WHAT CAUSES HAIR LOSS?
Common causes of male hair loss
Once hair loss has occurred over a long period, the condition becomes harder to reverse. Seeking treatment at the first signs of hair loss is the best way to regrow hair.
Male pattern baldness is the most common form of alopecia. Beginning as thinning hair, male pattern baldness results in a receding hairline and balding on the top of the scalp.
Hair loss typically starts to occur in men in their 20s, with symptom severity worsening with age.
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Hair growth cycle
Humans produce 1-kilometre of hair a month in a normal hair growth cycle. During this cycle, each follicle progresses through three growth phases (anagen, catagen, and telogen) and one shedding phase (exogen).
The anagen phase is an active growth phase whereby follicles develop and appear on the scalp. Anagen is the longest phase of the hair growth cycle, with hair follicles lasting 2.5 to 5 years on the scalp.
The catagen phase is a short transitional phase from active growth to inactivity. Catagen is a short phase of the hair growth cycle, lasting around 2 weeks.
The telogen phase is the resting phase, whereby follicles spend around 2 to 4 months in a state of rest. Hair follicles don’t grow during the telogen phase, yet they don’t shed either.
The exogen phase is the shedding phase. Once hair shafts outgrow the telogen phase, they detach from the follicle and fall out.
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DHT production
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a naturally occurring by-product of testosterone that plays a key role in a man’s transition from puberty to manhood.
Once a man reaches adulthood, DHT causes hair follicles to weaken and new follicles to stop growing.
Men with male baldness have more DHT in the balding part of their scalp than in other parts, resulting in increased hair loss. Various areas of the scalp may be affected by hair loss, although thinning is predominantly seen as a receding hairline or balding on the top of the scalp.
Trauma and stress-related hair loss
Telogen effluvium is a type of temporary hair loss resulting from a traumatic or stressful event.
Causes of this hair loss include illness, metabolic stress, surgery, hormonal changes, trauma, infection, nutritional deficiencies, and the use of certain medications.
Once the cause of telogen effluvium has been identified, the condition can be treated, and healthy hair growth can occur.
It’s time to look after your health
To discuss your options surrounding oral medication and topical products, clinically proven in the treatment of hair loss, start the conversation with your hub.health medical team today.
Frequently asked questions
hub.health uses a secure digital health platform to provide discreet, convenient, and affordable access to hair loss treatment from an Australian based clinician, all from the privacy of your home.
After completing the online questionnaire, your assigned clinician will determine if you’re a candidate for hair loss treatment. If you’re successful, we’ll organise fast delivery to your door (we’ll even manage your repeats when they’re due). If your clinician identifies a potential risk in issuing hair loss treatment, they’ll likely refer you to an in-person GP for further review.
hub.health doctors issue prescription medication to treat male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia). Prescription hair loss medication helps to maintain current hair volume while preventing further loss and potentially regrowing hair in areas where it has been lost.
Our doctors may also prescribe non-prescription treatments such as a topical or capsule treatment, which has been proven as one of the most effective treatments for hair regrowth. Your hair loss treatment will be specifically tailored to you, so make sure you don’t share with anyone else, even if they claim to have the same condition as you.
In one study, 90% of men who used prescription medication either maintained their hair volume or noticed improvements in hair growth. 40% of men who used Minoxidil 5% non-prescription experienced an increase in hair growth.
As per the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) guidelines, it’s important to emphasise:
No hair loss treatment will completely reverse the process
The response to treatment is quite variable
Some people will not respond to particular treatments.
The likelihood of hair loss treatment not working boils down to consistency. If you start and stop or skip days of treatment, your treatment will be less effective. It may even stop working altogether. If after 2-4 months you haven’t achieved results, consult with your doctor. There may be an underlying reason why treatment hasn’t been effective, and a professional will help you identify and address this.
All medications carry a risk of side effects. For hair loss treatment, potential side effects include:
- Decreased sexual desire (low libido)
- Inability to develop or maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction)
- Testicular pain or discomfort
- Problems related to ejaculation, such as changes to ejaculatory volume
- Mood changes or depression
No, our clinicians don’t need to see photos to prescribe your hair treatment. We include hair loss examples in the questionnaire for you to choose which most accurately aligns with your hair loss.
Hair loss treatment programs can take 3 to 6 months of daily use for visible changes to occur, and up to one year for maximum results. Like all medications, results vary from person to person based on individual circumstances.
A clinician will review your assessment and respond within 24 hours. In most cases it will be much sooner than this.
Once your treatment has been paid for, we will ship with express delivery to anywhere in Australia, meaning your package should arrive within 1-3 days. Your product is shipped in an Australia Post package, which means it will be completely discreet.
Of course! If you log into your profile and head to the ‘Products’ tab, you will see a ‘Manage Treatment’ button. Click this and you’ll see the ability to send a message to your clinician. If you’re having any issues, just drop us a line at [email protected]
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