Self Image and Hair Loss in Men

If you were to ask most women to describe the physical characteristics of their ideal man the adjectives flowing, full and smooth would likely be used regarding this man's hair. There would be a small percentage that would prefer a bald man but they are in the minority. Men on the other hand have not always paid that much attention to their own image. "John Updike once compared the male body to a bank account: as long as it's healthy, a man doesn't think much about it." (Potter) In the past decade, however, there has been more emphasis put on hair loss. In a time when society tells us that we should be happy with who we are this seems to be a glaring contradiction. That fact is why hair loss and restoration has become such a hot topic. This begs the question; is going bald really that big a deal?Types of Hair Loss

While a head devoid of hair is the result the way in which men get there is quiet varied. While there is laundry list of wives tales about what causes hair loss, according to medical sources there are only a few medically explained reasons that men go bald. Androgenic alopecia also known as male pattern baldness is the most common cause for baldness in men. Other types of hair loss are traumatic and drug-induced alopecia. The traumatic is a result of hair being torn out at the root or some other severe injury such as burns. Drug-induced alopecia is most common in cancer patients that undergo chemo therapy. Self Image