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Male Pattern Baldness Causes & Treatments

Table of Contents

What is male pattern baldness?

Male pattern baldness (MPB) is the most commonly occurring hair loss type in men. Male pattern baldness is the condition where hair loss occurs in several areas of the scalp, finally causing a bald area surrounded by the hair at a horseshoe-like pattern. The going bald process is more complicated than hair simply falling out, however. Most individuals with MPB have smaller hair follicles on their scalp.

Male pattern baldness causes

Male pattern hair loss is connected to genetics and male sex hormones.

Balding in men with a typical pattern is usually called male pattern baldness. Typically, male pattern hair loss begins with a receding hairline with M form. The hair becomes thinner and finer.
This type of baldness is also called genetic balding. Thinning of the hair on the scalp, hair loss on the crown of the head might be an indication of male pattern hair loss. Male pattern hair loss is also called androgenic alopecia.
Many people have typical patterns. There are other people with thin hair that referred to as diffuse patterned alopecia. In diffuse patterned alopecia, thinning may be viewed on the front, top, and vertex of the scalp, but the backside of the hair is permanent.  Sometimes, thinning can be seen on the scalp, including the permanent zone that’s called diffuse unpatterned alopecia.

The hair loss follows a pattern of receding hairline and thinning on the crown area of the head. Each strand of hair resides in a small cavity in the skin called a follicle. Usually, hair loss occurs when the hair follicle shrinks over time, leading to shorter and thinner hair. Eventually, the follicle doesn’t grow new hair. The follicles remain alive, which suggests it is still possible to grow new hair. 

Both women and men experience hair loss, but research has focused mostly on male subjects (and attempts to link both have demonstrated that the identical genetic markers don’t predict female pattern baldness). As a result of this, less is known about female baldness. We do know that approximately 30 percent of men experience some degree of hair loss (like simple baldness or a receding hairline) from age 30, 50 percent by age 50, and 80 percent by age 70.

Multiple cell types make up the hair follicles, each one dedicated to a specific procedure in building hair. This cell structure is a very long chain of proteins (mainly keratin, that you can read about here) outside those cells. These follicles are where hair increases its specific features like curliness and color. People with MPB not only have smaller follicles, but these follicles produce less hair, which leads to the baldness process. Finally, these follicles die, which generates a bald spot.

The most commonly accepted explanation for male pattern baldness is the DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which is a by-product of testosterone generated by the enzyme 5 Alpha-Reductase. Medical science considers that overproduction of the male hormone or androgen named DHT is a significant cause of hair loss in men. Nevertheless, it can’t be the sole cause. DHT is a natural form of testosterone created by an enzyme known as 5-alpha-reductase that is needed for normal sexual purposes. Indiscriminate inhibition of the metabolite has resulted in sexual performance problems, such as impotence or erectile dysfunction. Typically, male pattern baldness / androgenic alopecia is well known for a permanent type of hair loss where the odds of re-growth are poor with any medical therapy. 

Why do some people go bald while others do not?

That is a good question. Genetics provides some clues.

Large scale genetic studies have revealed that DNA plays a huge role in determining whether MPB will even develop. 

Among the well-known genes associated with baldness is that the AR gene, which codes for the androgen receptor protein. Among other purposes, this protein helps hair follicle cells detect androgen hormones (such as testosterone) that circulate throughout the body. Testosterone and other androgens may affect when, how, and where an individual’s hair grows. The AR gene located on the X chromosome means that, for men, it was inherited from their mother. This appears to give credence to the belief that hair loss is inherited from an individual’s maternal grandfather. However, the study indicates that the story is much more complicated than that. Recent studies show that MPB is a polygenic condition, where several genetic variants are involved – not just one. In actuality, lots of the genetic variations associated with MPB aren’t located on sex chromosomes. When considered collectively, these variants are found to be predictive of MPB growth than versions that are located on the sex chromosomes.

Either side of a person’s household can pass on the MPB. Although scientists have discovered DNA variants that appear to predict the chance of MPB development, it is not completely clear how these minor changes in the DNA result in hair loss. A number of these variants can be found in or near genes involved in the process of forming and keeping hair follicle cells, indicating that these modifications affect the biology of hair follicles. Many proteins are involved in creating and maintaining hair follicles, and we will need to take all of these into account if we would like to discover the complete answer.

DNA can’t be used to predict everything about someone’s future. But it may be used to create useful estimates of how likely it is that an individual will have certain physiological traits. MPB is a fantastic example of this. Scientists can determine how many MPB related DNA variants an individual has and use them to gauge their probability of experiencing baldness. Individually, each gene may be associated with a slightly higher likelihood of going bald; but an individual’s chances increase with every additional variant they inherit. Some folks inherit a particular mixture of versions that increases their probability of developing MPB by 58 percent 2. This sort of analysis–in which multiple genetic variations are taken into account –is common in genetics and helps strengthen the predictive ability of several kinds of genetic tests.

Androgenic alopecia (AGA) or Male pattern baldness (MPB) Symptoms

The male baldness pattern begins at the hairline. The hairline gradually moves backward (recedes) and creates an”M” shape. Finally, the hair becomes finer, shorter, and thinner, and produces a U-shaped (or horseshoe) pattern of hair around the sides of your mind.

Diagnosis

Male pattern baldness can be diagnosed based on hair loss appearance, and pattern. Hair loss may be attributed to other problems. This could be true if hair loss occurs in spots, you shed plenty of hair, your hair fractures, or you’ve got hair loss together with redness, scaling pus, or pain. A skin biopsy, blood tests, or other processes might be needed to diagnose other disorders that cause hair loss. Hair analysis isn’t accurate for diagnosing baldness due to similar or nutritional ailments. But it may reveal substances such as lead or arsenic.

Outlook or Prognosis

Male pattern baldness doesn’t indicate a medical disorder, but it might affect self-esteem or cause anxiety. The hair loss is usually permanent.

Hair transplants consist of removing small sections of hair from areas where the hair is still growing and placing them in the regions that are balding. This can cause minor scarring and possibly, disease. The procedure usually requires multiple sessions and might be costly.

Suturing hair pieces to the scalp isn’t suggested. It can lead to infections, scars, and abscess of the scalp. The use of hair implants made of artificial fibers was banned by the FDA due to the high rate of disease.

Natural treatments & cures for MPB

Naturopathic treatments that help male pattern baldness

Treatment isn’t necessary if you’re comfortable with your looks. Wigs, hairpieces, hair weaving, or even a cap may take care of the appearance factors. This is usually the cheapest approach for male hair loss. 

There are thousands of commercial products available on the market, but the majority of them are called placebo treatments. Modern medicine doctors are using topical minoxidil,  vitamin pills, laser therapy, finasteride, or PRP therapy. However, modern treatment doesn’t give permanent recovery in such kind of hair loss, and it’s side effects also. Minoxidil has been demonstrated less effective, and it has some adverse reactions such as the burning of the scalp, pruritis, dermatitis, erythema, scaling, or tissue damage.  PRP treatment is too costly and gives temporary re-growth only. Finasteride has adverse effects such as impotence, abnormal ejaculation, abnormal sexual function, gynecomastia, erectile dysfunction, and testicular pain.

Ayurveda is the traditional medical discipline of India that originated over 5,000 years back. Many natural therapy choices mentioned in ancient Ayurveda publications as a treatment for several kinds of hair loss. Our natural remedy is based on Ayurveda and naturopathy therapies, which help to slow down the balding process.

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