Male Pattern Baldness (Androgenetic Alopecia)
What is Pattern Baldness
Pattern baldness, for both males and females, is referred to as Androgenetic Alopecia. This is the most common type of hair loss, affecting roughly one third of the world’s population.
It affects both men and women. The hair loss is most pronounced on the top part of the scalp. Male Pattern Baldness is a type of balding that is characterized by initial hair loss at the hairline, resulting in a receding hairline. This then spreads backwards to the rest of the scalp.
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Hereditary factors and genetic predisposition play a key role in determining whether one develops MPB or not, while other factors such as hormone levels, nutrition, smoking or stress, play an important role in the progressing of MPB. Your risk of baldness increases if either side of your family (mother or father) suffered from baldness.
Heredity factors can also affect the age at which you will begin to lose hair, and its speed. MPB can start at any age, although 18 t0 40 seems the most common. In the US, 50% of all men are balding by the age of 50. |
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| In men, a receding hairline is the most common sign of male pattern baldness, with hair loss beginning at the temple and crown. males may begin to experience hair loss during their teen years. The end result is partial or complete baldness. |
What causes Pattern Baldness
The way that MPB is inherited from is not completely clear, however a genetic variation of the X chromosome linked to MPB has been identified – this supporrs the idea that baldness is inherited from the mothers side. Further research, however, has identified to non sex based variants of chromosomes, meaning that baldness could also be inherited from the mothers or fathers side.
The genetic predisposition to baldness, in addition to the actions of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a hormone derived from testosterone and found in relevant amounts in males, causes the hair follicles to die. This mechanism is also unfortunately unclear, however scientists believe that the hair follicle is starved from normal blood flow, and hence sufficient nutrients. Increased inflammation is also thought to occur at the follicle from the constant acting of DHT. Hence the popularity of DHT inhibitors in hair regrowth products.
What does Male Pattern Baldness look like
Treatment for Male Pattern Baldness
No Treatment
Becoming gradually bald is a normal part of the ageing process for most men. No treatment is wanted or needed by many affected men. For some men, baldness can be distressing, particularly if it is excessive or occurs early in life. Treatment may then help, with some of the more readily available options discussed below.
Medication
There are only two FDA approved medications to treat male pattern baldness, Minoxidil and Finasteride.