What is behind hair loss? It's not just genetics, it might be creatine!

Although many people don't realise it, hair loss is a very unpleasant issue that really takes a toll on many men's self-esteem. And although genetics plays a major role in when and at what rate our hair starts to fall out, there are a number of things you can do to slow down the onset of balding. In our article today, we'll look at the most common things behind hair loss and tell you what to look out for.

Article Content:

• Why does hair fall out?
• What to look for in prevention?
• What to look out for, what to look for, what to do to prevent hair loss
• Watch out for even plain creatine
• What to take away from today's article?

Why does hair fall out?

First of all, we should look at why hair actually falls out. And in fact, there is nothing complicated behind it at all, because every day a person loses about a hundred hairs. This is just the result of a normal cycle in which hair first grows and then falls out to be replaced by new hair. The problem arises when hair starts to fall out more than it grows - this usually happens around the age of 40 for men (but don't be fooled, it can happen in your twenties) and naturally a little later for women. Some reasons may be temporary - for example, taking different medications or a hard hitting diet - but others are permanent and irreversible. And we'll look at how to prevent them next.

We lose our hair every day and it's completely natural.

What to look for in prevention?

Hair loss is primarily a matter of genetics - if, for example, several of your ancestors started suffering from hair loss in their thirties, it's more than likely that it will catch up with you at around a similar age. Still, certain behaviours promote hair loss, while others can slow it down and delay it. So what should you focus on?

Balanced and varied diet

Your diet plays a vital role not only in your overall health but also in the condition of your hair. If you eat healthily, not only will you feel better, but you may even slow down or stop hair loss for a while. A good diet should be varied and balanced. In the context of healthy hair, according to scientific studies, it is useful to watch your protein intake. According to research, plenty of fruit, vegetables and a variety of fresh herbs, olive oil and fish can also play a role.

A healthy diet brings a range of benefits. But among other things, it also helps to keep hair vital.

Proper hair care

Many men (especially older ones) tend to neglect their hair care and find it very metrosexual. Most of the time, however, it's only until they themselves start dealing with intense hair loss. When caring for your hair, you need to choose the right shampoo for your skin type, wash your head sensitively several times a week, and there's no harm in using other cosmetics such as conditioners or oils. For example, plain coconut oil can help nourish hair, according to studies, which in itself can lead to less hair loss.

Use of certain supplements

If you are worried that your diet is not varied enough, it is definitely worth considering taking some dietary supplements. For healthy hair, it is essential to keep an eye on the right levels of vitamins A, B, C and D, iron and other nutrients. However, the solution in all cases is a good quality multivitamin that will help you replenish all the necessary substances in one daily dose. We have discussed what to look out for when choosing the right supplement in our separate article. In addition to the classic multivitamin, however, in some cases, ginseng with its proven ability to promote hair growth or saw palmetto, which has been shown in studies to have similar effects to ginseng, may also come in handy.

Ginseng has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. But modern research suggests that it may improve hair growth.

Avoid cigarettes

Smoking has a number of different negatives, such as reducing lung capacity, as we discussed in a separate article. But beyond that, research suggests that it is responsible for premature ageing of cells - including hair cells. This means that smokers' hair, among other things, may be much more susceptible to damage , and if you smoke, you should be aware that in addition to the increased risk of cancer and other negatives, you are also exposing yourself to increased hair loss or at least a reduction in hair quality.

Watch out for plain creatine too

In relation to creatine, it is usually stated that it has no side effects. However, with a bit of digging, you'll find that there are studies that do come up with one negative effect - and as you can probably guess, it's linked to hair loss. This particular research showed that rugby players taking creatine monohydrate had higher levels of dihydrotestosterone, which can directly cause hair loss. These players had up to 50% higher DHT during the saturation phase and 40% higher after three weeks of use compared to the control group. While this is an interesting finding, there is very little relevant work on this topic and therefore we will have to wait for a definitive conclusion. However, if you have a genetic predisposition to hair loss, creatine may (perhaps) not be an entirely ideal supplement.

Although creatine has no serious side effects, some studies suggest that it may be behind hair loss.

What to take away from today's article?

The main thing you should take away from today's article is that hair has a cycle during which it grows and then falls out. The problem occurs when hair starts to fall out excessively and less new hair is formed. For men, this is usually around the age of 40, but it depends primarily on genetic predispositions, and it is not uncommon to go bald in your twenties. Although you can't change genetics, if you eat a healthy diet and take adequate care of your hair, you can slow down hair loss considerably. Using certain supplements such as a multivitamin doesn't hurt either. And if you smoke, we definitely recommend quitting, because that alone can affect the quality of your hair.