Hair
Loss Questions
Causes
of Male Pattern Baldness
Baldness
is a medical condition that affects some 25% of men in their
20’s and an astounding 2/3 of all men after the age
of 60. Male-pattern baldness does not have any intrinsic side
effect aside from hair loss so many consider it a cosmetic
medical condition, but for those who suffer from it, its effects
it can be devastating with social and psychological consequences.
Male
baldness cures have been around for thousands of years. From
the Ancient Egyptian remedy of pigeon droppings to the early
20th century use of electro-shock treatments on the scalp,
mankind has been searching for that one elusive cure for baldness.
But it wasn’t until recently that we actually knew what
caused baldness.
Male-pattern
baldness is a result of a gene in the body that converts large
quantities of testosterone into DHT (di-hydrotestosterone).
Hair loss occurs to some extent in 60-70% of all men, and
4-8% of women. This balding process is caused by hereditary
factors. You inherit the tendency to lose hair from either
of your parents. This is transmitted in your genes. You may
even have this tendency despite the fact that your parents
have full heads of hair - this is due to a process known as
spontaneous mutation, whereby the genetic information changes
at conception.
Hair loss can also occur following events such as trauma,
radiation therapy, burns and surgery. This is often amenable
to transplantation, as the donor sites can often be excellent.
A large number of drugs and diseases cause hair loss. This
hair loss is only reversible once the initial cause has been
remedied. Hair transplantation is not the answer in these
cases. If you suffer from a scalp disease, you should consult
a dermatologist.
This DHT hormone, though helpful during fetal development,
is devastating to hair follicles, causing them to become damaged
and shrunken. The usual life of a hair follicle is 5 years,
4 of those spent growing and the last year being stagnant,
but follicles that are damaged fall out and are not replaced
by new follicles. This is why male pattern baldness is gradual
but irreversible in its later stages.
Registered
Treatments
Treatments
for baldness range from the medicinal to the surgical. FDA-
approved medications like Rogaine and Propecia; these can
provide effective short-term relief from baldness and have
been a popular baldness remedy for years. Rogaine is a topical
solution that has proven helpful in helping follicle regrowth
but works for only about 60% of all patients. Propecia, on
the other hand, is very effective in stemming existing hair
loss but is most powerful when used in the early stages of
male-pattern baldness. Unfortunately both medications are
temporary in nature, as results cease once use of the medication
has been discontinued. |
