Male pattern hair loss (MPHL: Male Pattern Hair Loss) is the most common type of hair loss and affects a large proportion of the population and can cause psychological, occupational and social consequences. Hair loss is caused by hormones, genetics and time.
Hair loss in men come from different causes like disease, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances and stress, but by far the most common cause is what is known as genetic hair loss.
As the name implies is thus hair loss is genetically determined and passed on from generation to generation. Male genetic hair loss is inherited and the gene can be inherited from either mother’s or father’s side. There is a common myth that the genetic heritage only comes from the mother’s side which is not true.
Hair loss is caused by increased sensitivity to androgens (male sex hormones called testosterone and dihydrotestosterone) in certain parts of scalp. Both men and women produce “male” hormones. The most common of these is testosterone, androsteinedione and dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Often the male hair loss begins in the 20 years of age after puberty, when levels of androgens in the blood increases and the hair loss is a process that can be both fast and slow. The first change is usually in the bays, which is a common hair loss as you can see in 96% of older Caucasian men, and even in younger men who did not receive further hair loss.
How common is male pattern baldness?
As a rule of thumb it is said that men in their 20s have 20 percent chance of being affected by male pattern baldness, the age of 30, he has 30 percent chance of suffering from hair loss, in 40 years of age 40 percent chance.
Studies show that
68% of men feel helpless about their hair loss
73% of men having problem with hair loss feel they are less attractive than they were when they had hair
Male Pattern Baldness Cure
Can male hair loss be prevented?
Genetic hair loss is generally seen as part of the natural aging process and is not considered a disease. There are many methods for treating hair loss and you may need to consult a doctor what’s right for you. There are several ways to prevent and combat male pattern hair loss with various types of medicines and of course it is also possible to make a hair transplant.
Male hair loss is dependent on dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Testosterone is converted to DHT by the enzyme 5-reductase. Compounds that Finasteride which is available in medicine as Propecia ® works by blocking this enzyme, thereby reducing the amount of DHT. There are also medications that Rogaine alleged to stimulate blood flow in the scalp which is said to strengthen hair follicles. Another method of preventing male pattern baldness is of course a hair transplant which is becoming increasingly common. In 2009 performed over 100,000 hair transplantation in the U.S. alone.
Learn more about how hair loss affects you at different ages:
- Hair loss if you are older than 60
- Hair Loss 50-59 years of age
- Hair Loss 40-50 years of age
- Hair loss at 30-39 years of age
- Hair loss at 20 to 29 years of age
- Hair loss earlier than age 20
Research reports and studies of male pattern baldness
Hamilton was the first who classified various patterns of hair loss and later Norwood with his popular Norwood scale where there are different forms of hair loss from a class which is no hair loss at all.
Research on male pattern baldness
The molecular mechanisms controlling human hair growth and hair loss are poorly understood. Androgens play a role in the development of androgenic alopecia. In a research report published in Science in 2006 showed that there was a gene mutation in families who had been genetic hair loss, and the researchers concentrated their research on chromosome 3q27 and LIPH gene. Their conclusion was that lipase H plays a role in how your hair plants.
Young men who suffer from hair loss
Another study published in the Oxford Journal found unfortunately that patients with prostate cancer were twice as likely to have androgenic alopecia at age 20. The study did not rule whether men suffering from male pattern baldness at an early age could benefit from routine screening for prostate cancer or systematic use of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors for prevention.
This page in Swedish: Manligt håravfall
