In order to understand hair loss in men it is important to understand the way hair grows. The human scalp has about 100,000 to 1,50,000 strands of hair. These hairs grow out of a sac like structure called the follicle which lies below the skin. Blood vessels at the base of the follicle provide each sac with the nourishment that is needed for growth.
At any point of time about 90% of the hair is in the growth phase and the remaining 10% is in the rest phase. The growth phase lasts for about five years. After this the hair enters the rest phase, which lasts for about two months. Thereafter the hair falls off and is replaced by new hair. Shedding is therefore a normal part of the cycle, anything between 50 to 150 strands of hair may fall out in a day.
Baldness occurs when the rate of hair loss is greater than the rate at which it is replaced. So what is male pattern baldness? Male pattern Baldness or Androgenetic Alopecia affects about 40 million men in the United States alone. The disorder gets its name because it affects more men than women.
The hair loss begins at the temples and at the crown, causing a receding hairline and a bald spot. Sometimes the two sections join to produce a horseshoe type spot. This kind of hair loss is without any accompanying symptoms like itching or redness.
The causes of male pattern baldness are complex and not yet fully understood by doctors. However, what is known is that a combination of genetic and hormonal factors can cause this sort of hair loss. Men who have a family history of baldness have a much higher chance of going bald than others. The degree of baldness depends upon the age at which it begins.
Hormones, on the other hand, can also cause hair loss. An increase in testosterone and consequently an increase in the hormone called DHT can cause follicles to be miniaturized and the hair to fall out. Contrary to popular belief, massaging, wearing hats or every day stress does not bring about this kind of baldness.
The crown and the frontal area get hit first causing the hairline to recede and a small bald spot to appear on the crown. Sometimes the hairline recedes all the way to mid-scalp in such a way that an M-shaped hair pattern emerges. The hair in the affected area is of varying length, texture and thickness. This in fact is a classic symptom of Adrogenetic Alopecia, and can easily be diagnosed by a visual inspection.
The loss of hair invariably has psychological consequences. For men, losing hair seems to suggest "middle age", a much-detested phrase in the male vocabulary! There is often a loss of confidence, and many men try to hide their baldness by combing their hair differently or wearing a hat when outside.
Male baldness is a fact of life for many men and can be a life altering experience. New methods of stimulating hair growth are on the horizon but in the meantime many men face little choice but to accept their hair loss gracefully.
Mac Morris is the founder of Hair Loss Heaven - www.hairlossheaven.com - a web site providing information and support for anyone concerned about hair loss. | |
