Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Male Pattern Hair Loss, Causes Behind It and Treatment Options

Male baldness is a nightmare for all people around the world. The reason is that the hair loss due to this condition is permanent and not reversible.

Once a person starts to lose her and was diagnosed with male pattern baldness, there is nothing to do except live with a lack of hair, and immediately start treatment to try and control the progression of hair loss.

Male pattern baldness occurs in almost half of the men under sixty years old and in about two-thirds of men in reaching their mid-sixties. In some cases it may occur as early as the teenage years.

While there is no treatment that will stop hair loss and regrow hair, is the real cause behind this condition is now very clearly understood.

Scientists have now come to a conclusion that male pattern baldness is caused by the action of the male sex hormone Di hydrotestosterone or DHT on the hair follicles so the follicles shrink and eventually die, producing no hair at all. DHT is synthesized by the enzyme 5 alpha reductase. If that DHT binds to its receptors, it causes the follicles to shrink in size and thinner hair over time to produce.

It should be noted that DHT is present in the scalp of all normal people, but for men with the baldness gene, the hair follicles sensitive to DHT.

It is therefore logical that the only way to combat the effects of male pattern baldness was harvested for the production of DHT in other words, the control of secretion and synthesis of DHT by 5-a reductase.

There are two FDA approved treatments available for treating male pattern baldness, Minoxidil and Finasteride.

While not completely stop hair loss, they are very effective in controlling and in some cases even reversing hair loss. Finasteride was originally used as a treatment for prostate cancer, but after good results in treating baldness. It works by blocking 5-a reductase that converts testosterone into DHT. Finasteride is most effective in stopping hair loss progress and has no effect on new hair regrowth. Another drug by the name of minoxidil does exactly this, that stimulates the regrowth of hair. It works by increasing blood flow to the hair follicles thus promoting the growth of stronger and healthier hair.

Should be noted that once these treatments are started, they should be used in this life or else it will eventually regrew the drugs fail. It should also be noted that it may take up to six months to see significant results.