Discussion On Male Pattern Baldness

Hair Loss

Male Pattern Baldness

Going bald? Are you a male between the ages of 20 and 45? Chances are 95 per cent certain that you are suffering from male pattern baldness. But before we look into the causes of your hair loss or baldness or treatment options available for this kind of hair loss, we must know; what is male pattern baldness?

As evident from the term itself, during male pattern baldness scalp loses hair in a certain pattern. Hair loss usually begins from the hairline or on the crown of the head. The hairline goes back leaving an "M" shaped hair line. The rest of the hair becomes finer and shorter as a prelude to eventually falling. After some time the receding hairline meets the expanding crown, leaving some hair around the sides of the head in a horseshoe pattern.

The process of going bald

Hair normally grows for 3-5 years before eventual shedding. Hair follicles, tiny pouches just under the skin surface, are the factories where hair takes birth. The hair growth occurs in a cycle. After shedding of the old hair, a hair follicle gives birth to a new hair. Normally this cycle of hair growth, shedding, and new growth takes place all through life, but when men start going bald following is thought to take place:

Follicles gradually shrink i.e. become smaller than normal.
As the mould for the hair, hair follicles shrink, the hair shaft width progressively decreases resulting in hair becoming finer and finer with each passing cycle.
The cycle which normally lasts for 3-5 years or so lasts for a much shorter time - even down to just a few months.
After some time hair does not grow out to the skin surface leaving an entirely hairless scalp.
Eventually what remains is a very small follicle with no hair inside and this can eventually disappear completely after many years of baldness.

Causes for male pattern baldness

It is not really clear why it happens but what scientists are sure of is that male pattern baldness is really the result of the three following factors which interact with each other to eventually affect the hair follicles.

Excessive secretion of male hormones such as testosterone and androgens.
Genetic coding pointing to baldness susceptibility.
Presence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the hair follicle which weakens the follicle and eventually makes it dormant.

Let's see how these factors interact.

Because of genetic pointers, an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone into DHT. DHT slows down hair production and produces weak, shorter hair, sometimes it stops hair growth from the follicle completely. This process gradually depletes the stock of hair.

Diagnosis

Typically a dermatologist may:

Ask about any familial connection to baldness.
Ask about any recent illnesses.
Ask for a sample of a few hairs to examine under a microscope.
Check the scalp to check out if there is any skin damage.
Ask about your diet, hair-care products you use, or any medications that you take.
Ask you to undergo blood tests or a skin biopsy if he/she feels that the hairs are not falling in a normal pattern.
Ask you to keep track of hair fall frequency as much possible.
Ask you to get a hair analysis done to find out if your hair contains any arsenic or lead.

Now that you know what kind of baldness or hair loss you might have, you can decide what are the causes behind it and what would be the best treatment for it in consultation with a qualified medical professional.

If your hair is falling in a pattern which is not normal for male pattern hair loss such as, if they fall in a heap, or if bald patches appear quite fast, or if there is itching, skin irritation, redness, scaling, pain besides hair loss, then do visit your doctor. It might not be normal baldness and can be symptoms of some underlying disease.