What You Need to Know About Male Pattern Baldness ?

Generally speaking, male pattern baldness affects men in their twenties and thirties. The condition causes hair loss around the hairline and in the crown of the head. As the condition progresses, patches of baldness will get bigger and may even form a horseshoe pattern on the back of the head. In addition, other areas may be affected by other conditions. To learn more about male pattern baldness, read the article below.

Men between 18-29 years of age are most affected by male pattern baldness.

Unlike women, men cannot take prescription rogaine for male pattern baldness. The drug is only available on private prescription; once you start taking it, the balding will return. Even after a year, the balding will return. Androgenic alopecia affects a small percentage of women but can potentially affect 50% of white men. In addition, it is a condition that affects men of all races, with a greater number of white men suffering from the condition.

Hair loss around the hairline

Symptoms of male pattern baldness include thinning of hair and a receding hairline. Usually, this balding condition starts at the hairline, then gradually recedes until it resembles an "M" shape. As the years go by, the circular area on the back of the head begins to thin and eventually becomes bald. Initially, the hairline remains above the crease of the upper forehead.

Genetics

A recent study on the genetics of male pattern baldness linked a single SNP on chromosome 20 to a significantly increased risk of baldness. Researchers found that baldness risks were 1.6 times higher for men with a single A rather than a double T at rs2160439. Axel Hillmer, a geneticist at the University of Bonn in Germany, is one of the researchers who first identified the gene. This association has since been confirmed in other studies and may even lead to development of new therapies.

Male hormones

There's a direct connection between male hormones and male pattern baldness. Excess testosterone contributes to decreasing fat tissue in the scalp, which may reduce the hair follicle's ability to buffer the effects of the hair loss hormone, DHT. Higher testosterone levels also trigger additional enzyme activity in hair follicles, contributing to even more erosion and hair loss.

Treatments

Treatments for male pattern baldness vary based on the cause of hair loss. This condition begins with patches on the crown or temples of the head, then continues as the hairline recedes in an "M" pattern. Eventually, all hair falls out. Treatment options may include medications, surgery, or hair transplantation. But if you're suffering from male pattern baldness, your best option may be to get your hair re-grown.