Male pattern baldness

The most common type of hair loss seen in men is male pattern baldness, termed androgenic alopecia. It is normal to lose 100 strands of hair every day. However, when you start noticing that the rate of regrowth is reduced and hair fall has increased, it is just when you are walking the path to baldness. More than 50% of men may suffer from hair loss after they reach the age of 50.

Let us see the causes of male pattern baldness and how you can manage the condition.

What causes male pattern baldness?

Every strand of the hair is held in the hair follicle. The opening can be seen as a skin pore. As you age, the follicle shrinks, and the hair starts becoming thinner. Eventually, the follicle does not produce hair after the older strand falls off. The hair cycle goes entirely off-balance. This results in baldness. The common causes of male pattern baldness are as follows:

• Genetics: Baldness is most of the time in your genes that you inherit from your family.

• Sex hormones: Male sex hormones or androgens are responsible for hair growth. Any hormonal imbalance may result in hair loss.

• Medical condition: Thyroid dysfunction and some cancers may cause male pattern baldness. Diseases due to nutrition deficiency may also initiate hair loss.

• Medicines: Anabolic steroids may result in this condition.

• Skin condition: A fungal infection of the scalp or dry scalp may also cause baldness.

What happens in male pattern baldness?

Male pattern baldness appears as a horseshoe-shaped area with no hair over your head. It begins with thinning of hair strands around your head crown.

How is the condition treated?

Medical treatment is not necessary if you do not have an underlying health issue that causes baldness. You may opt for techniques that make your hair appear fuller. These are as follows:

• Hairstyle: If you haven’t lost a great deal of hair, choose a hairstyle covering your scalp.

• Wigs: Hairpieces or wigs resembling your hair color and texture give a natural look.

• A hair weave: Hair wigs that are sewn to your original hair strands. They can stay on your hair all the time.

• Hair transplant: It is an expensive method in which the doctors will remove the hair from your scalp and transplant it on the bald areas.

• Platelet-rich plasma is a new invasive technique that involves multiple injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the hair roots to promote hair growth.

• Medicines:

  • Topical medicines minoxidil can be applied as a lotion to the scalp.

  • Another medicine, finasteride (Proscar), which blocks hormones that promote hair loss, is available as oral tablets. Dutasteride (Avodart) is also equally effective as finasteride.

Male pattern baldness at an early age may be irritating or embarrassing. Do not take medication on your own. Consult your pharmacist for the best advice.