Male Pattern Hair loss - Knowing The Causes & Treatment Of It!

If a male is continuously losing hair at the temples and crown, he may be suffering from male pattern hair loss. This is a common form of baldness among men. In fact, about 80% of men suffer from such hair loss as they age. However, it must be said that not every man suffers from such a hair problem. Men who suffer from such hair loss seem to be genetically predisposed to this problem.

Causes of Hair Loss
Genes are considered to be responsible for such hair loss in about 95% cases. The scalp of men who carry these genes is highly sensitive to Dihydrotestosterone, which is responsible for the shrinking of hair follicles. DHT abates the shrinking of hair follicles, which result in loss of hair. As hair follicles become smaller, hair grows finer and thinner. This is the beginning of hair loss.

Eventually, hair strands are no longer able to grow and cover the scalp. This exposes bald patches on the crown and the temple. As the follicles shrink more, they don’t let their hair grow at all.

Other Causes

Though in most cases, male pattern hair loss is caused by genes, there may be some cases where it is caused by other agents. These can be:

● Anaemia or thyroid problem
● Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
● Blood thinning medications, continued use of anabolic steroids, continued use of Vitamin A etc.
● Infections on scalp
● A diet deficient in iron
● Living with stress
● Continued use of hairstyles that strain follicles like braids, tight ponytails, cornrows etc.

Distinct Pattern
Male pattern hair loss is distinct in character. Receding hairlines at the temples and thinning hair at the crown is a distinctive sign of male pattern hair loss. With advancing age, the area above the ears and back of the head starts losing hair in a horseshoe pattern. This is a pretty common sight amongst ageing males.

Treatments for Hair Loss
There are a number of treatment options for male pattern hair loss.

● Medicines
There are many medicines available for hair loss. Homeopathic, Allopathic, Ayurvedic medicines, etc. may be helpful in this problem. However, one should always consult a doctor before taking any medicine.

● Hair Transplants
Hair transplants are by far the most effective treatment for those who suffer from advanced symptoms and have no underlying medical or pharmacological issues. This is the most successful treatment for male pattern hair loss, but also the most expensive one. During hair transplantation, a cosmetic physician harvests hair from areas of good hair growth and transplants them to bald patches on the scalp.

Though there is a risk of infection and one may need multiple treatments to cover the entire area, this can offer a permanent solution for hair loss. Sometimes, this is the only solution in the cases when the hair fall is irreversible. The side effects of hair transplants are also few and far between, and the results are long lasting.