The most common type of hair loss experienced by men is known as male pattern baldness. It follows a specific pattern – a receding hairline followed by total drop-off of hair from the scalp. This type of baldness is caused by androgenic hormones, so it is also called androgenic alopecia. According to statistics, about 35 million men in the US suffer from it. Because the problem is genetic, age is not a factor. It can occur to you even during your prime. But there are oral hair loss treatment that you can try to prevent hair loss and even encourage regrowth.

How is androgenic alopecia caused?

The exact causes of this type of hair loss are yet to be known. All that researchers have understood so far is that an androgenic hormone named dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is responsible behind androgenic alopecia. Let’s have a clear idea about the mechanism of hair growth and fall.

What is the process of hair growth and fall?

Hair grows by an inch every two months or so. This growth cycle spans between 2-6 years, after which the growth stops and hair falls off. The root from which a hair germinates is called follicle. Follicles shrink over time, which slows hair growth. Shrinking of follicles also causes hair to become thinner. The final outcome is a very small follicle with no hair in it.

Experts believe that in male pattern baldness, hair follicles become genetically sensitive to DHT. Their subsequent failure to respond to the hormone reduces longevity of hair and triggers hair loss.

What are the risk factors of male pattern baldness?

As mentioned before, male pattern baldness is triggered by genetic factors. So it is not possible to prevent it from occurring in the first place. If somebody in your family has the condition, chances of you developing the same are fairly high. Also, certain environmental factors may also be behind this type of baldness.

What are the treatments?

It is indicated that the condition can be prevented, and even reversed, if DHT levels can be reduced. The basic thing that is needed to encourage hair growth is to keep the follicles alive. So, if the follicles are desensitized to DHT, they will be able to produce new hair. Treatments of pattern baldness are based on this rationale.

Oral treatments are available on the market to stop hair from falling and also stimulate growth of fresh hairs. 5-alpha reductase inhibitors have been proven as effective solutions to the problem. By reducing DHT levels, these antiandrogenic drugs help prevent the hair follicles from getting exposed to the hormone. This makes sure the follicles remain alive and capable of producing new hair.

Propecia finasteride is for the treatment of male pattern hair loss

A tidbit for you…

Men of European descent are more inclined to developing male pattern hair loss than their American counterparts. It is estimated that around 50% males of European ancestry are affected by the condition at some point in their life. Asian men come next in the list of most affected, followed by Afro-Americans and indigenous Americans.