“A fair amount of men present concerns about balding here,” said Dennis Garcia, assistant medical director and head team physician at WSU Health and Wellness Services.

Male pattern baldness – the thinning that starts at the crown of the head and around the temples – and receding hairlines are genetic and can be inherited from both the mother and the father, Garcia said.

The hair follicles people have go through a natural cycle of growth and hibernation. People go bald when follicles do not come out of hibernation.

There are two treatments for male pattern baldness that delay the onset of hair loss. One treatment is minoxidil, a topical treatment contained in Rogaine.

Another treatment is finasteride, better known as Propecia. Finasteride is taken orally and slows down the shutting down of hair follicles, Garcia said.

Receding hairlines, with no thinning at the crown, are different from male pattern baldness. Medical treatments are not effective with receding hairlines, meaning men with receding hairlines who want more hair should turn to cosmetic surgery, such as hair plugs.

If a patient is experiencing general thinning all around the head, it is probably health-related hair loss, Garcia said. General thinning could be caused by stress, lack of sleep, taking too many vitamins or a thyroid problem.

An unhealthy scalp can lead to general thinning. And Garcia said hair products such as gels and conditioners can block pores and make people more susceptible to hair loss.

To clean the scalp, he suggests using a clarifying shampoo once or twice a week. “That seems to help people who use a lot of hair product,” Garcia said. He also recommends T-Gel or Selsun Blue shampoos, products to help decrease buildup on the scalp.

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