Latest / Oh And One More Thing / EP38 - Less Hair, More Character

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EP38 - Less Hair, More Character · Oh And One More Thing

0:10
Some old friends facing our fears, laughing through the
0:12
chaos and drinking some beers. So here's to the laughs, the
0:16
crumbs and the cheers. All the awkward moments.
0:18
And we're still here. Because in the end, we're just
0:21
doing our thing. It's our crazy life.
0:23
One more thing, one more thing. Oh.
0:34
Hey everybody, I'm Robin. Welcome to.
0:37
Oh, and one more thing of the podcast.
0:39
Hey, I'm Brian. It's our podcast.
0:41
Fueled by too much coffee, sometimes poor judgment and
0:43
nostalgia for the good old days. Oh no.
0:49
May have hit the wrong button there, but that's OK, that's all
0:50
right. I don't know, they get a little
0:52
carried away in that opening. Absolutely did.
0:56
Hey, it was just Saint Patrick's Day.
0:58
It was fun. Yeah, we do the same thing we do
1:00
every year because what is that? It's my wife's birthday, which
1:05
means we did nothing. What?
1:07
Here's the deal. Her birthday is on Saint
1:09
Patrick's Day, and it's like one of the worst days of the year to
1:12
go out. Well, yeah, you don't have to
1:14
always go to the bars. I know even go to a restaurant
1:17
is the pain in the butt. You can have green eggs and ham.
1:19
You gross. No.
1:22
So we have a very quiet, quiet little night at home.
1:24
Just kind of hang out and you know, all that kind of stuff.
1:27
That's nice. Did you make her a nice little
1:28
drink and give her a nice gift? Absolutely.
1:30
Good. As far as you know.
1:35
Oh, I tell you, right? Yeah.
1:37
You know, and Speaking of birthdays, you know, getting
1:39
older and you know, losing your hair is not.
1:41
Awesome. No, it's not.
1:42
I'm not saying I'm going bald, but you know, the last time I
1:44
went to get a haircut, the Barber charged me a finder's
1:46
fee. OK, so it's bad.
1:50
It's it's bad, dude. Yeah, I'm sorry.
1:52
What's happening? The economy again.
1:54
No worse, I think my hairline is moving back with all telling me.
2:00
Right, yeah, it seems like mine just vanished in in the night.
2:03
Like where did it go? I noticed in the mirror this
2:05
morning it seemed like a little more force than I remember
2:07
right. That's how it starts.
2:08
I'm telling you one day you're just washing your face.
2:11
Next day you're like, why does my head looks a lot aerodynamic?
2:14
Yeah. It does, yeah, but.
2:15
You still have a good head, head a bear buddy.
2:17
I mean, it's very, very flowing and it's, it's very grayish, but
2:20
I like it. I like it.
2:20
It's very it's very stylish on you.
2:22
Why is that? Can I just ask a question on top
2:24
again? Why is it OK?
2:26
Like as as we get older, men get older like the grey hair, it we
2:29
look more distinguished, we look better like like the all like
2:31
the latest like sexist men on people or whatever have all had
2:34
like grey hair. But when women start getting
2:35
grey hair, it's like they lose their minds.
2:37
Because of the whole industry of colouring, Yeah, you know, so
2:40
the colour of the hair, right? But I think you guys look good
2:43
in Gray hair. So do I, yeah.
2:45
Yeah, but I mean, look at the picture on our podcast right
2:47
there. We look amazing.
2:48
Absolutely we do. There was.
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Not AI at all involved in dolls, no.
2:53
They look perfectly as is. Exactly.
2:55
You know, but have you noticed that as we get older, that's
2:57
something that is increasingly more annoying, like the lack of
3:00
hair in our heads? Or maybe too much hair on our
3:02
backs and in our ears. Oh, gross.
3:04
Don't even go there. It's gross.
3:05
I am forever plucking my ear, right?
3:07
Oh, it's horrible. So gross news.
3:09
So let's tackle that topic today.
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Hair. We've all experienced it.
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It's either too little or too much.
3:15
We hope this is somewhat serious.
3:17
Deep dive into the hairy, the balding and the not so hairy
3:21
male pattern baldness. So losing your hair is something
3:25
we don't like to talk about. It's more technically known as,
3:28
Oh my gosh, big words, androgenetic alpacia.
3:31
That wasn't too hard. That sounds that still looks
3:34
hard, which is a common inherited condition that causes
3:37
a receding hairline and thinning hair.
3:40
It is linked to a combination of genetics and hormones,
3:42
specifically the hormone. Come on now, you can do it.
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I I. Put the I know.
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It on there for you. The hydrotestosterone or right
3:50
or DHT? DHT.
3:52
Stop and think about it though. So what is male pattern
3:54
baldness? Yeah, what is it?
3:56
Well, it's a receding hairline, of course.
3:58
The hairline moves back, often forming an M or.
4:01
AU shape Oh my God, the dreaded U.
4:03
It's thinning at the crown. A bald spot appears at the top
4:06
of the head. Yep.
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That's the first thing I noticed was the whole Med.
4:09
It's finer and shorter hair. The hair in affected areas
4:13
becomes thinner, lighter and shorter.
4:14
Yeah, I do have a full head of hair, by the way.
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It's just it's super thin and you really can't see it.
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It is. Really.
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Really short. And it's also progressive
4:23
thinning, so bald spot in the crown may extend and eventually
4:26
connect with the receding hairline, leaving a U-shaped or
4:30
horseshoe shaped of hair around the sides in the back of the
4:33
head. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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And that's to me, in general, that's not a good look.
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Well, come on, just shave it. People rock.
4:40
The bald? Oh you mean the the hair that
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goes around the side? Yes.
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The best part is when they grow that piece into a pony.
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I know it's like, what are you doing?
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Live in the back of the dream. Live in the dream.
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Live in the dream. You know what, the way it's
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funny as as I am getting older and my my hip, my top, my head
4:56
is getting shorter and going away the hair, my face is
4:59
getting longer. Yeah, it is.
5:01
Get the long beards. You're braiding it now, but.
5:03
Yeah, I I can. I don't go that far.
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I can never grow a beard until like 4 years ago and then like
5:07
all of a sudden bam there's a beard.
5:08
Hey, we talk about that in here. OK, stop talking, Rob.
5:11
OK. Why the rest of your hair?
5:13
Actually, it responds. My gosh, losing your hair in
5:16
your head? I'm foreshadowing our podcast.
5:19
I know. It's not like you didn't read
5:20
this, did you? No.
5:22
Why would you read a head? Why would I read?
5:24
That why would I pre read what I'm talking about?
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Oh my God. You want to be just as surprised
5:28
as everyone else? Exactly.
5:31
All right, so why does this happen?
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You talked about genetics. Yep, It's an inherited condition
5:35
that can be passed down from either the mother's or really or
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the father's side of the family. See now, I always thought it was
5:40
only the mother's side of the family would pass down those
5:43
genes to losing your hair. Really.
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That's what I I heard that all my life growing up.
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And my mother's father, my grandfather is bald just like
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you. OK.
5:51
Yep. And where was I'm?
5:52
Kidding. What?
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I mean, just like me. Well, he was bald, just like
5:56
you. However, he did wear a toupee.
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Was hilarious. Really.
6:00
Yeah. He wore a rug.
6:01
He wore oh that's so bad. Is that?
6:04
Was that like a 60s and 70s thing though?
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Was that like? It totally was.
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OK. Yeah.
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All right. And then my my grandfather on my
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father's side had a full head of hair when he passed away, and it
6:13
wasn't even Gray. See, so my side on my my dad's
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side, my his dad, my grandfather was bald when my dad had a
6:19
thick, huge head of hair. On my mom's side, grandpa had a
6:23
huge thick head of hair. Really.
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Both did, yeah. OK but I'm so bald, what the
6:27
hell? It's a generation maybe, I don't
6:30
know exactly. So let's talk about the
6:33
hormones. Hormones change, particularly
6:35
the the presence of when we say DHT, the hydrotestosterone.
6:39
You nailed it. Thank you.
6:41
Plays a key role in the shrinking of hair follicles.
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It's a derivative of testosterone.
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It plays a starring role in the loss of hair in men genetically
6:49
sensitive to DHT. Hair follicles shrink over time.
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This process is called miniaturization.
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Really. Miniaturization.
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How original? I know, right?
7:00
Which leads to thinner, shorter hair until the follicle starts
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producing hair all together. OK, but so can I get that in my
7:06
ears? Because.
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I know, why can't? Why can't we have that inner
7:10
ears right? I'm forever plucking that crap.
7:12
Oh my God it's forever. Every time I cut my hair, I cut
7:14
my ear hair too. You comb it and then.
7:17
No, I don't. Comb it like cut it you.
7:22
In case I've noticed I'd hate hair like I just I just, I just
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hate it on me. I hate hair.
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I like hair. Not a fan, not a fan.
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WAVY headed hair. If I had a full head of hair I'd
7:30
probably think differently, but since I don't just make it all
7:33
go away this way all right. So age probably plays a big role
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I'm guessing. I would imagine the likelihood
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of severity of hair loss increases with age.
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By age 50, roughly half of men experienced noticeable hair
7:43
loss. That that's a lot by 50 half at.
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50, Oh my gosh. All right, By age 70 or 80, as
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many as 80% of men have experienced significant hair
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thinning or baldness early onset.
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So before the age of 30 is not rare.
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About 25% of menial signs of MPB before age 21.
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So did you have early onset? I did not.
8:03
Well, OK, I. Mean you're the only bald guy in
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the room here so that's not going back to the question I'm.
8:09
Going back to work so I'm recently looking at pictures.
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Went all the way back to 2010 and I was already.
8:13
I had hair in my head, but I've always cut it short.
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Yeah, but the receding hairline was beginning and I probably say
8:19
about 15 years ago, so right around the age of 40, I didn't
8:22
start to notice the little bald spot up in the back.
8:24
Here, 40. OK.
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Now when you were on the Price is Right, you had hair, Yes, and
8:28
you were 25. I was 25.
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OK, that. Looks good then, yeah.
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Let's hear dark hair. So I don't look good now, is
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what you're saying? Oh, I didn't.
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Did I say that? Did anybody hear me say that?
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No. That's all I read between the
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lines. Huh.
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So you're saying we're not created equal?
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Yeah, so baldness is hardly rare.
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It's basically nearly inevitable for many men unless you get
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lucky or or you are genetically blessed.
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So am I genetically blessed? You are definitely are
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genetically blessed, at least at least according to this.
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Until you get to at least the age 70, then you're in, right?
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But no, I'm a little receding, little bit.
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You got a little bit of the horseshoe, but not a lot.
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I hate to be the guy that I did point this out to you a few
9:05
weeks ago. I don't.
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I'm not listening to you. Neither is anybody else.
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That's the problem, Brian. But it's not just vanity with
9:14
the receding hairline. This stuff can actually affect
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confidence, self-image and emotional well-being.
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Some studies note associations with lower self esteem, body
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image concerns, even anxiety or depression for some balding men.
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And I'm not depressed about it, but I don't even think I'm
9:30
anxious but. I think if you'd compare, you
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know, when you were actually starting to lose your hair to
9:35
when you didn't, you probably would have noticed some self
9:38
consciousness about it. Maybe, maybe not.
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See, I think. Subconsciously, that's when I
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started shaving my head really short, right?
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Just to offset it all and be done with it.
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Right cuz you were getting the the horseshoe or factor on the
9:50
on the sides yeah started and you don't like that look so I.
9:52
Do not like that, right? So I'm just kind of short,
9:54
right? I've been tempted to go all the
9:55
way bald, but that sounds like more work.
9:57
Yeah, blade, shave it. Yeah, I do that all the time.
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All the time. Yeah.
10:00
Now I just do this once a week. And it's easy peasy.
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Easy peasy. You look fantastic.
10:03
All right, all right. Hey Brian, I was just outside
10:10
trying to enjoy the yard and the mosquitoes are driving me nuts.
10:13
Oh, you got to call Spring Green for that, Rob.
10:15
Spring green? I thought they just did my
10:17
fertilizer and weed control. Oh, they do that and our lawn
10:20
looks amazing because of it, but their mosquito control is a game
10:23
changer. We can actually use our patio.
10:26
You know how bad the state bird gets in Minnesota?
10:28
I'm. Pretty sure that's the loon, but
10:30
point taken. So they do lawns and mosquitoes.
10:33
And total home pest control. My house is completely mouse
10:36
free. They even do liquid aerations
10:38
and lawn insect control. Wow, I'm only using them for
10:40
half of what I could be. You should fix that.
10:42
Go to springdashgreen.com and get a personalized quote today.
10:46
That's spring dashgreen.com. And tell them.
10:48
Oh, and one more thing, Sancha Androgenetic alopecia has been
10:54
known to be linked with anxiety and depression symptoms.
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As we just talked about, a symptomatic review and metadata
11:00
analysis found that people with androgenetic.
11:04
We got to find a way to shorten that.
11:05
Can we just go AA? No, we can't.
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We can't go ahead. And the genetic alopecia just
11:10
learned to say it reported higher levels of generalized
11:13
anxiety, social anxiety, depression and perceived stress
11:17
compared with individuals without hair loss.
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So that's interesting. That's interesting, yeah.
11:22
It also notes reduced self esteem and greater body image
11:25
dissatisfaction. Interesting.
11:27
This study examined differences in psychological well-being
11:30
between Aga. There it is Aga.
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Look at that again. Read ahead.
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Aga patients and non Aga patients focusing on symptoms of
11:41
anxiety, symptoms of depression, stress and other psychological
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issues as reported by the PNC. That's pub Med Central.
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Another clinical study measured loneliness, anxiety and
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depression in men with Aga before and after hair transplant
11:55
surgery. Oh, is there things about
11:56
transplants in here? Yeah, we talked about a little
11:58
bit. Oh.
11:58
My gosh, that's intriguing to me.
12:01
Results. No, wait a minute.
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I'm sorry, I have to interrupt. You'd be intrigued by that.
12:04
I didn't think, not for me personally.
12:06
I'm just curious like. Oh, like OK, learn.
12:09
Because you see the guys I have like the plugs and they're so
12:12
obvious, the bad plugs, and it's just the weirdest freaking look.
12:16
We don't get into that deep detail.
12:17
OK, well I anyway. Anyway, go on with what you're
12:22
saying. A result showed significant
12:25
decreases in anxiety and depression scores post surgery,
12:28
suggesting hair loss has been impacting emotional well-being
12:31
beforehand. However, something to note is
12:33
not all studies found a direct link to clinical depression.
12:36
Some show moderate impacts or mixed results depending on the
12:39
measures and populations. Interesting literature
12:42
highlights the spectrum of impact for some men.
12:44
So for some men it significantly effects self esteem, body image,
12:47
social social anxiety and emotional functioning.
12:51
So I kind of get that. Yeah, I get it.
12:53
If, if I don't know if, if hair was your identity, you know, and
12:56
you're like, oh crap, I'm losing my hair, right.
12:59
You know, you definitely could be affected by it.
13:01
So I know you're not a big huge dating reality TV show type
13:06
watcher, right? I would say I might.
13:09
You said I'm not a big or huge fan.
13:11
Is an under underestimated that because I despise it?
13:16
Sure. So I I'm a little behind on the
13:18
times here because we've had a lot going on, but about a month
13:21
ago, Love Was Blind came out right around Valentine's Day.
13:24
OK, did you watch that show? No, never have.
13:27
Not one. Not will I ever.
13:29
It's always, honestly the best part of the show is they spend
13:31
the first like whatever, 61235 freaking episodes in the pods.
13:35
It's like 3, but it feels like forever 'cause it's just drags.
13:38
But then when they see each other for the first time, they
13:40
get to know them, you know, on an emotional level and social
13:42
level before they physically see them.
13:43
And that's always the best part. Why is when they pop out, 'cause
13:46
it's the person you've been talking to, the one you imagined
13:48
and does it? Does it pop?
13:49
And I think the social anxiety there, like we're talking about
13:53
baldness and social anxiety, that's gotta be huge.
13:55
And they're and they're doing it on the air.
13:57
Yeah, yeah. And like in front of cameras.
13:59
And shit, no, I'm not ever doing that.
14:01
In front of the nation or those that choose to watch Netflix.
14:06
True. Anyway, okay, so let's take a
14:08
minute and jump back and talk a little bit more about DHT or let
14:11
me see if I can say this. Didro Hydro?
14:13
Nope, no Dihydro. Testosterone.
14:15
There you go. There you go, DHT.
14:17
So dihydrotestosterone, wow, that's hard.
14:20
It's called DHT is a hormone made from testosterone by an
14:25
enzyme called 5A reductus. OK.
14:28
It's very powerful, much stronger than testosterone at
14:31
activating androgen receptors. Did I say that right?
14:35
It said that right. I'm with you.
14:36
DHT binds to antigen receptors 3 to five times more strongly than
14:42
testosterone. Once it binds, it stays bound
14:47
longer and this makes it extremely effective in changing
14:51
cell behavior. OK so if I'm hearing this right
14:55
DHT it comes on early? Yep, and that's what helps keep
15:00
your hair if you have strong DHT.
15:02
Right. It helps you build things in
15:04
your early OK, childhood, OK, and in your older years it works
15:10
against you OK. So DHT is crucial early in Life,
15:13
OK, as it helps the male sexual development, but later it
15:17
becomes, let's just say, selectively annoying.
15:21
I would concur with that. So why does DHT kill scalp hair
15:24
but boost back nose ear hair? I don't know.
15:27
So that's what we're here to find out, OK?
15:28
Because it does boost the back nose in your hair like there's
15:31
no tomorrow. It's super annoying which is why
15:33
I hate body hair right now. But it also gave you that nice
15:35
beard. It there?
15:36
OK, there is that, there's that, yes.
15:39
So hair follicles don't all respond to DHT the same way.
15:42
So they're genetically programmed to react differently
15:44
depending on where they are in the body.
15:46
So let's start with scalp hair. The scalp follicles in
15:49
genetically susceptible men are DHT sensitive in a negative way.
15:53
In the situation DHT shrinks the follicle, the miniaturization
15:57
shortens the growth phase and produces thinner, weaker hairs.
16:01
So overtime this equals visible thinning and baldness in the
16:03
same hormone. Same blood, but it's a totally
16:06
different result. So that's interesting, isn't it?
16:08
Yeah. Why?
16:09
Why it works one way on top and a different way elsewhere,
16:12
right? So as we said, DHT is a hormone
16:14
made from testosterone, from an enzyme called 5A reductase,
16:19
which means this enzyme plays a vital role in male sexual
16:22
development, prostate growth, hair growth and loss.
16:25
And acne. Oh see, I didn't have a lot of
16:28
acne when I was a kid. Oh, interesting.
16:30
Yeah, I did. Well, I don't know, did I?
16:33
Who can remember back that far at that?
16:34
Age long time ago, but yeah, I don't I didn't remember I'm
16:38
having a huge acne outbreak when I was a kid.
16:40
I mean here and there you know you had to use clear cell or
16:42
whatever we was back then. Clear a cell.
16:44
Right. Yeah, and.
16:47
They always say don't pop your pimples that'll ruin your skin.
16:50
I pop. Oh I pop those suckers every
16:52
chance like. Right on the mirror.
16:53
That's the best part. Popping pimples, baby.
16:58
Do you ever watch Doctor Pimple Popper?
17:00
I do not so oh. My God, I've tried.
17:03
And just Oh my God the show is so gross.
17:05
It is the grossest thing. It's so gross.
17:07
The world, yeah, but I can't. It's like train work train wreck
17:10
I can't take my eyes off of. It I know I can't watch it part
17:12
part of the product is on TLC and all the shows in that
17:14
Chandler garbage. Every single one.
17:16
Not all of. Them every.
17:18
Single all your weird dating. No, none of those are on TLC.
17:21
Not one. That is the weirdest channel
17:23
ever. It should go away.
17:25
No, but not Doctor Pimple Popper.
17:29
All right, so let's get back to the hair, back, chest, ear, and
17:33
nose hair. Good Lord, these follicles are
17:35
DHT responsive in a positive way.
17:38
No shit. In these areas, DHT activates
17:43
dormant follicles. So creates hair growth.
17:46
Yeah, increases hair thickness and growth rate.
17:49
Yeah. Did you ever notice how fast
17:51
that your hair grows? Yep, I mean, it's in.
17:53
It's you could watch it grow, you know, let's talk about it.
17:56
When you talk about something real slow, you it's like
17:57
watching grass grow, but you can see the hair grow.
18:00
I mean, it's crazy and you know. It's funny, you know, I do work
18:02
at a bus garage and there's quite a few older men who work
18:04
there. And they get tough.
18:06
And you can see the yeah, you can see the ones who don't groom
18:08
on a regular basis. And there's that's just, yeah,
18:11
toughs. I just, Oh my gosh.
18:13
You gotta, it's gotta play in through.
18:14
Hearing Oh, it has to right, you would think.
18:17
Anyway, anyway, the last thing I wanted to say is it converts
18:19
fine hairs into thick. Yes it does.
18:21
Yes it does. That's maybe that's how we get
18:23
the nice. Thick beard?
18:24
Maybe. Maybe.
18:25
Yeah. Because that's thick, sort of
18:27
course I'm like it. Plus DHT exposure accumulates
18:30
with age. Back hair shows up like it got
18:33
an invitation to a party. Yes, yes it does.
18:37
Ear and nose hair decide to go full on wizard.
18:41
My God it's so horrible I hate it.
18:45
You're learning way too much about my inner grooming pads I
18:47
hate. It I think they're our whole
18:50
audience is learning too much about our hair.
18:52
Problems exactly. So why does this ramp up with
18:56
age? So a few things that happen as
18:58
we get older. Number one, your local DHT
19:00
production increases. So certain tissues, skin,
19:02
prostate, hair follicles produce DHT locally.
19:06
Even if testosterone drops slightly with age, local DHT
19:09
activity can remain high. So essentially each follicle is
19:13
producing its own DHT. What, that's depressed now?
19:16
I thought with low T low testosterone that's supposed to
19:20
go down but apparently DHT is going up.
19:24
Apparently. Yeah, I5 on each other on the
19:26
way. Like minoxidil and DHT like they
19:30
friends? Is that why you can grow hair in
19:31
your head with that stuff? Oh, I don't know.
19:33
I never tried it. Let's do an experiment.
19:35
Oh, let's not. All right, so back to our topic.
19:40
We're getting off topic a lot here.
19:42
So follicles wake up, hair follicles in ears, nose and
19:46
shoulders were always there. They were just inactive.
19:49
Years of androgen exposure eventually flips the switch.
19:53
OK, I don't. Have a lot of shoulder hair so.
19:55
Oh, you don't? Not, not.
19:57
Not like top my shoulders. Oh yeah, that just comes right
19:59
around to. The chest, No, I don't.
20:02
I don't. I don't have that problem.
20:03
But yeah. Goes from the back right around
20:05
to the. Chest you go.
20:06
Or I can say it goes the other way because the chest hair was
20:08
first. Yeah, that's true.
20:09
Grew up the shoulders, Sure. Around to the back.
20:11
Yeah, you go 6 inches. Either way, it's a right
20:13
firestorm. And then on the sides of the
20:15
yeah. Sides of the arm.
20:16
Oh yeah, sides of the Oh yeah, yeah, it's everywhere #3 once
20:18
reproduction is no longer the priority, evolution stops
20:21
caring. That's a rude there's There's no
20:26
biological pressure to keep scalp hair, however, androgen
20:28
signaling continues to act throughout the body.
20:31
It's just not getting better as we're going through.
20:33
It does not. I've still take it back, but it
20:35
just stops carrying the. That's just rude, all right?
20:39
Why the distribution feels so personal?
20:41
No doubt the cruel. Irony is this the most socially
20:45
valued hair? Your scalp is androgen fragile
20:50
and the the least desired hair, ears, nose, back is androgen.
20:55
Activated. It's all coming together now,
20:56
OK? This happens because scalp hair
20:58
evolved for protection and temperature regulation.
21:01
OK, did you know that I, I kind of makes sense, but yeah, I get.
21:05
That listen, back in school, I don't think we talked about this
21:08
in health care if it. Wasn't in our podcast.
21:10
I probably didn't pay attention to it.
21:11
Correct. Yes, we learned so much more
21:12
things in this. I know we do.
21:15
All right, next, body hair evolved for pheromone signaling
21:18
and sexual maturity. OK.
21:21
Once reproduction is no longer a biological critical, scalp hair
21:25
has no evolutionary defense. OK, wait, wait, wait, wait,
21:28
wait, wait, wait, wait. I'm putting the puzzle together
21:30
now. So women have a child bearing
21:35
age typically until they're you know, we're going with going to
21:38
go 40 ish somewhere. Yeah, in the ballpark.
21:41
In a ballpark, right. That's when the hair starts to
21:43
go right. So what this is saying is that.
21:46
Is there was a a time? Right.
21:48
Evolutionarily speaking, yeah, we hit our mid 40s.
21:52
Women hit their mid 40s. You were, you were attracting
21:55
your mates, right? You were, you know, having
21:57
children and then boom, it's gone.
22:00
Once you're over the hill they're basically evolution
22:02
saying game over, let it go again, Rude.
22:08
LG doesn't prioritize aesthetics, just signaling.
22:11
Yeah. Right, not random.
22:13
It's location specific hormone sensitivity wired by genetics.
22:18
Oh, God. So let's talk about treatments.
22:20
Here's where we can give you a hair transplant, Rob.
22:25
Bring it on, Brian, bring it on. Because MBP male pattern
22:28
baldness is so common and often unwelcome is not, there are a
22:33
handful of treatments with varying effectiveness.
22:36
OK, the good news there are things you can do.
22:40
Things aren't going to cost me an arm and a leg.
22:42
Well, it might. How bad do you want it?
22:46
The slightly less groovy news Nothing is guaranteed that you
22:50
can get your thick hair back like it was when you're a
22:52
teenager. Well, that's called The Time
22:54
Machine, which doesn't. Exist we just talked about
22:56
because you're past your 40s. Past my 40s right So classic
22:59
treatments Minoxidil and I brought this up earlier, but
23:01
this drug originally for blood pressure did not know that was
23:05
discovered to have a side effect thicker hair what right So when
23:09
applied to the scalp, it appears to prolong the growth phase of
23:12
hair follicles and stimulates growth.
23:14
But oxidil is the most commonly known by its famous brand name
23:17
Rogaine, the popular over the counter treatment for hereditary
23:20
hair loss. That's why you don't call it
23:22
medoxidil. Medoxidiloxidil.
23:25
It's Rogaine. Rogaine Yeah.
23:27
But So what this is also saying though is that so the prolonged
23:30
growth phase of hair, so I'm clearly beyond that phase at
23:33
this point. So I don't think it's going to
23:35
do much. But you still have some hair.
23:37
Some, but I think if I would have, I literally, I'm, I'll be
23:39
honest, if I would have done this by 15 years ago, I bet you
23:41
could have saved it a little better.
23:42
Oh, So what you're saying then is maybe I should be taking some
23:46
Rogaine to keep my thick mane going?
23:48
No, it's going away as as you I can see getting thinner as you
23:52
sit here. So no, no you're not You're
23:54
done. We need to find some whimsical
23:56
40 year old guy that would love to do this for us.
23:58
Yes, yeah. OK, let's work on that.
24:00
Send us an e-mail if you're willing to try.
24:02
Oh, and one more thing, pot@gmail.com.
24:05
Nice. Right, the next one is
24:07
Finasteride. Or finasteride.
24:09
Oh shoot, that's what it is. Finasteride.
24:11
Like it's spelled. Hey, I'm not good at this.
24:15
Anyway, this works differently. Finasteride blocks the enzyme 5A
24:19
reductus, reducing the conversion of testosterone to
24:23
DHT, thereby lowering scalp DHT levels.
24:28
Less DHT, less follicle miniaturization.
24:32
Finasteride is more commonly known by its brand names, which
24:36
vary depending on the condition being treated.
24:39
The two most common brand names are.
24:42
Propecia. Propecia.
24:44
I've heard of Propecia. I have not heard of.
24:46
I've heard of. Propecia.
24:47
Obviously I don't need it. Kidding.
24:49
Clearly. Anyway, it's Rapisha.
24:54
This is the brand name for the 1 milligram dose of finasteride,
24:58
which is used to treat male pattern hair loss, androgenetic
25:03
alopecia. This is a tough.
25:06
There's a lot of word here and pro scar the next one.
25:09
I've never heard of this brand name though.
25:10
OK, I. Haven't heard of both either.
25:11
Of them. OK, yeah, I've heard Propecia,
25:13
but Pro Scar, this is the brand name for the 5 milligram dose of
25:16
finasteride, which is used to treat benign prostatic
25:19
hyperplasia. BHP.
25:22
Sure. Benign, prostatic way.
25:23
Beyond my 8th grade reading. Level, you know, I'm really
25:25
excited about in our next episode.
25:27
Next episode is with Nurse Nikki.
25:28
Yeah. Really wish we would have had
25:30
her here for this before. Oh yeah, we could run, She hire,
25:33
she could. Write all this buyer, right?
25:34
All right, let's call her. Yeah, so so preview episode next
25:37
episode is great too. By the way, TuneIn, so BHP, our
25:40
BPH, our condition involving an enlarged prostate gland.
25:44
Ooh, that sounds not good. So I don't get that.
25:46
It's saying because you have an enlarged prostate gland, you're
25:49
losing your hair well. It kind of sounds like it's all
25:51
related somehow it. Is all sort of related somehow.
25:54
The next one was low level laser therapy, or LLLT.
25:58
Like I think lasers. Yep, lasers then slash comb
26:01
slash helmets with certain light wavelengths can stimulate
26:05
follicles and improve density in some men with and here it is
26:11
androgenetic alopecia. OK so now this makes me laugh
26:14
'cause yeah, you tell me you haven't seen shows.
26:17
TV where they. Wear those where the things in
26:19
their head like dude that shit doesn't work.
26:21
Well, apparently. According to this, it does well
26:24
well take. It with a grain of.
26:25
Salt. Grain of salt.
26:26
Yeah, right. OK, well.
26:28
And this is the one you wanted to learn about this last one.
26:31
The surgical hair transplant Can I read this one?
26:33
Surgical hair transplant is a medical procedure that relocates
26:37
hair follicles from a donor area, quote donor area, usually
26:41
the back or sides of the scalp, to balding or thinning areas to
26:45
restore hair. Creating natural Creating
26:48
natural looking density by transplanting hair and it's
26:50
natural groupings. But it's not like plugs used to
26:53
be. When they take plugs out, how do
26:55
you know? Because these are individual
26:57
hairs that one at a time. We'll go with that, right.
27:01
So the main techniques are FUE so follicular.
27:04
Yeah, follicular unit extraction.
27:06
Sounds so wrong. See one at a time.
27:07
Follicular unit extraction FUE where individual follicles are
27:11
extracted and FUT follicular follicular unit transplantation
27:17
or strip surgery that. Sounds bad.
27:20
H for a strip of scalp U is removed and divided into graphs.
27:25
It is used for pattern baldness and other hair loss, offering a
27:28
permanent solution as a transplanted hair retains its
27:31
genetic resistance to balding. How does that work?
27:35
OK, so it's like. I am so.
27:39
It's like just taking a chunk of your skin off in your hair.
27:43
Yeah, that sounds terrible. I am so perplexed I I clearly
27:47
don't understand how the hair follicle that grows underneath
27:49
your head. But I've seen that but see.
27:52
I here I'm picturing like if I'm in my lawn outside, yeah, And
27:56
I'm taking a sod scalper and I'm yeah.
27:59
That's exactly how it on your own a bunch of bunch of sod.
28:02
It's a sod scalper. And I can transplant into some
28:04
bare lawn and grow grass there. Just like on your head.
28:08
That would be the same. Concept.
28:10
Yeah, but then you gotta believe you got a patch of baldness then
28:13
tucked. OK, it's kind.
28:14
Of what I'm. Thinking you gotta have long
28:16
hair and back to hide the the patches.
28:18
OK, I would say obviously you can't do this like off of like
28:21
let's say your back hair, 'cause that's just not thick enough.
28:24
No. And it.
28:25
Is and it's a different low Chewbacca.
28:27
It's a different. It's a different kind of hair
28:29
'cause it's either thicker or grows faster or whatever the
28:32
hell we said earlier. How awkward would that be,
28:35
right? Your regular hair grows at like
28:37
an inch a week, and your back hair goes like 3 inches a week
28:41
constantly. Just Oh my God.
28:44
No, but it would take around the horseshoe.
28:46
That's why I think that individual hair follicle would
28:48
be the best. Probably.
28:49
All right. So putting aside the surgical
28:51
option, a large meta analysis of randomized controlled trials for
28:55
minoxidil, finasteride, and even low level laser light therapy,
28:58
we're all significantly better and improving hair density,
29:01
thickness and growth. OK, so you're saying you got a?
29:04
Got an option saying there's a chance?
29:06
Of course there's an important caveat.
29:08
None of these are magic wands. They tend to slow down hair loss
29:12
and in many cases produces partial regrowth, but if you
29:15
stop them, hair loss usually resumes.
29:21
Also if efficacy is better if you start early, see back to
29:25
when I was 40 when follicles are still active but shrinking.
29:28
Once follicles are gone dead hair my head, it's harder to
29:32
revive them. Sounds sad.
29:34
Sounds sad, but it makes sense once it starts to go.
29:36
She. Gone She.
29:38
Gone male pattern baldness may be the world's most universal
29:44
uninvited guests. It creeps up slowly, often takes
29:47
its time, and rarely knocks politely.
29:50
But understanding what's going on under your scalp, hormones,
29:54
genes, time helps you make smarter decisions.
29:59
If you catch it early, you can slow its progress.
30:01
You might coke some of that hair back and with a combo of
30:04
treatments, medical plus lifestyle, plus maybe a little
30:07
laser light. Little laser light, little
30:09
lasers. I love lasers.
30:10
You could at least keep your scalp from looking like a
30:13
volleyball. But if you're hoping for a movie
30:16
style hair transformation, well, you might want to lower your
30:20
expectations. I hear wigs are old fashioned
30:22
today. 50 years ago maybe. My grandpa wore 1.
30:26
That's what I hear. So really what you're saying is
30:30
no good news, Yes. You look good bald.
30:32
So we really. Should have news.
30:33
We really should have made this episode 1 because we did this
30:35
like 15 years ago, Maybe I could have done something about it.
30:37
But now they're on episode 38, it's gone.
30:41
There's no chance. That's all right.
30:44
As always, please follow us on the socials at 011 More Thinkpod
30:47
on Facebook and Instagram for highlights on of news and
30:50
upcoming shows. And if you have a show idea for
30:53
us or just want to give us some feedback, shoot us an e-mail to
30:55
011 More Thing pod@gmail.com. We would absolutely love to hear
30:59
from you. Plus, we have merchandise,
31:01
T-shirts and caps. If you're interested, just send
31:03
us an e-mail. Oh, and one more thing, remember
31:05
that DHT isn't attacking you, it's faithfully doing its job.
31:10
There you go, faithfully. I disagree with that comment,
31:12
and it's your genetics that decide which follicles interpret
31:15
that job as a shutdown versus a go wild.
31:19
Therefore, you might be genetically predisposed to have
31:21
in your scalp hair thin out while your ear hair flourishes,
31:26
or your back hair, or your nose hair, or your shoulder hair.
31:30
Take your back. Bye everybody.
31:33
All right, bye everyone. Thanks Dad, for the really nice
31:35
head of hair, right?