Male Pattern Hair Loss, Causes Behind It and Treatment Options

Male pattern baldness is a nightmare for all men around the world. The reason for this is that the hair loss due to this condition is not reversible and is permanent.

Once a person starts losing hair and is diagnosed with male pattern baldness, there is nothing one can do except live with the fact that they are going bald and start treatments immediately to try and control the progress of the hair loss.

Male pattern baldness occurs in almost half the men below sixty years of age and in about two-thirds of men when they reach their mid sixties. In some cases it can occur as early as in the teenage years.

While there is no treatment yet that will stop the hair loss and regrow hair, the real cause behind this condition has now been understood quite clearly.

Scientists have now come to a conclusion that male pattern baldness is the result of the action of the male sex hormone Di-hydrotestosterone or DHT on the hair follicles which causes the follicles to shrink and eventually die, producing no hair at all. DHT is synthesized by the enzyme 5 alpha reductase. When this DHT binds to the hair receptors, it causes the follicles to shrink in size and produce thinner hair over time.

It should be noted that DHT is present in the scalp of all normal men, but for men with the baldness gene, the hair follicles are sensitive to DHT.

It is therefore quite logical that the only way to combat the effects of male pattern baldness is to cut down the production of DHT or in other words, control the secretion and synthesis of DHT by 5-a-reductase.

There are two FDA approved treatments available for treating male pattern baldness; Minoxidil and Finasteride.

Although they do not stop hair loss completely, they are quite effective in controlling and in some cases even reversing hair loss. Finasteride was originally used as a treatment for prostate cancer but it later showed good results in treating pattern baldness. It works by blocking 5-a-reductase which converts testosterone to DHT. Finasteride is most effective in stopping the hair loss from progressing and has no effect in regrowing new hair. Another drug by the name of minoxidil does exactly this, that is it stimulates regrowth of hair. It works by increasing blood flow to the hair follicles thus promoting growth of stronger and healthier hair.

It should be noted that once these treatments have started, they should be used throughout ones lifetime or else whatever hair the drugs regrew will eventually fall out. It should also be noted that it can take up to 6 months to see any significant results.

Hair Loss - The Truth About Male Pattern Baldness

Hair loss is an emotive subject so it is no wonder that people are continually looking for something or someone to blame when their hair starts to become thinner. There are a great number of myths surrounding male pattern baldness, the most common form of hair loss in the UK, and here are just a few of them:

Myth 1: Male pattern baldness is inherited from your mother’s side
Truth: Although male pattern baldness is a genetic condition it can actually be inherited from either one of your parents.

Myth 2: Male pattern baldness is a sign of virility
Truth: This condition is related to the hormone testosterone, but people with male pattern baldness don’t have more testosterone than other people; their hair follicles are just more sensitive to it.

Myth 3: Hair loss is caused by wearing a hat or frequent hair washing
Truth: Male pattern baldness is a genetic condition. Unless your hat is tight enough to cut off the oxygen to the hair follicles it will not contribute to hair loss, it will actually protect your hair from the sun. Unless you wash your hair very aggressively, frequent shampooing should not cause hair loss.

So what does cause male pattern baldness?

This type of hair loss is caused by oversensitive hair follicles, which you will have inherited from one of your parents. These follicles react to a substance called DHT (dihydrotestosterone) which is produced by the male hormone testosterone.

DHT causes the hair follicles to shrink meaning that the hair is less well anchored in the scalp and is more likely to fall out causing thinning patches. Eventually the hair follicles affected by DHT will stop working altogether resulting in bald patches.

And why is it called male pattern baldness?

This hair loss condition is known as male pattern baldness because the hair tends to be lost in a very distinctive shape or pattern. In the initial phases you may notice some thinning of the hair around the crown and temples, and your hairline may start to recede upwards towards your crown.

In cases where male pattern baldness has progressed further, the balding area at the crown and the receding hairline will join up, leaving just a horseshoe shaped piece of thick hair around the back of the head. In rare cases all the hair is eventually lost, but most people retain some hair at the back of their head.

Is there anything I can do to prevent it?

As it is a genetic condition, male pattern baldness can’t be stopped altogether. However you can slow down its progression with various medication based treatments designed to reduce hair loss and stimulate regrowth. You can also look into hair transplant techniques, which take hairs from the parts of your head where hair is growing well and implant them into the thinner areas. Finally you could look into a natural looking cosmetic hair replacement solution for your hair loss condition