Male Pattern Baldness
Starting to lose your hair….?
Do you find yourself…..
Seeing your hairline or temples recede slightly?
Noticing more scalp shining through than normal?
Seeing more hair than usual in the drain?
Having to style your hair differently because of changes to your hair?
Finding a lot of hair on your pillow?
For many of patients—and, tens of millions of men—these signs are typically the first indicators of hair loss. It may surprise you to learn how frequently we also hear patients tell us, “I woke up one day with less hair,” “It just happened suddenly,” or “I saw myself with hair loss in a photo or video and I was shocked!”
In other cases, patients may observe a slow, but progressive thinning or receding of the hairline. Initially, they may want to believe that the loss is not significant. Then, seemingly “overnight,” the amount of hair lost is too obvious to deny anymore. For others, initial changes in their hair volume and density are actually so gradual, that they may only be detectable with the help of a scalp microscope like a HairCam or a scientific tool like a HairCheck trichometer that measures hair quantity and quality. For these patients, their hair loss appears to be quite sudden because it does not become noticeable to the eye until the hair density dips below a definite threshold. [Science tells us that you can lose up to 50% of your hair in a given area without it being noticeable by the naked eye!] For other patients, it might have been a photo, video, or a mirror that showed the results of a progressive hair loss that they didn’t realize was occurring.
Understanding Hair Loss
The hair follicle, which appears as a tiny opening in the skin from above, is actually located a few millimeters under the skin. The hair follicle is responsible for producing the hair fibers we see as hair growing from the scalp. The follicle is very much alive, however, the hair fiber we touch, feel, see, style and cut are “dead” tissue much like your fingernails. Each hair’s root resides within the follicle which is connected to the body’s blood supply. The hair follicle which produces the hair is an incredibly tiny, yet complicated, micro-organ in the skin. It is connected to our blood circulation, nervous system, as well as oil (sebaceous) glands. Connected to each follicle is also a small muscle (that causes your hair to stand up on the back of your neck or your arm!) Hair follicles communicate within themselves and with other nearby follicles with small protein molecules and are also responsive to changes in your body’s hormones, stress level, medications you may take, the food you may eat, the health of your scalp, and many other influences.
Causes of Male Pattern Baldness
For men, male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss. It is characterized by thinning and receding hair beginning at the temples and weakening of the coverage at the crown or vertex of the head. Over time, the hair at the temples continues to recede, leaving a central patch of hair at the front of the hairline and a growing bald spot at the crown. Eventually, as the hair loss in these areas widens, the baldness at the front and crown meet to form one large bald spot. Depending on the rate of progression of the hair loss, all that remains is a ‘border’ of hair around the side and back of the head. Male pattern hair loss is a concern for many men because as the hairline recedes, the face takes on a more aged appearance. Hair loss is seen by many as an unwanted sign of premature aging.
Male Pattern Hair Loss is considered “Chronic” and “Progressive:” It is well documented that men who are prone to male pattern hair loss will continue to lose more hair over time if the condition is not treated.
Genetics-Most hair loss in men is caused by androgenetic alopecia or male pattern hair loss. This type is genetic—passed from parent to child—and progresses gradually. It typically affects the hairline, temples, or top of the head. Linked to the activity of the androgen receptor (AR) gene, up to 50% of male adults experience some form of this by age 50.17
Aging-hair loss in men can be a natural result of changes in the body due to aging. Healthcare providers refer to age-related hair loss as "senescent alopecia," which differs from male pattern hair loss. Researchers have observed hair mild follicle shrinkage, resulting in thinner individual hair strands.18
Chemotherapy and Medications-Men also experience anagen and telogen effluvium in response to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or certain medications. In these cases, the hair loss is often reversible when medication or treatment is stopped.
Stress Reactions-Infections, distressing events, high fever, and mental health issues can contribute to stress-related hair loss in men and women. Rapid weight loss due to bariatric surgery or disease can also cause this often reversible condition.
Nutrition-Dietary factors and nutrition can also play a role in male hair loss. For men, deficiencies in zinc, niacin, and protein and excess intake of vitamins A and E have been linked with male pattern baldness and other types of hair loss.
Scalp infections-like Ringworm
Lupus
Syphilis
Hypothyroidism
Trichotillomania-a hair pulling disorder
Solutions for Baldness
DHT Blockers
Dutasteride, also known as Avodart, is a medication used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which causes prostate enlargement in men. It may also be prescribed off-label for treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA), otherwise known as male pattern baldness. Dutasteride is one of the best prescription drug hair loss treatments for male pattern hair loss because it can effectively slow down hair loss in men.
Finasteride was first developed as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, otherwise known as an enlarged prostate. As a hair loss treatment, finasteride is possibly the most thoroughly researched male pattern baldness medication.
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