A lot of men have to be prepared to face the dark day when they realise that they will be joining the growing ranks of those suffering with male pattern baldness. It can be a tough issue to deal with, especially for those proud of their once flowing locks. It typically starts to take place between the early twenties and early forties. It is often a gradual process that starts with gradual receding at the front or thinning at the crown.
There are 10s of thousands of hair follicles on the human head and even people with normal healthy hair will shed many hairs per day. Those suffering from male pattern baldness will not replace the hairs that were lost. Because of this, it can be a very long process before the sufferer will be fully classed as being bald.
The cause of male pattern baldness is not completely known. It is believed to be a combination of hormones and genetics. The hormones that were once so active during puberty in assisting with hair growth can also be the ones that will affect it during the onset of male pattern baldness.
As well as the hormonal influence, genetics can play a key part in male pattern baldness. The genetic makeup hair follicles in males that suffer from male pattern baldness can be more susceptible to the negative effects of hormones.
There is a strong chance that if your father or grandfather is bald, that you will also inherit the condition.
Many men are comfortable to let the baldness take hold whereas others wish to seek treatment for it. Some treatments can include;
· Regaine (Minoxidil) - This was originally used as a drug to treat blood pressure. However, it was noted during testing the application of it actually caused involuntary hair loss. It is a topical solution that needs to be applied twice daily and can have positive effects.
· Hair Transplant - This involves moving healthy follicles from other areas on the scalp to the effected ones. This can be an expensive process with varying results.
