Do you ever notice that today hair loss is not only an old man's dilemma, but to some young men as well? 

Yes, just like premature wrinkles, hair loss can also do some serious damage among young men. Not only they lose their hair, but so does their confidence. This is why a lot of these gentlemen are now scrambling to find a solution.

 Hair loss at an early age

Why are young men going bald? 

Baldness is not some sort of illness or curse that afflicts a chosen few. Back in the day, bald is something that can only be described to old men. This is because they are usually the ones most affected by it with the degradation of the hair due to aging. But this is where the tricky part comes in. Baldness is definitely one tricky issue, and men just might find it a betrayal of some sort.

The major reason why some men are losing hair early is because of a bad gene that he inherited from either of his parents. This particular genetic compound dictates the fate of your hair. So if you see any side of your family where baldness is prevalent, then chances are high for you, as well. This is what is called androgenetic alopecia.

[PLEASE READ] Hair Loss at 23: A Young Man’s Struggle

Androgenetic alopecia

This is also referred to as male-pattern baldness affecting two-thirds of men showing signs of hair loss by the age of 35 or earlier. DHT, or dihydro testosterone, is the culprit for this condition. DHT is a by-product of testosterone that affects the hair follicles causing these to become finer. It also causes the hairline to recede and eventually have hair follicles fall in excessive amounts.

Male pattern baldness is called as such because the hair loss actually follows a pattern (Please see the image below). It either starts thinning at the front resulting in a regressing hair line, or it could start thinning at the middle portion of the scalp and eventually grows in diameter outwards.

Diagnosing Men's Hair Loss: Norwood Scale

For this reason, some guys prefer to just shave it all off to avoid the embarrassment of being obvious that they are already losing hair at a young age. Let's face it, hair for men is a sign of virility and youth. So it's definitely a blow to their body image and self-esteem when it just starts falling off.

Not to end on a bad note, here I give you some advise on how you may be able to stop or minimize the damage.

Here are measures to help you deal with this problem.

1. Tweak your diet

If you are serious about improving your hair loss, you need to learn how to make smart food choices. Sometimes, it takes an act of just sprucing up your diet to make dramatic changes.

According to a research, you can start by avoiding fried foods. This actually helps a great deal because it decreases oil gland activity, which reduces the occurrence of your testosterone being switched to DHT. Sweets should also be kept minimal because sugar also triggers more testosterone to be released. And with more of it in circulation, you only make it more available for conversion into DHT.

2. Check your shampoo

Being more scrutinizing about the shampoo you are using can also help you save more hair from falling. Ketoconazole, which is an anti fungal, can also have testosterone reducing action, though not in alarming amounts, but enough to keep DHT formation controlled.

A 2011 Belgian study even backed this up by claiming that balding men in their study who used shampoo with one percent ketoconazole two to three times a week for six months experienced a reduction in hair shedding of up to 17%.

3. Check your health

Sometimes, hair loss may stem from other conditions in your body. For instance, thyroid problems could cause your hair to shed in excessive amounts. Go to your primary care physician to check for other reasons that could put off these hair shedding. This not only saves your hair, but it just might save your life as well.

4. Light up your head

How low-level light therapy work?

Another measure that a lot of hair loss sufferers are looking into is low-level light therapy. This is an FDA approved treatment for mild to moderate baldness. Studies even show that regular use of light therapies resulted in increase in thickness and density of the hair. This is why there are portable devices available today.

5. Hair transplant

Wayne Rooney had hair transplant in 2013 to combat hair loss.

If you are really serious and financially able to afford a hair transplant procedure, this would be a perfect solution. But not to rain on your parade, not everyone can undergo this treatment. Financial aspect aside, this procedure should be done on the right patient.

Most of the time, hair transplant surgeons do not perform on younger patients, especially those in their teens or early twenties, as hair loss at this age has not yet stabilized. If the procedure is done too early on, there is a big chance that hair loss could still continue in other parts of the scalp, therefore damaging the result and requiring another session. It pays to go to a reputable surgeon, one who will be honest with you with the results and the course of treatment that would suit you best.

Now that you've got the basics down, do start with making the changes right away, then slowly try your luck with the possible treatments available. Go through it in phases. Start with the simple, and if it doesn't give you the results you want, work your way up the ladder.

Hair transplant should be your last option. Some of you may want to jump right into surgery but are having trouble with affording it. Good news is that you can find clinics today that offer financing options to help you pay for the procedure that is easy on the pocket.

If you are interested in getting FUE hair transplant in Melbourne, contact Dr. M. Alam of MediHair Hair Transplant at enquiry@medihairtransplant.com.au, or 1300 355 325.