The various causes and treatments for male pattern baldness

Each hair grows about 1 centimeter per month for 2 to 3 years after which it enters the resting phase for around a year. For every individual, almost 90% of their hairs are in the growing phase and the remaining 10% in the resting phase. It takes about 3 to 4 months for the hair to come out of the resting phase, after which it falls off and new hair grows in its place.



Male Pattern Hair Loss



Hair loss is a natural process and almost everyone goes through it, but when falling of hair exceeds the growth, it can become a problem. On an average, men lose about 150 hairs a day, which are replaced by new hairs over time. Baldness occurs when the hair does not grow back in place of hairs that have fallen out. Around 60% of the men experience hair loss at some point of time in their lives. Numerous factors such as heredity problems, age and hormones may cause baldness in men.



As suggested by its name, male pattern baldness has a typical pattern. Hair starts falling from different areas of the head, but it generally begins at the temples or near the crown. Gradually, the hairline recedes to form an "M" shape on the scalp. The hair that does not fall off becomes thin and short; thinning then leads to baldness over time



The most common causes of Hair Loss



Male pattern baldness occurs because of the conversion of testosterone in to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Testosterone is converted into DHT with the help of 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme. Hair loss occurs because of the interaction between DHT and hair follicles. Once the DHT is formed, it degrades the hair follicles by shrinking them. Growth of new hair is prevented and the current hair becomes thin. Male pattern hair loss is gradual but permanent in later stages. It can also occur when a person is genetically disposed to hair loss. Apart from this age, hormones, smoking or disease may also be responsible for hair loss



Oral hair loss treatment



Many men react differently to hair loss. Some accept is while others look for treatments and methods for re-growth of new hair. Various medications available on the market promise rapid and rich hair growth. Propecia is an oral drug, which is used widely to treat male pattern baldness and it is very effective as well. Propecia prevents the conversion of testosterone to DHT. It is available online as well as at local pharmacies. It is an FDA approved drug for the treatment of hair loss. Clinical trials have shown that around 99% of the men have seen positive changes in their hair growth pattern after being treated with Propecia. The medication helps reduce the production of DHT and as a result hair growth increases.



urgical Hair Loss Treatments


Plastic surgery is also an effective method for replacing lost hair. These include:

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  Transplant - The non-sensitive hairs are moved to the back of the head. This works best for men who have lost hair only on the front of the head.
  
  

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  Scalp reduction - This method is suitable for men with small bald spots on the head.
  
  

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  Flap-surgery - Here, the part of the scalp that contains hair is enlarged.