Hair Loss / Male Pattern Baldness

What is it?

Male Pattern Baldness (also known as androgenetic alopecia) affects all men to some degree, as they grow older. As the thinning of the hair progresses, it can eventually lead to baldness.

This hair loss usually starts from the temples accompanied by a gradually receding hairline. There are chances for the hair at the back of the head to get thinner too.

The main features of this condition are:

• Male pattern baldness typically occurs later in life as a result of changing hormone levels.
• Hair loss is found to affect men psychologically and some need therapy to get over it.
• Nutritional deficiencies, infections, and some psychological conditions might also help in hair loss.

Causes

Some of the causes for Male Pattern baldness are:

• Family history (heredity): The most common cause of hair loss is hereditary and it usually occurs gradually with aging and typically seen with a receding hairline and bald spots in men.
• Hormonal changes and medical conditions.
• Medications and supplements: Hair loss can be a side effect of certain drugs, such as those used to treat cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, gout, and high blood pressure.
• Radiation therapy to the head.
• A very stressful event: Many people experience a general hair-thinning several months after a physical or emotional shock. This type of hair loss is temporary.
• Certain hairstyles and treatments: Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair tight, such as pigtails or cornrows, can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia. Hot oil hair treatments and permanents might cause the inflammation of hair follicles that can eventually lead to hair loss. If scarring occurs, hair loss could be permanent.

Treatment

Some of the hair loss treatments are:

• Medications like Minoxidil (Rogaine) and Finasteride (Propecia)
• Hair transplant surgery: involves removal of tiny or large skin patches, each containing one to several hairs, from the back or side of your scalp and then implant the hair follicle by follicle into the bald sections.
  Laser therapy
• Lifestyle Changes: like a healthy diet, exercise and avoiding excess alcohol will be recommended too.