Going bald is a problem so many are having to deal with. Here’s an overview of male pattern baldness and why it occurs.
What is male pattern baldness?
Hair loss and balding is a common problem among both men and women. Progressive hair loss, occurring in a particular pattern in men is known as male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia. This hair loss, for most men, is distressing, unwanted and stressful.
How common is male pattern baldness?
Male pattern baldness is the most common cause for hair loss among men. More than half of Indian men aged between 30 and 50 years of age suffer from this type of hair loss.
Why does male pattern baldness occur?
Male pattern baldness can be a genetic problem or can be due to male hormones. The genetic basis is supported by the fact that it runs in families.
In the case of male hormones being the cause, the androgens cause a change in the size of hair follicles and the hair life cycle. The hormones act on the hair root, causing a reduction in the size of the hair follicle. This ‘miniaturisation’ is responsible for conversion of thick pigmented hair into thin, fine, non-pigment hair.
The hair growth cycle includes three phases, namely:
- Anagen – growth phase (3 years)
- Telogen – resting phase (3 months)
- Catagen – transition phase (3 weeks)
In the case of male pattern baldness, the growth phase gets shortened and the resting phase elongates. As the resting hair are loosely anchored, they fall off; this is perceived as increased hair shedding, noticed during washing and combing of hair. Over time, the growth phase becomes so short that the emerging hair does not even reach the skin surface; this makes the scalp appear bald.
How does it happen?
Male pattern baldness begins with recession of hair from both the temples, followed by diffused thinning over the vertex or crown of the head. Overtime there is complete hair loss at the vertex, producing a bald patch. This bald patch increases in size and joins the receding hairline in the front (frontal hairline). Eventually, only the hair on the sides and back of the scalp remains (as they are less sensitive to male androgenic hormones).
Ultimately, the remaining hair thins and may also be lost too. Most men are not aware of increased hair shedding for long.
Reviewed by Dr Bhushan S Madke (Dermatologist – Skin Care)
Photograph via sxc.hu
The primary male hormone, testosterone is mainly produced by the testes. Testosterone levels peak levels during adolescence and the early twenties. After the age 30, a man’s testosteronelevels drop by about 1% each year. Although subtle at first, the symptoms of decreasedtestosterone become increasingly evident by the time a man reaches his mid forties.
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