Hair loss – also known as alopecia – in men is commonly an inherited type called male pattern baldness. However, eating antioxidant-rich blueberries could slow down its onset. Male pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss.
According to the NHS it affects around half of men by the age of 50 years. For many men, it will start in their late twenties or early thirties and gradually worsen. The hair loss will usually follow the pattern of a receding hairline, followed by thinning of the hair on the crown and temples.
This leaves a horseshoe shape around the back and sides of the head, but this can develop into complete baldness. The condition is hereditary and caused by oversensitive hair follicles, linked to having too much of a certain male hormone.
However, a study by Queen Mary University found that free radicals and oxidative stress could accelerate it. Eating antioxidant-rich blueberries could make you less likely to suffer. Male pattern baldness can also affect women.
Known as female pattern baldness, hair usually thins just on top of the head. It is unknown if it is hereditary, and thought to also be triggered by going through the menopause.
As well as male and female pattern baldness, other types of hair loss include alopecia areata, scarring alopecia, anagen effluvium and telogen effluvium.
According to the NHS, hair loss that comes with male-pattern baldness is a natural part of age and doesn’t pose a risk to health. However, losing hair can be distressing, and so there are a number of ways to treat the condition for cosmetic reasons.
Indeed, such is the demand that the hair loss industry was last year estimated to be worth £1.5 billion worldwide. Treatments include hair transplants. However, a newer way to camouflage hair loss is dermatography, or semi-permanent cosmetics, which involves micropigmentation or cosmetic tattooing.
Renée Cleovoulou, aesthetic dermatographist and cosmetic tattooist at The Dermatography Clinic, has seen an increase in demand for the non-invasive treatment which can last up to three years.
In the treatment, an expert will use different dermatography techniques, such as tiny dots to mimic hair follicles and hair strokes, to produce a realistic finish.
For male pattern baldness, the treatment is carried out on the spots where hair is missing or thinning making them less visible.
It creates the illusion of natural hair growth by reducing the contrast between any existing hair and the skin.
