Male Hair Loss And Functional Medicine: Getting To The Root Of Hair Loss For Men

There Are No One-Size-Fits-All Solutions To Male Hair Loss. 

As many as 50% of men experience some degree of hair loss by the age of 50.

Hair loss can have a significant negative impact on a man’s mental health and quality of life. Despite it being such a common occurrence, there is still a stigma around hair loss. Men who experience thinning hair, receding hairlines or baldness often feel less confident and more self-conscious. 

There is no one reason a man will lose his hair. From genetics to diet, different factors have to be considered before choosing a treatment option to reduce or reverse the loss of hair. Topical products like shampoos, scalp treatments and even surgical interventions may offer some improvement. But, they won’t help to identify the root cause of the hair loss which makes long-term solutions less likely.

Not all hair loss can be reversed—but some can. Functional medicine allows us to assess your whole health history, identify the likely cause(s) of your hair loss and choose the appropriate treatment, lifestyle changes and products to help you see a positive change.

How Hair Grows (And Why It Stops)

Hair grows from a root at the bottom of a follicle under your skin. The hair bulb forms the base of the hair follicle and anchors it in place.  In the hair bulb, living cells divide and grow to build the hair shaft—or, what we could call a strand of hair. Blood vessels deliver oxygen, nutrients and hormones that influence how your hair grows at different stages of life. 

Hair growth happens in a four-stage cycle. 

• Anagen (growth)

• Catagen (transitioning)

• Telogen (resting) and 

• Exogen (shedding)

During the shedding phase, new hairs start growing in the follicles. Hair loss occurs when new hair doesn't replace the hair that has fallen out. 

There is a long list of possible reasons a man might lose his hair. But, some of the most common are genetics, low iron, low B12, and low testosterone.

Genetics and Male Hair Loss 

Genetics plays a significant role in male hair loss—specifically male pattern balding. 

Baldness is strongly associated with the AR genefound on the “X” chromosome inherited from your mother. But that isn’t the only gene at play. (Before you blame it on your mother, keep reading!) 

Research tells us that male pattern baldness is polygenic. This means it involves more than one gene. In fact, one 2017 review suggests that as many as 63 genes may be at play—and only 6 of them are found on the “X” chromosome.  

The Connection Between Low Iron And Hair Loss In Men 

Being iron deficient is a common condition for both men and women here in Canada and around the world. The connection between hair loss and low iron is ongoing but research suggests that low iron levels may slow or limit the production of new hair follicle cells. Without a healthy division and reproduction of cells, hair growth may slow or stop all together.

Age, diet (especially a vegetarian or vegan diet) and certain medications (especially those with H2 blockers) are all common causes of low-iron in men. 

Low B12 As A Cause For Hair Loss 

A B12 deficiency can affect hair growth in several possible ways. First, B12 is an essential vitamin involved in making new red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen through your body—including to your hair follicles. If B12 is low and your red blood cell count is compromised, your hair growth may slow resulting in thinning or loss of hair. 

Having low B12 can also cause symptoms of anemia and low iron which, as we saw above, is connected in its own right to hair loss. 

While B12 deficiency can be caused by dietary factors, it can also be the result of genetics. 

The Relationship Between Hair Loss And Testosterone

As men age, it is normal for testosterone levels to decline.  It’s also normal for this to affect the amount of hair a man has on his chest, arms, legs and face. But,it’s interesting to note that low testosterone is not as likely to affect the hair on the top of the head—unless it is accompanied by a raised level of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). 

DHT is produced as a result of high levels of androgens (male sex hormones) in the body. Testosterone is one, but some of the other prominent androgens in men are androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S). Higher levels of DHT can reduce the size of hair follicles which can cause thinning and slow the growth of new strands of hair. How sensitive your follicles are to DHT will determine how much hair loss you are likely to experience.

Getting To The Root Of Male Hair Loss With Functional Medicine 

The process of growing hair depends on many contributing factors. That means discovering what is causing your hair loss is necessary before making any decisions about treatment options or lifestyle changes. To get to the root of the issue, it is important to take into consideration: 

• Family history 

• Personal medical history 

• Diet and lifestyle 

• Hormone levels (looking beyond testosterone)

• Vitamin and mineral levels 

And, that is exactly what will happen when you address this (or any other issue) from the perspective of functional medicine. 

Treating Hair Loss In Men: Looking Beyond TRT

Once a root cause for your hair loss is uncovered, you and your health care provider can decide how you’d like to address it. 

Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) has been touted as a solution for men experiencing hair loss. But, as we have seen, increasing your testosterone levels without accounting for DHT isn’t necessarily going to promote better hair growth. Instead, treatment options like Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP), B12 supplementation and iron supplementation should be considered. 

Foods To Boost Your Iron & B12 Levels And Promote Healthy Hair Growth 

Food is medicine and affects how your body functions of every level. As you read above, low iron and low B12 levels have been connected to hair loss among men. So, starting with your diet is a safe and accessible option for almost anyone looking to promote healthy hair growth.  

Reminder: Please consult with a health care provider before taking new supplements. The way the vitamins and minerals found in supplements affect your body and interact with one another (and any other supplements or medications you may be taking) is complex. Without proper professional guidance, you risk creating health issues instead of solving them.

Foods High In B12 

• Fish, meat and eggs 

• Nutritional yeast (make sure it is fortified)

• Clams (one serving offering more than 3,500% of the recommended daily value)

• Soy products (including soy milk and tofu)

• Fortified cereals 

Foods High in Iron 

• Shellfish (especially clams, oysters and muscles) 

• Spinach

• Legumes like soya beans, chickpeas and black beans

• Red meat and organ meat 

• Brocolli 

• Pumpkin seeds

TIP: Eat these and other iron-rich foods alongside foods high in Vitamin C to increase the rate of absorption. 

Functional Medicine Provides The Insights Needed To Address Male Hair Loss Effectively. 

It is common for hair loss to affect men as they age. Some of the most common factors that result in male hair loss are genetics, diet and nutrition and changing hormones.  To choose an effective treatment option for your hair loss, you have to get to the root of the issue.  It is not always possible to reduce or reverse hair loss. But, with the right assessment, treatment and lifestyle changes there are many circumstances when effecting a positive change is possible. 

If you are ready to uncover the cause of your hair loss and are living in the Peterborough area, let's talk. During our initial consultation, we can discuss the options available to you to assess and treat your hair loss.