are endless. Our expert hair stylists will conduct a thorough examination of your hair and scalp and recommend treatments that are best suited to fit your needs. Experiencing balding and thinning doesn't mean that you have to live with it. In fact, your head of hair can be better than ever before! Contact us today for a free hair analysis!
Related Posts
