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

Male Pattern Baldness Remedies Cleared By The Fda

Discovering that you are losing your hair is not a pleasant experience. Male pattern hair loss affects millions every year. Young men in their twenties and even teenagers are not immune from this traumatic experience.

Male pattern baldness is not caused by eating unhealthy and wearing hats as some may say. One of the biggest myths about male pattern hair loss is that it is caused by unhealthy eating habits. The truth is that there are many people with unhealthy eating habits with a head full of hair.

Male pattern baldness is hereditary. Even if your immediate parents have not experienced hair loss it can be inherited from grandparents since it can easily skip generations. Men who carry this gene begin to lose their hair at some point in their life due to having hair follicles that are sensitive to an androgen produced in the body called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). When an enzyme in our bodies called 5 alpha reductase mixes with testosterone it produces the androgen dihydrotestosterone.

DHT attaches to our hair follicles and this attachment does not allow blood to flow freely to the scalp. The result is thinner hair which eventually falls off. One of the most popular treatments is a prescription drug called Propecia.

Propecia is a drug that is taken once a day. It is cleared by the FDA for the promotion of hair growth in men who have male pattern hair loss. Propecia works by inhibiting the 5 alpha reductase enzyme which results in the body producing less testosterone. This treatment either stops the hair loss in some men or slows it down and in some cases does nothing.

Some men are able to thicken the hair that was thin after a period of time on Propecia. It is important to understand that Propecia can cause serious side effects in some men. Some of the side effects are loss of libido, gynecomastia (breast tenderness or enlargement), and many have reported other serious side effects. Always speak to your doctor if you decide this is something you may want to use and always monitor yourself.

Minoxidil is another drug cleared by the FDA for the promotion of hair growth in men who have male pattern baldness. It is available over the counter and it is applied directly to the scalp. Minoxidil works by reducing DHT levels on the scalp.

The third product cleared by the FDA for the promotion of hair growth in men who have male pattern hair loss is the Hairmax laser comb. This product is not a drug therefore a prescription is not necessary. The Hairmax laser comb is a device that provides the scalp with low level laser therapy (lllt).

Low level laser therapy is used as a remedy for inflammations, acne, wounds and more. lllt stimulates our hair follicles or cells to be able to fulfill their functions. Our hair follicles happen to be cells and when they receive lllt they are also energized to full fill their functions.

The laser comb helps promote blood flow to the scalp and since the cells are energized with the laser they are able to filter the waste from blood which includes DHT. The Hairmax laser comb is a good treatment for men who want to thicken their hair and halt or slow down their hair loss without experiencing the side effects that are caused by drugs.

The Hairmax Laser Comb, Minoxidil, and Propecia are the three products cleared by the FDA for the promotion of hair growth and some people use them in conjunction to enhance their results.

There are natural treatments that some have found to be effective that are not cleared by the FDA. Always do your research before starting any treatment because there are scams that like to prey on desperation and just because a product claims to be natural it does not mean that the treatment is free from side effects.

Stem Cell Science: Hope On The Horizon For Male Pattern Baldness

Stem cell science has put forth a theory that reports that adult stem cells can be used for hair regrowth in males who are suffering from male pattern hair loss. Scientists have been focusing on capabilities of stems cells for many years regarding their role in treating male pattern baldness and other types of permanent hair loss.

Stem cell theory of hair regrowth.

It has been discovered by Professor George Cotsarelis and colleagues at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia that in men with male pattern baldness, stem cells are present in the hair follicles of both bald and hairy regions in the scalp. Also, it is found that bald people have same number of stem cells as anyone else.

Adult stem cells have the ability to self-renew, which makes them different from other cells in the body. In this self-renewal process, a stem cell can replicate itself and make new stem cells, which are further capable of dividing and transforming into specialized cells. When these stem cells are manipulated into hair follicles, they replace the shrunk follicles and can produce new hair. With further research in the stem cell science, the thought of suffering from male pattern baldness will never again be of concern.

Impaired stem cells may cause male pattern baldness

It has been found that faulty stem cells can also be the cause of onset of male pattern baldness. A research was done on 54 men with male pattern baldness. The hair follicles were compared from bald and hairy regions of these men. Similar numbers of stem cells were found in both bald and hairy patches. But in the bald patch population of hair follicle, the progenitor cell was depleted. It was concluded that the stem cells in hair follicles of bald patches are defective in nature and are unable to mature into follicle progenitor cells that are necessary for hair regrowth.

Researchers concluded that there is a wide prospect of reversing baldness as there are normal numbers of stem cells in bald patch of the scalp. They hope to develop a treatment to reactivate the stem cells in the hair follicle and restore the normal function of hair follicles. This can lead to increased levels of progenitor cells and normal hair growth.

Propecia – The hair loss medication for men

Propecia finasteride is an FDA-approved prescription medication that is used to treat male pattern baldness or alopecia. It offers the best hair loss treatment for men suffering from male pattern hair loss. Propecia pill works by preventing the conversion of a male hormone, testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which is known to cause alopecia. You should have your condition diagnosed with a doctor to get a prescription for Propecia as it has some mild side-effects in about 1%-2% men. But, even considering its mild-to-moderate side effects, its effectiveness has made it widely accepted treatment for male pattern baldness.

Propecia: Confront Male Pattern Baldness

Is hair loss making you the butt of everyone’s joke? Hair loss can be very embarrassing especially among men. Male pattern baldness is one of the most common forms of hair loss among men. It starts at the hairline, gradually receding to form an ‘M’ shape. Furthermore, it makes the remaining hair thinner and shorter, eventually leaving a horse-shoe pattern of hair around the sides. Male pattern baldness should not be thought of as a medical disorder though it may cause stress and anxiety. Men with a family history of hair loss from either side of your family are more likely to suffer from hair loss concerns. If you are stuck in a hair loss whirlpool, Propecia can lend out a hand to pull you out.

Propecia is an oral prescription drug which is the first FDA endorsed pill to effectively treat male pattern baldness on the vertex and anterior mid-scalp area. It works by inhibiting the formation of DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) in your scalp. DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) is an active metabolite of the hormone testosterone in the body, which is responsible for specific male gender characteristics. It also causes shrinkage of hair follicles until it no longer creates visible hair. This activity ceases the further shrinking of the hair follicles, thereby restoring the vigor of the hair.

This medication should be consumed on a daily basis. The customary dosage of Propecia tablets is 1mg, which can be taken with or without meals. Optimistic results are perceivable after the regular usage of Propecia pill. In accordance to studies, Propecia is effective among men with mild or moderate hair loss in the age group of 18-41, facilitating hair re-growth on the vertex and middle front of the scalp area. However, its effectiveness for receding hair lines and temples is not yet known. Propecia is exclusively formulated for men and is not recommended for women or children.

Expectant women or women who may be potentially expectant should avoid contact with crushed or broken Propecia pill as it may source abnormalities in the sex organs of a male child. Side effects of Propecia are obscure yet it is important to consult a doctor and get well acquainted with possible side effects before embarking upon Propecia medication. Some of the Propecia side effects are such as allergic reactions, swelling of lips and face amid others.

Emergence of online pharmacies, can offer men dealing with male pattern baldness an easy access to treatment of this type of hair loss. It can give respite to men who find it embarrassing to ask the pharmacist for Propecia, as your order along with personal details is kept discreet. Propecia is accessible only through a doctor’s prescription. Propecia medication should be shelved at room temperature, away from moisture.

Treatment Of Prostate Enlargement And Male Pattern Baldness

There are lots of myths and misconceptions associated with baldness and to the effectiveness of the various hair loss solutions and restoration options. However, one thing is for certain - today, you don't have to put up with hair thinning and there is several actions you could take to prevent from going bald. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that non-surgical solutions come with higher possibility of success when they are commenced as soon as possible. Male pattern baldness, or MPB, is the main cause of hair thinning and baldness that face men and is brought on by a number of reasons, most of which are not completely known, but age and genetic makeup definitely play a vital role. Speaking in scientific parlance, the male pattern baldness is a result of the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.

Listed here are several common questions and answers concerning one of the most widely used drug, used for dealing with male pattern baldness - Finasteride.

What's Finasteride designed for?

Finasteride 5mg comes under the brand name Proscar and is intended for dealing with benign prostatic hyperplasia, while Finasteride 1mg is available as Propecia and is used for stopping male pattern baldness. The link between both of these health concerns that affect millions of men is the previously mentioned dihydrotestosterone, that causes the prostate to enlarge and the hair follicles to reduce in size.

How long does Finasteride take to work?

This drug isn't an immediate solution and both Finasteride 5mg (used for benign prostatic hyperplasia) and Finasteride 1mg pill (intended for MPB) require a few months for the effects become visible.

Does Finasteride actually work?

Finasteride has an extremely high rate of success - the scientific trials have confirmed that the medicine has worked for nearly 90% of all males that take it and almost half of them even experience hair re-growth.

Will my hair start falling again if I cease the treatment?

Finasteride is a therapy and not a cure - the re-grown hair will be lost once the treatment is stopped and additional hair thinning is possible.

Can Finasteride be taken for treating females?

This medication is not recommended to ladies and is a pregnancy category X since it could cause birth defects in unborn babies. In case you or anybody else in your home takes the pills, they must never be broken, smashed, or cut, and should be kept away from pregnant women at any cost!

Are there any side effects?

Virtually all non-prescription and prescription medicines come with probable side effects and this one is no exception: the most frequently documented adverse effects are abnormal ejaculation, erection dysfunction, ejaculation problem, testicular discomfort, and reduced ejaculatory volume. Additional negative effects are also possible and in case they are persistent or serious, the patient must seek medical assist right away.

If you suffer from hair thinning or quick baldness , you should go to your health care provider without delay as there are many serious health issues that could trigger it. If you are diagnosed with male pattern baldness, then get hold of your healthcare provider about taking Finasteride since it is one of the most effective and powerful medications that may prevent and reverse it!

What Causes Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness is also genetic, and the gene is passed to a child from either parent, not just the mother, as had been previously thought. Pattern baldness in men is the most common type of hair loss, and usually involves a receding hairline and baldness on the crown of the head. The root cause of baldness in men is dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, a byproduct of the male hormone testosterone. Another cause of baldness in men is hairstyle.

Male Pattern Baldness

Baldness is not only a human trait. Baldness is a condition where there is no hair in the area where it grows, usually on the head and occurs in both human beings and animals. Baldness in men is prominent because every man carries baldness causing factor in his body. baldness is really a creepy thing to experience, especially for a man, in which this is more particular. While there are no direct medical complications of pattern baldness, men who are uncomfortable with their physical appearance may opt for prescription medications that may stimulate the regrowth of hair and help reduce additional hair loss.

Male Pattern Baldness Causes

What causes male pattern baldness is when the hair follicle begins to shrink due to a buildup of testosterone and some of the natural oils. What most people don't realise is that the causes of hair loss are related to numerous conditions that often have little or nothing to do with hair growth or hair loss. male hair loss, male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia, is an hereditary condition which causes male baldness or significant male hair loss in about 66 percent of all men. But, it is important to note that hereditary factor that causes hair loss in men is not only rooted from having a mother or a father who happens to be bald. Fortunately, doctors and scientists have come to understand the causes of hair loss and are discovering new ways of treating it. The male hormone DHT or dihydrotestosterone is the main factor that causes baldness in males.

Hair Loss Prevention

The first and foremost method of hair loss prevention is to take care of your hair. Natural hair loss prevention is possible if you include diets rich in proteins, calcium, iodine, iron, magnesium, selenium, sulfur, silica and zinc. A second way to tackle hair loss prevention is with a daily multivitamin. Exercising also plays a major role in natural hair loss prevention. Of course if you think baldness is sexy and appealing then forget about it but I tell you once you have lost it, it may never come back so you better apply some hair loss prevention strategies before you regret it. If you fully understand what causes your hair loss, then decide only on the right treatment for you.

Hair Loss Treatment

Treatment is not necessary if you are comfortable with your appearance. Thankfully for most men, modern medicine provides new treatments that help delay hair loss. Remember that most of the hair loss treatments available on the market these days are most successfully applied by those who haven’t waited too long to do the right thing for their condition. But, before you decide on particular treatment, be sure to know and understand your situation first and if possible try to review the real causes of hair loss mentioned earlier in this article.

Conclusion

The exact reason and cause of male pattern baldness is not known, though it is clear that our GENETIC makeup is a huge part of it. The first and most obvious way of seeing if you are at risk for male pattern baldness is to look at pictures of your father and your grandfather. One of the identified genes involved in male pattern baldness is located on the X chromosome, which is inherited only from the maternal side, but this one gene does not explain all the cases of male pattern baldness. Though baldness in men is more accepted than ever–judging by our many bald-and-proud celebrities–not every man who experiences baldness wants to stay that way. Ever notice that the bald athletes always look good? That's because they have no fat around their cheekbones. If you are bald, join a gym and get yourself in shape.

What's The Best Male Pattern Baldness Treatment On The Market Today? Answers Here

If you have been constantly been looking for the best male pattern baldness treatment, then today is your lucky day. Below are the most common yet most effective ways through which people have combated the deterring effects of male pattern baldness. While they may yield different results for different people, these treatments are bound to work better than the other solutions that you have tried before. With any luck, you should be able to find the best treatment for you by the time that you finish reading this article.

The best thing that you can do to address this condition is to target the root cause of the problem. For this reason, the best male pattern baldness treatment will allow you to address the androgen hormone imbalance that is causing your hair follicles to deviate from their normal healthy disposition. In order to completely do away with the different signs of symptoms of baldness, you can use different enzymes and supplements that will allow you to prevent any accumulation of DHT on your follicles. However, this treatment only best before the first signs of the condition becomes apparent, because there will be very little use to undertaking this

Hair and skin specialists often advise their patients to take Propecia, which is an orally-taken drug that blocks and prevents the conversion of DHT on the hair follicles. When used moderately, this drug is known to effectively prevent pattern hair loss without causing the user any form of side effect. As a matter of fact, even females who have been worrying about premature hair loss may benefit from using this drug. Just make sure that you consult your physician before you use Propecia to address your baldness-related concerns, in order for you to find the right dosage for your body.

Another effective male pattern baldness treatment is the use of Minoxidil. Minoxidil is a topical agent that does not only prevent hair follicles from being damaged but also stimulates and nourishes them to produce stringer hair strands. If you are looking for an effective way to minimize the bad effects of male pattern baldness, then this solution is for you. With very little, almost no side effects, Minoxidil may also be used y both males and females of all ages. Just keep in mind that, just like other baldness treatments, the use of Minoxidil to combat pattern baldness will be most effective when done in the earliest stages of the condition