Central Western Daily

Is your own apathy contributing to your hair loss?

Is your own apathy contributing to your hair loss?
Is your own apathy contributing to your hair loss?

Story in partnership with MOSH.

If you talk to most men they would likely tell you stoicism is one of their highest ideals. That, if you're to provide for your family and live a happy and fulfilling life, you need to develop the ability to endure life's hardships without succumbing to them.

That old Aussie-ism "she'll be right" is rooted deeply in this philosophy. Most men don't want to complain or waste others' time with their problems, especially when they don't perceive them to be "that bad".

However, there is a fine line between stoicism and apathy, especially when it comes to your health. "She'll be right" turns into "what can you do?" far quicker than any of us like to admit.

Reluctance to see a doctor is a major contributing factor to premature death in men. It is also the driving force behind many men's hair loss.

According to Mosh, the men's online health platform, hair loss is an issue the vast majority of men will have to face at some point in their lives.

It is also an issue that can cause great distress to many men, who become self conscious about their hair and develop a complex about it.

However, according to one of Australia's leading hair transplant surgeons, for the vast majority of men, hair loss is preventable if it's treated promptly and properly.

Is your own apathy contributing to your hair loss?
Is your own apathy contributing to your hair loss?

Dr Ossman Ashraf - who is also a medical advisor to Mosh - has helped countless men over the years to retain their hair. However, early intervention is the key to success.

That's why, he says, when you first notice your hair is thinning, you should talk to your GP or get online to Mosh and talk to doctors who specialise in hair loss treatment.

"What a lot of men do is they look at it and say, 'Oh it's not that bad, I'll do something about it later' but the longer you leave it the worse it gets," he explained.

"And, by that stage, you can use treatments that will help you retain it but you won't get that hairline back or see the results you would've if you'd got onto it when you first noticed it," he continued.

"(That's why) when you start seeing a little bit of scalp showing through your hair... you need to get onto a doctor because the earlier you can start treatment, the results can be fantastic and it can actually prevent you from needing expensive hair transplants later on."

For the vast majority of men, about 95 percent Dr Ashraf says, their hair loss is caused by a combination of factors: genetics and hormones.

More specifically, if you have the genes for Androgenetic Alopecia - more commonly known as male pattern baldness - then your body's production of the hormone DHT will cause you to lose your hair over time. It's that simple.

Is your own apathy contributing to your hair loss?
Is your own apathy contributing to your hair loss?

For some men this is an aggressive process, for others it can be a much slower process that takes decades to play out. That's why oral and topical treatments of DHT Blockers and medications that help to stimulate regrowth can help you to maintain the hair you've still got and even thicken it.

In more advanced cases treatments such as PRP Injections can be used to help stimulate regrowth. If the hair follicles are dead however, you will need a hair transplant.

While male pattern baldness isn't necessarily a problem for every man - plenty of guys are perfectly happy and look just fine rocking the Jason Statham - in some circumstances, hair loss can be an indicator of an underlying condition. That's why Dr Ashraf says it is still worth getting it checked out when you start noticing it.

"For the majority of men, the reason they lose their hair is caused by male pattern baldness. However, there are about seven to ten other reasons you could be losing your hair and that's why you really should be seeing your doctor," he said.

"Sometimes hair loss can actually be a symptom of an underlying problem - like an autoimmune condition - so sometimes when you present with hair loss it can result in another diagnosis, that's why it is super important to see your doctor or jump on the Mosh platform," he continued.

"I think Mosh is a fantastic platform... you get online, fill out a quick questionnaire and then you're talking directly to someone who really knows what they're talking about and they can help get you on the right track."

Mosh also allows men to discreetly speak to a doctor, at a time that suits them, and start treatment immediately, if appropriate. Medications can be delivered directly to your door. For more information visit: https://www.getmosh.com.au/

Story in partnership with MOSH.