How to Fight Male Pattern Baldness for Men in Bodybuilding

Why you should combat baldness in Bodybuilding

When it comes to your hair as a man, it is much more than just visual appeal. For many, a hairdo is who someone is, it gives them confidence and in many cases makes them unique. However, many times there is a certain gene in men that causes male pattern baldness. While it is mostly genetic, there are ways to fight the effects of this, particularly for bodybuilders. So, what can you do to fight male pattern baldness?

Male Pattern Baldness: Causes and Symptoms

The issue of male pattern baldness is largely related to your genes and male sex hormones, such as testosterone, DHT, and other androgens. Taking substances such as anabolic steroids can also speed up the process of male pattern baldness.

Every individual strand of hair sits in a small cavity in the skin of the scalp, called a follicle. Generally, when the hair follicle shrinks over time, this is what causes the baldness to start, and results in shorter, thinner, and finer hair. Eventually, the follicle will shrink to the point where it no longer grows any new hair, but typically the follicles remain alive, and this suggests that it is still possible to grow new hair.

Now, do not freak out when you comb your hair and a few strands come out, or you wash your hair and end up with a few more strands that you’d like on your hands. There are certain symptoms to look for when it comes to male pattern baldness. Typically, it begins right at the hairline, and it will gradually move backward (recede) to eventually form an “M” shape on the scalp.

Another symptom of male pattern baldness starts at the crown of the head, where a circular area begins to lose hair and those strands of hair will often thin and expand in size over time. 

Another thing to look out for is when the hair becomes finer, shorter, and thinner, and creates a U-shaped pattern of hair around the sides of the head and a bald area on the back of the head.

When a man begins to notice these symptoms, perhaps it is time to take action to try and slow down the process or even stop it entirely. 

Treatments to Fight Male Pattern Baldness

There are plenty of options when it comes to fighting male pattern baldness. One way is Minoxidil (Rogaine). Rogaine is available over the counter as a liquid or foam, and just needs to be applied to the scalp twice per day to aid in the stimulation of hair growth as well as prevent hair loss. Minoxidil is the active ingredient in Rogaine, and you can also find it alone, in a generic form, as a liquid solution or also as an oral tablet. If you were to choose these options you need to be patient, as Rogaine and Minoxidil can take 4 to 6 months to see results, and the results can vary largely from person to person.

Another treatment option is Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar). This option is not a cream or foam, it is a pill that you take daily, and unfortunately it is only available with a prescription from your doctor. This option also requires a lot of patients, as the FDA states that generally, it will take at least 3 months of daily use to see results from the drug, and results are not guaranteed.

Now, if you feel that your case of male pattern baldness is a bit more severe and you need something stronger to fight it, there is also the option of a full on hair transplant. 

What are Hair Transplants?

This may be an option you never even heard of before, and hair transplants are far more than just foam or pills. Hair transplants are surgical procedures designed to reverse or fight male pattern baldness. Theyh move hair to bald or thinning areas of the scalp, and may also be known as hair restoration or hair replacement. A surgical option typically is utilized by people that have tried other options and not had luck, or feel that this option just makes more sense for the severity of their case.

During one of these procedures, healthcare workers will take grafts of skin from areas of the body already containing hair, also known as the “donor site”, and move them to the balding or hairless areas of the scalp. Once the spot heals, it should continue to grow hair as normal Typically these “donor sites” are on your head, at the back of your scalp, as this is where hair tends to be thickest; so don’t worry, you probably won’t have leg hair on your scalp.

A hair transplant is a permanent option for fighting male pattern baldness. Along with permanently fixing your hair, a transplant can help with increasing confidence.

Hair Transplant Risks

Typically, these surgeries go very well and yield great results, but there are always risks and side effects that you may come across, so it is good to be aware of them ahead of time.

Risks of Hair Transplants

• Allergic reactions to anesthesia
• Failed grafts or flaps
• Infection of the grafted areas
• Loss of feeling on your scalp
• Scarring

More than likely you have nothing to worry about, as risks are something that comes with just about any procedure from wisdom teeth removal to laser eye surgery, but it is alway good to know what could happen. These risks are something that would usually occur with a clinic that is inexperienced or unprofessional with their procedures, so don’t let this deter you from getting a hair transplant.

Side Effects of Hair Transplants

• Crust or scabs
• Itching
• Loss of feeling
• Pain or throbbing
• Swelling
• Tightness

If you experience any side effects after a hair transplant, don’t freak out as they are usually temporary, and if you experience them it is most likely a normal reaction and they should happen around the donor site or where the new hair has been placed. However, if they become more severe or do not go away, consult a physician.

When it comes to recovery, it is more than likely that you will be washing your hair within a day or two after the surgery! Within the week you should be able to be back to work and doing light activities, but keep in mind that you might not get the results immediately. Many times it may take up to a full year to see the results that you want from a hair transplant surgery, and sometimes you may have to get “touch-ups”.

Where Can I Get a Hair Transplant?

Sure, you can go to your average plastic surgeon or dermatologist, but we have a slightly different recommendation.

Vera Clinic

Our team Generation Iron can firmly stand behind one clinic that we can firmly recommend and specializes in hair transplants is Vera Clinic in Turkey. Turkey for a hair transplant might seem a bit far-fetched to you, but if you want the best of the best, a good option is Vera Clinic.

Vera Clinic is an international hospital staffed with highly accomplished specialists of all different professions. Their team is full of some of the best dentists, hair transplant surgeons, and plastic surgeons in Turkey. As far as their reputation, they have been providing hair transplant operations for about a decade, and are staffed with the best hair transplant doctors you can find. 

Vera Clinic is also rising in popularity and their reputation is growing, as hair transplants are becoming far more common. Actually, they have been known as the best hair transplant clinic in Turkey since they were established. Vera Clinic has earned recognition from the European Awards in Medicine 2021 as the Best Hair Transplant Clinic of Europe, and they have performed over 30,000 successful surgeries since they started.

Male Pattern Baldness Wrap Up

Overall, there are plenty of ways to combat male pattern baldness. It is something that no man really wants to deal with, so thankfully there are ways to deal with it ranging from over the counter options to a full on transplant. If you go with a transplant, we highly recommend Vera Clinic!

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*Images courtesy of Envato