It's a hair thing
The problem of hair loss seems to have been a part of life for pretty much all of recorded history, and probably even long before that. And men have worried about it for as long as they’ve had access to mirrors (or a still, reflective pool of water for that matter). Historically, it was treated with neutrality in some cultures, but that didn’t mean that the balding men were necessarily happy or accepting of it. Hence, the endless quest for a “cure” – something, anything that could keep the locks one’s head.
The history of dealing with hair loss
Around 3000 BC, the Assyrians, Sumerians, Cretans, Carthaginians, Persians, and Greeks cut right to the chase, and the upper class started using wigs and hairpieces. There’s no real record of how they looked, but it speaks to the idea that hair loss was not the preferred look. That period also spawned myths and rumors of cures, which took hold for generations.
A papyrus document discovered in Luxor, Egypt and dated at roughly 1500 BC, is the oldest medical text ever found, and it had information about hair loss treatment. Among the “prescriptions” was a cocktail of onions, iron, red lead, honey and alabaster, to be taken only after a magic spell to the sun god was recited, of course.
Even Hippocrates, the “Father of Medicine”, was concerned enough about his own hair loss that, around 420 BC, he came up with what he thought was the solution – a mixture of opium, horseradish, pigeon droppings, beetroot, and various spices. Unfortunately, he remained bald.
Julius Caesar, Emperor of Rome and military genius, found the laurel wreath to be the perfect solution to hide his thinning hair. He eventually just started doing the first “comb over” in pursuit of a more covered look.
Fast forward to the 1600s, and simply covering the head became a solution once again, just as it had been for the ancient Assyrians, Persians, Greeks and so forth. Wigs became extremely popular in France once King Louis XIII began wearing a full wig to cover his thinning hair. He eventually had up to 40 wig makers at his service. Soon, the upper class, and even members of the court, copied his style and began wearing wigs, which became a symbol of wealth and power. From there the “wig craze” found its way to England, and was a common element of fashion in the 1700s and 1800s and, in fact, English judges and lawyers continue the practice to this day and wear their long, curly wigs in court.
The point is, biologists can tell us all day long that the hair on our head really serves no critical, life-functioning purpose, but the truth is, most men would probably prefer to have a full head of hair, and to not worry about losing it. Fortunately, we know a lot more about what really goes on with hair loss, and there are much better options today for keeping your hair, and eve re-gaining some of what you may have lost. However, that hasn’t stopped some of the myths about hair loss from continuing to be believed.
What is not true about hair loss - the myths
1. Hair loss is always permanent. Hair loss can be caused by factors, such as trauma, hormonal changes, eating disorders, or illness. In those cases, the hair generally will come back once the condition is resolved. In the case of male pattern baldness, the hair loss is permanent however, there are ways to arrest and treat before it become complete.
2. Hair loss is caused by stress. Traumatic and overwhelming emotional events or episodes in one’s life can trigger hair loss. These can include things like serious long-term illnesses or sudden loss. But everyday kinds of stress from things like work and family, are not a primary or major cause of hair loss.
3. Wearing hats causes hair loss. This is probably one of the most common myths about hair loss. Every expert medical hair specialist and dermatologist will tell you that wearing hats has absolutely nothing to do with losing your hair. Your follicles get what they need to grow hair from your bloodstream, not the air. The myth probably persists, in part, because many balding men do wear hats in order to cover up their lack of hair.
4. Hair loss comes from your mom’s family. The genetic trait of hair loss can be inherited from either parent. It’s no more a fault of your mom’s family genes, than it is your dad’s.
5. Washing your hair too much causes hair loss. How frequently you shampoo and was your hair has no effect on its falling out or growth. You may notice it more in the shower, but it’s hair that was cycling out anyway, with or without being washed.
6. Cutting your hair more helps it grow thicker and faster. Haircuts do not affect how fast or thick your hair grows. It’s on a biological cycle that you can help along with a healthy lifestyle and diet, but cutting it more often has no effect.
7. Too much sex or masturbation causes hair loss. This is right up there with wearing hats when it comes to persistent myths about hair loss. Some people think that sex and masturbation increase testosterone levels which causes hair loss, but that isn’t how the science works, and it’s simply not true.
8. Too much testosterone causes hair loss. This goes hand-in-hand with the “too much sex” myth. However, research studies have shown that bald men and men with a full head of hair have the same testosterone levels. The amount of hair on your head has virtually nothing to do with the amount of testosterone in your blood, but it does have to do with the sensitivity of your follicles to the hormone DHT. Testosterone gets converted to DHT with an enzyme (5-alpha-reductase). Having higher levels of that enzyme is what affects your DHT levels and your hair loss. And it’s also the part of the scenario that’s genetic. So, it’s not the amount of testosterone you have, it’s what your body and genetic makeup do with it.
Unfortunately, these myths are not only not true, but they can also get in the way of getting the right information and treatment for hair loss, which is especially important in the beginning, when you first notice it happening. Whatever the reason for your receding hairline or growing bald spot, there are things you can do about it.
What is true about hair loss - the facts
Your hair grows in a cycle, or stages. There are 4 stages, and they have been extensively studied to better understand how your hair grows and how to prevent hair loss. In short, there is a growth, a transition, a resting and a shedding stage. The growth stage is called the Anagen phase, and it is the one that is affected negatively by excessive DHT levels. The DHT hormone essentially binds to the hair follicles, shrinking them and shortening the Anagen phase, resulting in progressively less robust hair and increasing hair loss. This is the result of the genetic level of DHT conversion, and there was little to counteract it until the arrival of the drugs minoxidil and propecia. Minoxidil acts to increase circulation in the follicles and to prolong the growth phase, while propecia acts to decrease the levels of DHT acting on the follicles.
Riize Hair provides both of these hair loss prevention and hair growth medications, along with a vitamin essential to your hair, all in one compound. You can choose to use it in the traditional way, as a topical application, or you can use it through a fast dissolving oral strip, enhancing its absorption. In either case, you will be getting a compound formula of the most innovative hair loss and growth medication available.
But perhaps the best thing about the Riize Hair system is that you can also use both products together – the topical solution and a once-a-day dose of the oral dissolving strip. This combined regime of using both prescribed formulas through different forms of delivery is a revolutionary new approach, and a new tool for the medical treatment for hair loss. All it takes is a few minutes of your time to get started.
Get started now
We will connect you to a US-licensed health care professional for a personalized consultation, and to assess your needs and provide a personalized treatment plan to meet those needs. Once the process is complete, and you have the necessary prescription, whichever Riize Hair package option you choose will be delivered to your door. No waiting, no appointments, no trips to the pharmacy.
SOURCES
- https://nashvillehairdoctor.com/hair-loss/myths/
- https://www.henryford.com/blog/2021/11/7-common-hair-loss-myths
- https://www.hairsure.in/myths-and-facts-about-male-pattern-baldness/
- https://www.getmosh.com.au/hair-loss/10-hair-loss-myths-everyone-seems-to-believe?srsltid=AfmBOorij6WeJjwA9C3BUddLvfjFMjiE6ZgeJg3uEL85ytGm1AZN91qj
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278957/
- https://genesishair.com/mens-hair-loss-myths-debunked/
- https://theconversation.com/the-art-of-balding-a-brief-history-of-hairless-men-199531
- https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160921-the-benefits-of-going-bald#:~:text=He%20speculates%20that%20baldness%20may,status%20men%20from%20hostile%20adolescents
- https://www.hrcdayton.com/blog/158-men%E2%80%99s-baldness-in-history.html#gref
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/sdfe/pdf/download/eid/1-s2.0-0738081X88900703/first-page-pdf
- https://rhrli.com/blog/evolutionary-benefit-bald/#:~:text=When%20Did%20Humans%20Start%20Going,Ebers%20Papyrus%20from%201500%20BCE.
- https://www.advancedhair.com.au/information/history-hair-loss/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/stages-of-hair-growth
