Male Hair Loss – the Causes of and Treatments For

Male hair loss, also known more formerly as Androgenic Alopecia, is a very natural and gradual response to a lack of tolerance of some hair follicles to male sex hormones. Male hair loss is a genetically passed trait, and is very common, affecting roughly 2/3 of the male population. An estimated 35 million men in the United States, and approximately 7.4 million men in the UK are affected by this genetic trait. The population of men affected by Androgenic Alopecia is also subject to discrimination based on their ethnic background. The men affected the least by genetic hair loss are Native Americans, who are completely unaffected by it. Chinese and Japanese males experience the lowest range of effects, while Afro-Caribbeans follow and are only topped by Caucasians who experience the highest rates of genetic male hair loss. you can most successfully determine if you will be a victim of male pattern baldness by studying the age at which your male ancestors began to lose their hair, particularly on the maternal side of the family. it appears that the strongest influence towards whether a man will develop male pattern baldness is determined by the male ancestors along the mother's genetic side. If all of the men within the female's family have a tendency to develop male pattern baldness, chances are their descendants will as well. The age at which the condition begins to develop will also be pre-determined by the mother's side as well.

The primary culprit in the case of male pattern baldness is the male sex hormone Testosterone. more specifically, it is the sex hormone that is developed by the body from testosterone, called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is responsible for stimulating facial and body hair and the prostate gland. it is widely thought that a hair follicle's over-sensitivity to DHT causes it to shrink, eventually over time, to a size at which they are no longer able to perform the task of producing hair. The follicles themselves never die, they just are no longer able to function properly. This sensitivity to sex hormones is also the reason why it was commonly believed for many years that bald men were considered more virile. it is now, however, much more commonly understood that male pattern baldness is the result to this over-sensitivity to DHT, rather than to elevated levels of the sex hormones in the blood stream.

Aside from over-sensitivity to DHT, there are also other conditions under which both men, and even women, may experience hair loss. However, while there can be alternative culprits, most premature hair loss is a result, one way or another, of a hormonal imbalance. Women may notice a loss or thinning of hair after a pregnancy due to changing hormone levels, for example, or both sexes may notice hair loss as a result of lower hormone levels resulting with age. both sexes may also experience hair loss as a result of Thyroid dysfunction. in the situations involving pregnancy and Thyroid dysfunction, once the levels of hormones have been corrected to normal levels, normal hair growth can usually be re-established. However, premature hair loss or male pattern baldness can, in rare cases also be attributed to a few other exceptional circumstances. For example, some medicines, such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), those used to treat gout, high blood pressure, heart problems, birth control methods and some antidepressants, can also affect hair growth. Exceptionally high doses of some vitamins, such as Vitamin A, can also affect hair growth negatively as well. Treatments such as Chemotherapy for Cancer can result in hair loss as well. Fungal infections can also affect hair growth, as well as diseases such as Lupus, and diabetes, if not properly diagnosed or treated. Specific cosmetic hair treatments and styles can also affect hair growth, such as perming, or rather the chemicals utilized to create a perm, and cornrows, curlers or tight hair rollers. all can create inflammation and scarring on the scalp after recurring use and can permanently impair hair growth. Stress can also have a huge impact on hair loss, however, this is more so bodily stress related to injuries, surgery, or illness. Stress can result in two types of hair loss, Telogen Effluvium, where the hair halts growth, remains dormant and falls out, only to have a new hair grow and replace it in 2 to 3 months later. The second type of stress related hair loss is Alopecia Areata, in which white blood cells attack the hair follicles. This type of hair loss generally affects hair over the whole body and may or may not require treatment to recover the hair loss, depending on the severity of the damage to the follicles.

For most causes for hair loss, there is either a treatment or an alternative measure which can be taken to prevent, or, in some cases, reverse the damage to the hair line. These may involve switching medications, taking medications, or taking non-medicinal measures. However, in the specific case of male hair loss, while there is no specific cure, there are homeopathic, natural remedies, and more traditional medical remedies available to treat the condition. While for more medically serious conditions, such as Alopecia Areata, an immediate consult with your GP is best, however, a good place to start searching for treatment for male pattern baldness, is a visit to a registered trichologist, (a doctor that specializes in both the cosmetic and medical aspects of hair loss and treatments). There are many treatments offered by traditional medicine for male pattern baldness. The following treatments are listed in chemical form only and not by their marketed commercial names. one such treatment is Minoxidil which is a topical cream treatment licensed for treating premature male hair loss; originally it was a pill developed to alleviate high blood pressure, though doctors soon noticed it also had the added side effect of producing increased hair growth in patients, and thus reformulated it for this purpose. Another treatment, based on the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme responsible for the conversion of testosterone to DHT, inhibits this conversion, which, in theory halts the hair loss process. This chemical treatment is called Finesteride. Anti-androgen therapy utilizes a variety of hormonal drugs to directly block the action of DHT. These drugs are similar to those utilized for female oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies and are somewhat therefore controversial in nature. still other treatments, which involve surgical methods, are Hair transplant surgeries. These surgeries include transferring skin grafts from areas bearing hair to bald areas, micro-grafts, or hair plugs (smallest versions of grafts), Scalp Reduction (which is most suitable for men with smaller balding areas), and Flap-Surgery (which is accomplished by making the area of the scalp with hair, larger, and again is better suited for those with smaller balding areas). However these types of treatments are often pricy and involve considerable financial investment. While specific options for women who are experiencing long term hair loss are limited, Regaine for women is, unfortunately, the only current licensed treatment.

Other less invasive or more natural treatments include altering your hair care routine to reduce the physical stresses and chemical treatments applied to the scalp (no dying, perming, cornrows, etc). some products, like shampoos can enhance the physical characteristics and appearance of hair, and always remember to handle your hair with care when it is wet as this is when it is most fragile. Cutting your hair to a shorter length will minimize the contrast between areas with and without hair. Ensure you are eating properly, including sufficient amounts of protein, which is the building blocks for healthy hair, amongst other bodily functions.

However, natural or homeopathic remedies also offer other successful and less invasive treatments for hair loss. saw Palmetto extract is a natural treatment shown to be highly effective in encouraging new hair growth, as well as an oil treatment combination of olive, tea tree, rosemary and lavender oils. Pumpkin seeds have also been said to aid the liver in breaking down DHT and thus reducing its levels within the body and its effects on the follicles. Other herbal supplement combinations, such as Procerin, have also been shown to be highly effective, particularly at levels of lesser hair loss. Applying such herbal treatments is said to be most effective if done prior to major hair loss, so the earlier one is able to seek out herbal treatments, the better the chances they may have of being effective in fighting hair loss.

Despite the method you choose to combat your hair loss, educate yourself on the side effects (if any exist). make certain you are well aware of the financial implications, and if there is any continuing treatment required following the initial procedure to maintain the positive impacts. There are many treatments available, seek one that best suits your needs and capabilities. And finally, it is always recommended to seek medical advice from your doctor before attempting any new treatment or medication, medicinal, herbal, or otherwise. A doctor will be able to best assist you with selecting the treatment that is best suited for your circumstances, and may even be able to offer suggestions on new or improved treatment methods. to learn more about natural male hair loss treatment options, please visit http://www.procerin.com

Male Hair Loss - the Causes of and Treatments For