A Guide to Male Pattern Baldness: Causes and Solutions

Pattern hair loss has become a common concern many men complain of these days. Earlier, the onset and progression mostly happened in people in their late 30s and 40s. But these days, people in their 20s also suffer from it. Hair loss at such an early age may trigger psychological problems like anxiety, loss of confidence, depression, etc. But what are the various male pattern baldness causes? Do you have any treatment options for it? Let’s explore the various aspects of male pattern baldness in this blog.

What is Male Pattern Baldness – Stage of Male Pattern Baldness

In the dermatological parlance, male pattern baldness is termed androgenic alopecia. It is the most common type of hair loss affecting men from various age groups. Male pattern baldness takes place in seven phases or stages. Let’s look at each.

• Stage 1: Little or no hair loss or hairline recession.
• Stage 2: Little hair loss near the skin between the ears and forehead (temples).
• Stage 3: Deep hairline recession around temples with an “M” or “U” shape of the hairline.
• Stage 4: Deeper hairline recession and hair loss at the top of the head (crown).
• Stage 5: The hairline recession connects to the crown’s bald spot.
• Stage 6: The hair between the temples and crown either thins or disappears.
• Stage 7: The top of the head has no hair and there’s a thin band of hair around the side of the head.

Male Pattern Baldness Causes

Some common male pattern baldness causes include the following.

Genetics: People assigned male at birth have one X chromosome inherited from their mother and one Y chromosome from their father. The AR gene on the X chromosome instructs the body on the way to make androgens. The AR gene’s sensitivity helps determine male pattern baldness.

Hormones: Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is one of androgen’s types. These are a group of sex hormones triggering puberty and physical maturity. Some physical changes or developments include hair growth on the chest, scalp, face, genitals, etc. Experts consider a linkage between DHT and shrinkage of hair follicles.

Nutritional Deficiency: Nutritional deficiency is another common cause of hair loss. When the body doesn’t receive the nutrition it requires to keep the scalp healthy, it starts responding with hair loss.

Stress: Stress leads to hormonal imbalance. It is observed as one of the most common causes of androgenic alopecia these days.

Fungal Infections: These hamper normal hair growth and cause hair thinning.

Male Pattern Baldness Treatment Options

As of now at least, the medical world hasn’t been able to formulate a sure-shot male pattern baldness treatment. However, is that the end of the road? No. Thanks to medical science that has various potentially helpful treatment options, including the following.

• Minoxidil and Rogaine: These medications have been found effective in treating androgenic hair loss. You can apply it to the scalp as a lotion.
• Platelet-Rich Plasma: It involves removing blood from the body, processing it, and injecting it into your scalp to stimulate hair growth. Of course, the treatment may have some side effects like nausea, vomiting, pain, irritation, and dizziness.
• Oral Medications: Finasteride, which is an oral medication can slow down hair loss in men. It works by stopping the production of hormones causing hair loss.
• air Transplant:H A very popular option to tackle male pattern baldness is hair transplant. Although expensive, it is an effective male pattern baldness treatment

Note: Each body is unique and so is its response to a particular medication or treatment. Hence, what worked in someone’s case may or may not necessarily work in yours. Accordingly, you should consult a dermatologist and know what works in your case.

Although one cannot fully rule out the possibility of male pattern baldness, one may prevent or at least delay it by supplying nutrients like vitamin D3, B12, and E (based on the doctor’s prescription), quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, and getting proper sleep