Wednesday, 8 June 2011

Male Pattern Baldness - Symptoms, Causes and an Effective Hair Regrowth Treatment

Male pattern baldness is a condition shared by millions of men all-around the globe and is the most common cause for hair loss in adult men. Also referred to by its technical name of Androgenetic Alopecia, male pattern baldness or MPB is estimated to affect approximately 80% of adult men over the age of 45. A consequence of genetics and hormonal functions, male pattern baldness is characterized by thinning on the crown and a receding hairline.

Male pattern baldness is most frequently due to male hormones referred to as Androgens and particularly, Dihydrotestosterone or DHT for short. DHT is a synthesis of the reaction between the 5-alpha Reductase enzyme and Testosterone in the body. DHT attaches itself to hair follicles, starving them of nutrients essential to usual hair growth. As the DHT affects the follicles they start to create weaker, thinner hair until eventually they lose the capability to develop hair entirely.

As more and more hair follicles are affected by the Dihydrotestosterone, hair loss starts to become noticeable along the hairline, which in the long run takes on the "M" profile characteristic of DHT
baldness. The hair on the crown increasingly starts to thin, in time joining up with the hairline, forming a ring of hair around the sides of the crown. hair follicles on the sides and rear of the head have more resistance to DHT so typically, hair will carry on growing there.

This pattern of hair loss is indicative of male pattern baldness and Dihydrotestosterone reaction on the hair follicles. Other
hair loss causes such as Folliculitis create very different hair loss patterns and these conditions cannot be mistaken for male pattern baldness.

DHT inhibitors have been the focus of many clinical studies and the results of these studies have given new hope to thousands of male pattern baldness sufferers. Several elements have been tested and some have demonstrated solid proof to hold up their potency in combating the effects of DHT on male pattern baldness. So strong is the proof in fact that the FDA have issued approval of a DHT inhibitor, Minoxidil, as an effective component in topical hair regrowth treatments.


Nature has also given us her own DHT reducers. The Saw Palmetto berry for instance includes nutrients well-known to be efficient against the spread of DHT. Saw Palmetto berries are abundant in Fatty Acids and Phytosterols and are acknowledged to lower the activity of the 5-alpha Reductase enzyme, which is the root cause of DHT synthesis. The Fatty Acids in the berries also prevent existing DHT from binding with hair follicles, further limiting hair loss.


Other plant extracts have also shown powerful effectiveness against the effects of Dihydrotestosterone. These include Pumpkin Seed Oil and Nettle Root for instance. When blended with Saw Palmetto, these plant extracts have demonstrated strong effects against the 5-alpha Reductase enzyme and in due course against DHT
hair loss.

To be truly effective, a hair regrowth treatment should mix both sides of the hair loss question, addressing the DHT and also the general physical condition of the follicles and hair.


An valuable hair regrowth treatment would ideally include FDA approved ingredients such as Minoxidil and time tested plant based extracts such as Saw Palmetto, Pumpkin Seed Oil and Nettle Root to combat DHT hair loss. Ideally, other ingredients such as Ginseng, Vitamins and Minerals would also be incorporated to feed and strengthen hair follicles and general hair wellbeing.

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