Male Pattern Baldness Cure

Male pattern baldness is such a common phenomenon that many people consider it to be a normal part of aging. However, just because male pattern hair loss is common and somewhat predictable it does not mean it is easy to accept. Although we do not really need hair for ultraviolet light protection and insulation the way our ancestors did, we seem to need it for our sense of self-esteem. Since time immemorial, humankind has been dreaming up magic potions, from bear fat to viper broth, in a desperate attempt to stop hair loss.

What is Male Pattern Baldness?

Male pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss in men. With male pattern hair loss, your hair begins to thin at the temples and at the crow. As time goes on, the hair at the temples recedes further, leaving a central spur of hair at the front, and an increasing bald spot at the crown. Eventually the areas of hair loss at the front and crown meet, and the top of the head becomes increasingly bald. Then, all that remains is a border of hair around the side and back of the head.

What Causes Male Pattern Baldness?

Male pattern hair loss, also known as androgenic alopecia, is an inherited condition, caused by a genetically determined sensitivity to the effects of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. DHT is believed to shorten the growth phase of the hair cycle, causing miniaturization of the follicles, and producing progressively finer hairs. The production of DHT is regulated by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase.

Hair loss can also be caused by a wide range of factors, from mechanical damage to skin infections. It is essential to consult a doctor to determine the exact cause of hair loss.

Are there other types of hair loss? Other types of hair loss include:

Alopecia areata

Characterized by circumscribed, non-scarring hair loss in one or more areas of the body, often due to an autoimmune process.

Telogen effluvium

Heavy, short-term shedding of hair due to a disturbance of the hair cycle in which hair prematurely leaves the growing phase (anagen) and enters the resting phase (telogen).

Traction alopecia

Hair loss due to prolonged traction on the hair such as too tight hair styling.

Anagen effluvium

Significant acute hair loss most commonly caused by chemotherapy or radiation.

Scarring alopecia

Localized permanent damage to hair follicles and accompanying hair loss with a variety of causes including fungal infections, inflammation, burns and trauma.

What is the hair growth cycle?

All hair follicles are replaced at different rates by the normal process of hair cycling. Hair growth alternates between phases of activity and rest. The growth period, called the anagen phase, lasts for two to six years. During this time, the follicle is long and deep, and produces thick, well-pigmented hair. About 90% of all scalp hairs are in the anagen phase at a given time.

This is followed by a brief transition period known as the catagen phase, which last a few weeks. During this time, the base of the follicle shrivels. The resting period, or telogen phase, lasts for two to four months. In his phase, the follicle withers even further. Following the telogen phase, the next anagen phase begins, and the old hair is dislodged and falls out to make room for a new hair to begin growing in its place.

How widespread is male pattern hair loss?

Male pattern hair loss affects approximately 50% of men at some point in their lives. It affects different populations at different rates, probably because of genetics. Up to half of male Caucasians will experience some degree of hair loss by age 60, while other population groups such as Japanese and Chinese men are far less affected.

How is Hair Loss Diagnosed?

If you feel you are losing hair at a faster rate than usual, or if you notice a thinning or decrease in the number of hairs in a fixed area, a thinning of the hair shafts, or any combination of these things, consult your doctor or dermatologist for examination and/or tests to determine whether you have common male pattern hair loss or some other condition.

Your doctor will most likely perform a general physical examination as well as an examination of the hair in question and all other areas of hair on the body. Medical history is also very important in the assessment of hair loss, because hair loss can be caused by a wide range of factors, from changing hormone levels to malnutrition.

Next, your doctor might perform a “hair pull test” where he/she takes a sample of about 50 hairs using surgical needle holders. The hair must be extracted briskly so as not to damage the hair root. The sampled hairs are examined microscopically to determine the ratio of anagen to telogen hairs or to pinpoint a disease condition.

How can male pattern baldness cure?

If you do not know the exact cause of your hair loss, then consult your doctor. In many cases, hair loss is temporary and reversible. For instance, hair loss due to malnutrition will generally cease once the diet is corrected. In the case of hair loss due to infections or inflammatory disease, there are a number of effective medications available.

A word of warning: There are about as many hair loss “cures” on the market as there are remaining hairs on your head. The three main male pattern baldness cure are:

Prescription Medication

Prescription medication available today indirectly prevents DHT from building up in the scalp’s blood supply and damaging the hair follicle. Clinical trials demonstrate that the drug helps prevent hair loss, may promote hair growth, and is generally well tolerated.

Topical Minoxidil

Minoxidil was originally developed as an oral drug to reduce blood pressure. Researchers recognized this drug’s potential as a hair loss treatment when individuals taking minoxidil developed spontaneous hair growth. Now, minoxidil is available in a topical liquid form to rub into the scalp. It is a well-tolerated therapy with minimal side effects, and there is some evidence that it can promote hair regrowth in certain individuals. However, this treatment is not for everyone; studies have shown that minoxidil is most effective for men who are less than 30 years old and who have a bald patch that are less than 10cm across.

Hair transplantation

Hair transplantation involves the removal of strips of skin containing active, healthy follicles from the back of the head, cutting them into small “plugs”, and replanting them into the bald areas of the head. Transplants involving two, three or four follicles at a time generally result in a more naturally regrowth pattern. The newly transplanted follicles think they are still on the back of the head, an area that is naturally resistant to androgenic alopecia. Of course, hair loss in the non-transplanted area can continue creating the need for more procedures; alternatively, after the transplant other forms of medical treatment can help prevent continued hair loss.

Consult your doctor to help you select the hair loss treatment best for you.

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