Male pattern Baldness is the baldness most frequently
encountered. It is estimated to account for 95% of
all hair loss amongst men. Baldness usually starts
with the hair at the temples, which gradually recedes
to form an "M" shape. Any remaining hair in the balding
areas will be thinner and grows very slowly. Some
men will notice that they are becoming bald at a young
age. This will get them face to face with reality
and searches about hairloss treatments will commence.
Male pattern baldness is affected by three factors,
namely age, inheritance to bald early and an abundance
of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT
is the main androgen (male hormone) implicated in
male pattern baldness. Five alpha reductase enzyme
converts the Testosterone into DHT, which damages
the susceptible follicles, and baldness will set in.
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It is known that hair follicles present below the
occiput at the back of the skull are resistant to
this DHT. Thus when one suffers from baldness, the
hair at the sides and back of the head always remains.
On the other hand, the hair follicles on the top of
the head are easily damaged by DHT. Thus, the cures
now available for male pattern baldness, either transplant
follicles from the back of the head to the front,
or else block the attachment of DHT to the follicles
on top of the head, so as to minimise the damage they
may cause to the respective follicles.
Male pattern baldness is the usual term used for alopecia
androgenetica and alopecia adrogenica. Basically there
are three ways in which a person falls under the male
pattern baldness chart. The most common male pattern
baldness is the initial receding at the temples followed
by the thinning of the crown, then the thinning of
the area behind the forelock and finally the thinning
of the forelock and the top resulting in eventual
baldness. The next male pattern baldness which is
not so common is the receding of the hair in the front
until it forms and half moon shape. It then continues
to recede to the crown and eventually only the back
and sides remain. In this type of male pattern baldness,
the hair at the back and sides tend to remain higher
than in the previous example. Finally, the third type
of male pattern baldness is basically similar to the
first example i.e. starting by slightly receding at
the temples, followed by the crown and then back to
the temples. This is followed by thinning of the hair
behind the forelock etc. Over the years several hair
experts have developed charts for male pattern baldness
but by far the most popular chart is the one developed
by
The cause of male pattern baldness is the male hormone
testosterone coming into contact with the enzyme 5
alpha reductase and thus converting to dihydrotestosterone
(DHT). 5 alpha reductase is present in the hair follicles
in the area of male pattern baldness. The enzyme 5
alpha reductase does not exist in the areas of the
back and sides of the head. It is for this reason
therefore that we tend to retain our hair at the back
and sides whilst in the male pattern baldness area,
the hair follicle starts to shrink resulting in thinning
hair and eventual baldness. The hormone testosterone
is responsible for growing hair on the body but thinning
the hair on the scalp. Some think that if a person
has a high level of testosterone and is very hairy,
he will most likely go bald. This is not necessarily
true since baldness, in the case of alopecia androgenetica
is hereditary. 5 alpha reductase is also present in
the prostate and it is for this reason that a baldness
cure has recently been developed as a result of a
side effect of a treatment for benign prostate cancer.
There are only two baldness cures which one can really
trust. Although several products claim to be baldness
cures, very few have had any benefit whatsoever.
There are two types of dihydrotestosterone (DHT),
type 1 and type 2. The two medical baldness cures
have been effective in eliminating the type 2 dihydrotestosterone
(DHT), which accounts for approximately two-thirds
of total dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Experts believe
that the remaining one-third dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
is necessary for the fluid in the brain and should
not be eliminated as this may cause neurological problems.
A new product has recently been developed which eliminates
both type 1 and type 2 dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
It has not been developed for baldness but for benign
prostate cancer. Whether patients suffering from male
pattern baldness will eventually use this new product
is still to be seen. Apparently the side effects of
this new drug could be cause impotence, reduced libido
etc. Although male pattern baldness may be very distressing
and may cause anxiety, disrupting sexual function
for the sake of retaining one's hair is not everyone's
choice.
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