Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness is the most frequent form of hair loss and affects millions of men throughout the world. There is no known prevention for this condition, but knowing how it occurs and what can be done to slow the loss can help many men adjust to this very obvious sign of aging.

Classic male pattern baldness.

Causes of Male Pattern Baldness

The principle cause of this familiar baldness – technically called androgenetic alopecia – is heredity: fathers and sons often share similar baldness patterns. As men age, their hair follicles constrict, eventually growing shorter, finer hair and eventually ceasing to produce hair altogether, even though the follicles remain active. Because those follicles are still viable, there are a number of restorative products that seek to stimulate hair regrowth, though with limited success.

There is no predetermined age for the onset of baldness. Some men may have a receding hairline as early as their 20s, while others may not see visible recession until their 50s. While genetics is believed to be the primary factor determining whether a man loses his hair or not, there are several conditions that may cause accelerated hair loss, though the direct correlations are still being studied. These conditions include:

• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Prostate Cancer
• High Blood Pressure
• Low Testosterone Levels

In some studies, male pattern baldness slowed as these conditions were corrected, though how the two were connected is still being determined.

Typical Pattern

Full baldness.

The classic baldness pattern begins with a receding hairline forming a characteristic “M” shape with a peak reaching down the forehead, combined with a thinning crown or bald spot at the top and back of the head. As the condition progresses, the two bare patches may meet, leaving only a ring of hair from one sideburn, across the back of the head, around to the other sideburn. At first, the balding areas may still have fine “peach fuzz” type hair in white or light gray shades, though eventually all hair growth ceases.

Women can also be afflicted with androgenetic alopecia (androgenetic is related to the word androgynous, meaning without sex differentiation), though they do not exhibit the same pattern of progressively complete baldness. Instead, the hair typically gets thinner and finer over the entire head, and small patches of baldness may appear in extreme cases.

• Funky Hair Color Trends
• Beach Wedding Hair Styles
• Blue Hair Images
• Hair Removal Quiz
• Healthy Hair Quiz

• Emo Hair Styles
• Emo Hair Style Pictures
• Layered Hair Styles
• Pictures of Emo Hair Cuts
• Short Hair Styles

• Sage and Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair Growth
• Hair Restoration
• Frontal Hair Loss Finasteride
• Hair Loss
• Price of Hair Replacement