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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