Hair Loss
What is male pattern hair loss?
Male pattern hair loss, or Alopecia as it is scientifically known, is a condition which causes hair to be lost from around an individual’s temples that with time will cause the hairline to recede into an “M” shape, which is the main characteristic of this condition. In addition to a hairline which recedes to form this typical shape, sufferers of Alopecia will often experience thinning of the hair on the crown of the head which can often lead to partial or indeed complete baldness over a number of years. Historically baldness, or hair loss, was seen as an undesirable trait amongst but this perception has since changed in recent times with a head clean of hair sometimes being quite stylish or fashionable.
How common is male pattern hair loss?
Hair loss is a very common problem amongst men, with figures suggesting that as many as 60% of all men experiencing in to some degree at some stage of their life. It is more common amongst older men, however the symptoms can become apparent as early as in their twenties. Another key factor for the development of this condition is a person’s ethnicity, with Caucasian males being up to twice as likely to develop this form of hair loss than either Asian or Black men.
What are the causes of male pattern hair loss?
Male pattern hair loss is caused with the release of high levels of male sex hormones, known as androgens, onto parts of the scalp which are sensitive to these hormones. The most common of these, Dihydrotestosterone or DHT for short, reacts with the hair follicles located on these sensitive parts of the scalp resulting in a reduction in their size, to that point that hair can no longer grow. Why some people are prone to this condition and some are not is not fully known or understood, however there are some factors which are commonly agreed within the medical community to attribute to the development of this condition. These factors, which including age and the common believe that the condition is an inherited trait, are more than likely to be the cause of hair loss in most cases however it is important to be aware and understand that hair loss can be an indication of a far more serious underlining condition which may need urgent attention.
How is male pattern hair loss treated?
There are several methods for treating Alopecia, as well as the countless number of ‘miracle cures’ which promise unrealistic results but fail to deliver. The methods which are known to successfully work are Propecia (Finasteride) and minoxidil, marketed as Regaine. Propecia, which is a prescription only treatment, is an orally taken medication designed to combat and inhibit DHT found on an individual’s scalp which is the main cause of this form of hair loss. The treatment is very effective, with two out of every three men who take it experiencing dramatic results including the prevention of further hair loss and in some cases even new growth. Regaine, on the other end of the scale, is an over the counter topical solution which is applied directly to the scalp. This treatment, originally use to treat high blood pressure until patients started experiencing excesses hair growth as a side effect, works by dilating the hair follicles on the scalp which DHT had caused to lessen in size. With these vessels fully dilated more blood is allowed to flow to these follicles which in turn results in new hair growth. One of these two treatments will usually work relatively successfully for the majority of Alopecia sufferers, however there are more drastic options available to those who do not achieve adequate results from either Propecia or Regaine. These treatments, which include hair transplant surgery, can also be quite costly and uncomfortable with the transformation of your scalp taking several visits to complete.