Don't Lose It

Author: Joel Warner

From Samson to Homer Simpson, men and hair loss seems always to have been a losing combination. Although male pattern hair loss is extremely common-two out of three men will experience it-and is rarely associated with serious health risks, it's hard to imagine a common condition that is met with more trepidation. But much of the stigma surrounding male hair loss is due to half-truths and exaggerations. So if you start noticing there's not as much hair up there, don't pull out the rest of it in worry-take our quiz below and learn what's going on with your body and how you can slow the follicle fallout.

If you're losing hair, it's male pattern baldness.

False. It's true that for 95 percent of men who lose their hair, male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is the culprit. With this condition, an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, a hormone that causes hair follicles to shut down hair production. Male pattern baldness can begin appearing in men in their 20s and usually progresses slowly from the front or apex of the scalp, or both.

But male pattern baldness is not the only cause of male hair loss-and it's important to talk to your physician or dermatologist to determine the cause, because it can indicate certain health problems. For example, if your hair is falling out quickly and in small patches, it may be a sign of alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the hair. Stress can also lead to rapid hair loss. In these cases, the hair usually regrows after several months. Other causes include a severe ailment or major surgery; protein, vitamin B, or iron deficiencies; medication complications; or thyroid disease.

To read more myths and facts about hair loss, Click Here.