Male pattern baldness and hair loss
Hair itself grows in three distinct cycles, known as the anagen, telogen and catagen cycles. Most of the hair on one’s head remains in the anagen or growth phase, lasting at least two to eight years. The catagen or transitional phase lasts around two to three weeks, where the hair follicles shrink. The telogen cycle lasts around two to four months, allowing the hair to rest. Hair loss is the disturbance of this cycle, and it affects many people worldwide each day.
What causes male pattern baldness?
What is male pattern baldness?A common hair loss type is male pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness affects men both physically, through the loss of their hair, and mentally, with the process of having to adjust to the hair loss. One of the more common hair loss cases stem from a genetic condition called androgenetic alopecia, responsible for around 95% of hair loss cases in men.
There are other reasons for hair loss in men, women and even children. These conditions and symptoms vary between people, but generally originate from the same reasons. Many common signs of hair loss in men, women and children include:
- Thinning or brittle hair on the scalp.
- Receding hairlines or hair loss that exposes the crown of one’s head.
- Minor or severe hair shedding, occurring after running hands through hair or styling with a comb and/or brush. Hair may fall out on its own as well.
The crown of one’s head is perhaps the most common place on the scalp affected by hair loss. In many cases of significant hair loss, the hair from the top of one’s head will fall out or shed, leaving behind hair on the back and on the sides of one’s scalp.
Hair loss can occur due to the following issues:
- Poor diet or nutrition intake.
- Extreme bouts of stress and/or hormonal imbalances.
- Diseases, illnesses and certain medications.
- Poor hair care and/or styling techniques.
In women, the most common cause of hair loss is stress and hormonal imbalances; men commonly experience hair loss through hereditary male baldness and illnesses.
Men experiencing hair loss have many options for a temporary to permanent hair loss treatment/solution, including a hair transplant for. This process is known as hair transplantation, a surgical process that restores hair follicles affected by hair loss.
Another permanent hair loss solution for male pattern baldness includes the medications finasteride, also known as the brand name Propecia/Proscar and Minoxidil or loniten.