Male pattern Baldness - The Shifting Shape Of Your Hair
Going bald is a fact of life for millions of men. Male pattern baldness is the common type of hair loss that develops in most men at some stage. It usually takes 15-25 years to go bald, however some men go bald in less than 5 years. Adults lose about 10,000 scalp hairs each and every day and the hair usually becomes thin on the top of the head. With male pattern baldness these hairs do not always get replaced and gradually bald areas appear, however this process can take a long time.
There are a number of reasons why men start to go bald. Nearly all men have some baldness by the time they are in their 60s. Hair loss can start in different areas but is usually at the temples and/or on the crown of the head. But if you are a man between the ages of about 20 to 45 and you start to lose scalp hair, then the chances are 95 per cent certain that you are experiencing male pattern baldness.
What causes male pattern baldness?
Most men are genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness. It is the effect of hormones on the hair follicle that produces male pattern baldness. A hair normally grows from each follicle for about 3 years. It is then shed, and a new hair grows from the follicle. This cycle of hair growth, shedding, and new growth goes on throughout life. As follicles shrinks, each hair gets thinner than the previous one. Male hormones are involved in causing these changes.
Testosterone, a hormone that is present in high levels in males, is converted to another hormone dihydrotestosterone, which has an adverse affect on the hair follicles. For this reason, affected hair follicles become more sensitive, weak, shorter hair and sometimes it stops hair growth from the follicle completely. This process gradually depletes your stock of hair and is normal hair loss.
Treatment options
- Finasteride: The enzyme 5-alpha-reductase helps in the breakdown of testosterone to DHT. Use of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors such as finasteride can stop or slow the progression of hair loss, its effects are noticeable only after about 4 months.
- Minoxidil: It is an effective treatment for those who do not respond favorably to finasteride. Though topical application of minoxidil can slow progression of hair loss and help regrow some hair, hair loss returns after its use is stopped.
- Hair transplantation: Tiny plugs of natural hair are removed from areas where the hair is continuing to grow and placed in balding areas. This requires multiple transplantation sessions and may be expensive. However, the results are excellent and permanent.