Category: Hair Loss Causes

I noticed your recent post about protein powders and how they have no effect on DHT and hair loss. I’ve seen some posts on your site, but I feel that exercise and supplements (other than steroids which obviously impact hair loss) have not been adequately addressed.

For example, many studies indicate that creatine increases testosterone and DHT. Also, generally speaking, exercising increases testosterone levels. Therefore, wouldn’t exercise and working out increase DHT and therefore hair loss? Also, maybe we can get a more straight forward answer on certain common supplements such as Creatine and Glucosamine. Thanks

I do not believe that working out will increase hair loss, but the straight forward answer is that we don’t know for sure. If you search the web, many talk about creatine and how it may relate to increased DHT, and ultimately hair loss. I do not know of any well constructed, reliable, or definitive studies about it, though.

In the world of genetic male pattern hair loss, the keyword is genetic. I suppose there are extraneous things you can do or take (anabolic steroids – a drug/hormone – not a supplement) to make the genetic trait worse or accelerate it. But in the end, even if you don’t do anything, but you have the genes for it, you will lose hair.

If taking creatine or glucosamine or other supplements worries you, then consider not taking them. Prioritize your goals. If you are taking these supplements to enhance your workout and gain muscle etc, nothing beats actually working out (an extra day per week or an extra 10 minutes in the gym is better than any supplements in my personal opinion).

Snippet from the article:

Going by the recent study on Alopecia by Chandigarh-based Plastic Surgeon Dr Tejinder Bhatti, it’s not just the “G” factor but the “A” factor that plays a major role in baldness. Dr. Bhatti has explained that the “G” factor – genes – do play an important role, but the “A” factor – A+ blood group, especially in males – makes one more prone to baldness. Dr Bhatti initiated the study in 2007 and completed it in December 2012.

Dr Bhatti opined that although patients blame water content or quality of their shampoo for baldness, but blood groups play an equally important role. A+ blood group people are unable to optimally absorb B vitamins, including Biotin, in their blood and therefore the thickness of the hair is quite low.

Read the rest — ‘A’ factor leading to baldness?

I’m not sure that I agree with this. It would be interesting to read it on a medical journal.

They kind of lost me once I read, “Dr Bhatti says that In male pattern baldness (MPB), in 80% cases the gene causing baldness comes from the mother’s side. So if your nana or mama are bald, there are 80% chances you too will be bald.” That actually just a myth and has never been proven.

I’m 31 years old. For the past year I’ve been in an area with hard water. It’s damaged my hair. i’ve got 50% of hair loss, lost shine, itchy scalp weak roots with white bulb at the end, and my hair comes out easily as i put my fingers or comb. Also from the front my hair breaks. New hair have started to grow which looks really bad. Please tell me something to mix in water and to use!

There are water softeners you can buy, which will soften the water. Hard water can make washing and styling very difficult. Hard water likely didn’t cause 50% of your hair to fall out, though. Have you seen a doctor about your hair loss or are you just speculating on the cause?

I did note that the internet seems to have many shampoo offerings for those with hard water, however, I have little experience in this area. You might try washing your hair with bottled water that is not hard and comes from a reliable source.

Hello doctor! It’s more or less been five years that I’m having some different negatives psychosomatic symptoms: tiredness, spine ache, depression and reduced sexual pleasure. I’m thinking that they could be caused by low testosterone. The problem is that at the same time, I’m having moderate hair loss. The question is: could a lack of testosterone cause my hair loss? Thanks.

Low testosterone could lead to hair loss (because androgenic hair loss in men is due to the genetic predisposition not the hormone level), but I couldn’t say if that is the cause of your loss. Stress could also cause hair loss (if it is in a non pattern/ diffuse), and the stress could be brought on by your psychosomatic issues.

Hi Doctor,

I was wondering about predicting final patterns. You’ve explained how this is done by using the densitometer to check for miniaturization in areas where thinning might not be visible to the naked eye. You’ve also said that final patterns usually cannot be predicted with certainty in young men (say, a 21-year-old) because miniaturization could subsequently appear in new areas.

So, I was wondering, is there a particular age at which one’s genetically-programmed final pattern can be ascertained with reasonable confidence? (I realize that people don’t necessarily reach their final patterns.)

Also, do people who are Norwood 3V’s at young ages usually turn into Norwood 6’s? (I was told this.) Or is their hope that Norwood 3V/4/5 could be a final pattern for such a person?

Thank you for all of the amazing information.

I don’t believe you can predict your final pattern with absolute certainty, especially in your 20’s. In general, we will say that as you get older into your late 30’s to 40’s, the pattern should manifest. There’s no exact age I can pinpoint.

If you have a Norwood class 3V pattern (see diagram at right) as a 21 year old, these may enlarge with time and could end up as a class 4 pattern. I don’t know that a young man showing a 3V at the present time will usually advance to a class 6.

We try to better assess this with bulk measurements and miniaturization studies.

hi doctors from baldingblog.com

How is the new year going so far? My doctor tested my vitamin d levels and it came out i’ve got 13nmol instead of 75nmol. I also have little bone recession in the back, the specialist that found it with photo’s asked if i ever had a accident. I haven’t. I don’t know how long i’m vitamin d deficient, it can be years. My question to you is;

1. Is 13nmol dangerous low?
2. Can it cause little recession in the hairline? Lower quality hair all over? (sometimes i find miniaturized hair in the permanent zone and top, or thick with less pigment, or with strange structures.)

Thank you for your help!

Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer to your question.

Vitamin D deficiencies are a potential cause of hair loss, but I frankly do not have any experience with vitamin D levels at those reported by you. It sounds like you will be treated for the low vitamin D and you can keep an eye on your hair thickness and progression (or lack of it), for the small amount of recession you see. Even better, you should have your hair bulk checked now and compare it a point down the line when your vitamin D levels are corrected, so that you have numbers along with the visual analysis.