For men who have lost their hair, the underlying cause is almost certainly male pattern baldness. Though this isn’t the only condition that can trigger hair loss in men, it is the most common by far. In fact, about 90 percent of male hair loss cases have male pattern baldness as their primary factor.
But what exactly is male pattern baldness? What causes it, and what can be done to avoid it? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at this common diagnosis, and also recommend some potential remedies. If you have any questions, reach out to the Luminary team directly.
Male Pattern Baldness at a Glance
Male pattern baldness goes by several names, including the slightly nicer-sounding male pattern hair loss. The medical term for it is androgenetic alopecia.
How Does Male Pattern Baldness Work?
Normal, healthy hair follicles go through a cycle of resting and growing. During the resting phase, the follicle actually sheds old hairs to make room for new growth. As many as 10 percent of your follicles may be in the resting phase at any given moment, and a little bit of shedding is natural and normal.
Male pattern baldness disrupts this cycle, producing longer rest periods and less effective growth phases. The hairs that are produced become shorter and weaker, and eventually follicles stop producing new growth at all.
It’s important to note that hair growth is regulated by hormones, and specifically by androgens. Conditions such as male pattern baldness typically revolve around an imbalance in androgens production.
What Causes Male Pattern Baldness?
While the precise cause of male pattern baldness has not been confirmed, most scientists believe that the imbalance hormone production is largely attributable to genetics.
How is Male Pattern Baldness Diagnosed?
Again, if you’re a man and you’ve started losing some hair, it’s more likely than not that you have male pattern baldness.
To confirm this diagnosis, consider whether your hair loss follows a familiar pattern. If you experience receding hairline that results in an M-shape, or if you start with a single bald spot at the crown of your head, then you probably have male pattern baldness.
Treating Male Pattern Hair Loss
There is no cure for male pattern baldness. However, there are some treatments that can be used to conceal its effects, or to restore your lost hair.
For men with more mild male pattern hair loss, it may be acceptable to simply adapt a more flattering hair style. For others, custom hair systems are a good option. Topical solutions and laser hair growth treatments can sometimes be effective in stimulating new follicular growth. And, for the most permanent option of all, men might consider a hair transplant.
If you have any questions about male pattern baldness, or about getting a hair transplant, we welcome you to reach out to us.
Contact Luminary Cosmetic Medicine & Hair Restoration at any time.
