Everything You Need to Know About Male Pattern Baldness

Almost 85% of men across the globe experience hair thinning by the age of 50. And about 25% of men suffer from male pattern baldness. Now, these are quite the numbers. There are multiple reasons for baldness such as including genetics, hormonal imbalances, oxidative stress, etc. But the very condition is unavoidable.

Hence, it is of utmost importance to understand what male pattern baldness is, its causes, treatments, and alternatives. Many people opt to reverse baldness in a natural way, some may go for intake of drugs like minoxidil, whilst others may go for complete elimination by choosing a hair transplant procedure.

But before that, let’s walk through every nook of patterned baldness.

Overview of Male Pattern Baldness

It is also known as androgenetic alopecia, i.e., a hair loss condition that primarily affects the top and front parts of the scalp. In males, hair loss can either recede the front hairline or lead to loss of hair on the crown of the scalp. In some cases, hair loss can be a combination of both. This condition can be temporary or permanent, depending on the underlying cause.

There is a significant difference between male and female pattern baldness, i.e., the hairline in males is disturbed in association with thinning of hair; but in females, the hairline remains normal and there is excessive thinning of hair.

Male Pattern Baldness Causes

1. Hormones

KRT37 is the keratin that is regulated by androgens. And as androgens are known to promote the growth of the hair on the body but decrease it on the scalp, the lack of KRT37 explains the onset of androgenetic alopecia. 

Studies have also pointed out that lower values of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, and epitestosterone hormone lead to male pattern baldness. 

2. Genetics

Genetics, or having a family history of baldness, is one reason for male pattern baldness. According to research, male pattern baldness was linked to male sex hormones known as androgens. Androgens perform a variety of activities, including controlling hair growth. 

Because of “especially strong signals on the X chromosome,” male pattern baldness is inherited in a recessive pattern and is therefore X-linked. 

3. Metabolic Syndrome

It is well studied that there is a close association between early androgenic alopecia (AGA), insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. With early-onset AGA increasing the risk of metabolic syndrome, people with AGA had inferior metabolic profiles, including metrics for body mass index, waist circumference, fasting glucose, blood lipids, and blood pressure.

4. Age

With growing age, there are various hormonal fluctuations like-

1. Decrease in testosterone levels
2. Decrease in serum DHT
3. Degrease in androgen receptors and aromatase in the scalp

All these reasons add up and lead to patterned baldness.

Male Pattern Baldness Symptoms

1. Receding Hairline

In most men, the hairline starts to recede, which leads to the development of the classic M-shaped hairline with receding corners. 

2. Crown Thinning

Men tend to lose hair in circular or patchy bald spots on the scalp in the crown region. 

3. Diffuse Thinning

Here, men will lose hair from the entire scalp, which leads to thinning of hair without any effect on the hairline. 

Male Pattern Baldness Treatment Options

Male pattern baldness can be disguised by putting on hair pieces, changing hairstyles, or by hair weaving. But this won’t treat the condition, rather cover it. 

The treatment options include-

1. Minoxidil 

You can apply it is directly to the scalp to stimulate the hair follicles and it will slow down hair loss in men and also promote hair growth. It takes around four months for visible results. However, there are certain negative effects of this treatment, including scalp scaling, dryness, and irritation.

2. Finasteride

It is an oral medication that tends to slow down hair loss by blocking the production of the hormone responsible for hair loss, viz., testosterone. But the drawback associated with this treatment is that the baldness may return once an individual stops taking medications.

3. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

Here, the PRP for hair loss is injected into the scalp to stimulate hair growth. This procedure entails extracting your blood, collecting a part high in platelets, and injecting the areas of hair loss over a number of sessions.

4. Hair Transplant

This is the most popular treatment mode to restore natural hair. It involves removing tiny plugs of hair from the area of the body having active hair growth. The plugged hairs will be placed in the bald area of the scalp. 

Conclusion

Due to genetic factors and a changing lifestyle, male pattern baldness is quite prevalent. There are several techniques to fix the strands, but you get to decide which one you want to use. But if you want results that last forever and seem natural, hair transplants are the best option.

In our hair transplant clinic, BlueMagic Group, in Turkey, we have successfully transplanted hair for more than 21,000 patients. We provide a lifetime warranty on your natural hair and make use of the most innovative technologies to enhance the quality of the transplanted hair. In order to ensure that the stimulation of the hair follicles is strong, we also provide a free PRP treatment.

So connect with us today and say bye to baldness!