What is Male Pattern Baldness? | Hair Loss Treatment

Male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, affects almost all men to varying degrees as they grow older. Progressive thinning usually ends up with baldness. Hair loss at the temples can be an early warning sign that you might have male pattern baldness, the way goes to receding the hairline gradually. After some time, hair at the crown of the head also starts to get thinner.

Androgenetic alopecia treatment differs from treatment for male pattern baldness, as the hair loss progresses differ. The hair becomes thinner all over the head in women, and the hairline does not recede. Androgenetic alopecia in women almost never leads to total baldness.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), more than 50 percent of all men over the age of 50 will be affected by male pattern baldness to some extent.

Male pattern baldness can begin in the teenage years, but commonly it is observed in adult ages and increasing with growing old. Genetics plays a significant role in male pattern baldness progress. Men who have close relatives, especially on the maternal side, with male pattern baldness are at a higher risk.

In this article, we will make a review on male pattern baldness treatment options. Thus, we will gather information about the causes, symptoms and possible treatments of male pattern baldness.

READ: Signs of Going Bald – How To Understand?

Why Do Some Men Go Bald?

Losing a certain amount of hair in a day is normal. But men who suffer from male pattern baldness lose at least 30 to 50 percent of their hair. The main reason for this hair loss is the weakening of growth cycles of hair that makes the hair follicle shrink.

The scientific reason for going bald is a hormone that circulates the body. Researchers have determined that male pattern baldness is related to hormones called androgens, particularly an androgen called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Androgens are quite important for healthy male sexual development before birth and during puberty. Androgens also have other important functions in both males and females, such as regulating hair growth and sex drive. 

Male pattern baldness is certainly a question of genetics. It can skip generations, and people can inherit this predisposition from both sides of the family. If you wonder which side is more dominant, it can be said that the maternal side is the dominant one. The X chromosome has more factors involved than the Y chromosome. If you inherit the gene of male pattern baldness, the hormone attaches the hair follicle and causes shrinking.

The most sensitive part to the hormone is the top of the head – the hair located here will start to become thinner. But, the hair on the back and sides of the head does not react to this specific hormone. Therefore, the hair on these parts of the scalp usually stays permanent. If you think of opting for a hair transplant surgery, you should consider these parts as donor parts, and the hair follicles will be transferred from here to recipient areas.

READ: Hair Transplant Procedure Common Questions

The Techniques Used to Treat Male Pattern Baldness

Contrary to popular belief, hair loss not only concern older men. It can occur in adolescence or adulthood. Hair loss might have a bad impact on some people’s moral and it can cause psychological problems such as depression, low self-esteem, feeling unattractive or anxiety. If you have trouble with accepting your appearance, you can consult a physician.

There are some techniques for the cure of male pattern baldness that might help you change your appearance. Hair meshes or wigs might be a solution for you. You can also get help from your hairstylist to make your hair look fuller. For more effective results, here are 2 essential techniques that can treat your hair loss:

• Medications

Some medication treatments can reduce hair loss and stimulate hair growth. They work by affecting the hormones. Only 2 drugs currently have US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved indications for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. One of them is oral medications such as “Finasteride” and another one can be applied directly on the scalp such as “Minoxidil.”

You may need to use them for a couple of months to see the results. Most of the time, hair loss starts again when you stop using the medications. Keep in mind that medications canhave side effects. If you notice any serious side effects, you should consult a doctor immediately.

• Hair Transplant

A hair transplant is a solution for people who want to have permanent and natural-looking hair. The hair transplant procedure is a surgical operation in which hair follicles are harvested from a part of the body called “donor side” and planted into the areas that have not sufficient growth of hair. There are several types of procedures, but FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) is more popular because it usually shows better results. Even though it is not a very cheap procedure, hair transplant surgery results last a lifetime.

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Is Male Pattern Baldness Treatable?

There are no treatments or techniques that can completely treat male pattern baldness. If you are experiencing hair loss after using some medications, it might be a side effect or complication, and you might need to stop taking them.

Although hair loss is mostly a genetic problem, it might also be caused by any non-genetic hair loss. Therefore, first, you should see a doctor to learn the exact reason for your hair loss and the stages of male pattern baldness. Hair loss also might be a signal of some other problems, especially when it occurs with related health complications.