Hair loss not the end of the world

So your losing your hair? Feels like its the end of the world does it? Well I'm here to give you some good news and some bad news. We will start with the bad first and that is unfortunately hair loss isn't the only annoying change that goes with breaking into the golden years. Other changes include erectile dysfunction, swelling prostates, urinary symptoms that go with large prostates, decreasing time in stage 4 sleep, and the list goes on and on. The way I see it going bald is the least of your concerns.

Ok so the good news is that in today's age of pharmacy, there are several great options to solve many of the above mentioned problems, including hair loss. So you don't have to just accept your genetically determined fate. Not only are there good pharmalogical options but the semi surgical options of hair implants are always improving.

So what causes hair loss otherwise known as male pattern baldness? Well it is in the genes as mentioned above. The rumor is that it runs through the maternal line. So if your mom's dad is bald than you'd better start getting ready. That isn't the whole story though. It turns out that there is an enzyme that changes testosterone to dihyroxytestosterone or DHT. DHT which is produced in greater amounts and for which some are more sensitive to acts in many different ways including the root of the hair and actually acts as a toxin to the hair permanently ending the ability of the hair producing proginator cells to continue growing hair.

One of the best treatments is a drug called finasteride or propecia which inhibits the enzyme, alpha 1 reductase, that catalyzes the reduction of testosterone to DHT. If begun early enough it can prevent (or signigicantly slow) hair loss. This drug has been shown to be wonderfully efficacious at relatively low doses, which limits the side effects to a tolerable minimum. One problem with the drug that has recently been made much of in the media is the olympic ban on propecia. It turns out that it can and has been used as a coverup for anabolic steroid performance enhancing drugs. So a significant issue that fortunately effects only a very small minority of balding men.

As mentioned there is also the implant option which for a while seemed like it made you look worse than just having no hair. The corn rows weren't what most guys were going for and were any thing but natural. Now however you really have a hard time noticing the difference unless you are around a guy and all of a sudden they have a head of hair that didn't use to be there. So like I said, compared to the other problems that will eventually crop up, hair loss is tame. But lest we suffer in the looks department fortunately there are good options to stem the "disease."

Male pattern baldness - causes symptoms treatment

Androgenetic alopecia, better known as male pattern baldness, is a fact of life for millions of men. The most common type of hair loss for men, it is best identified as a pattern of receding hairline and hair thinning on the crown. It is estimated to affect 90 percent of men by the age of 50 as a consequence of hormonal function and genetics. Many different treatments exist to combat pattern baldness, including medicines such as finasteride (Propecia) and minoxidil (Rogaine) and procedures such as hair transplantation. More than ever before, men with male pattern baldness are seeking out companies such as Bosley to perform hair transplant procedures for a permanent restoration of their natural hairlines.

Causes

Male pattern baldness is related to hormones called androgens, specifically an androgen called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It attaches to receptor cells on the scalp and hair follicles, interrupting and interacting with the normal mechanics involved with continual, healthy hair growth. Men whom display male pattern baldness typically have lower levels testosterone, but a proportionately higher level of DHT in their body. Other factors such as lifestyle factors and terminal illness may cause hair loss as well.

Symptoms

The most notable symptom of the onset of male pattern baldness is hair loss along the hairline that gradually recedes into an “M” shape. The hair at the crown begins to thin, eventually meeting the receding hairline and creating a horseshoe pattern of hair around the sides of the head. Male pattern baldness is typically diagnosed by the appearance of this pattern. Other diseases such as alopecia areata or folliculitis may cause dissimilar balding patterns and should not be diagnosed as male pattern baldness.

Treatment

Medicinal treatments for male pattern baldness include Propecia and Rogaine. Both are more successful at slowing hair loss than exhibiting new hair growth. Needless to say, unlike hair transplantation as offered by companies like Bosley, no medicinal treatment is a permanent solution for male pattern baldness. Of the two, Propecia is most successful with male pattern baldness as it inhibits the growth of DHT androgens. Take a look at the Propecia and Rogaine sections on BattleAgainstBald. com to learn more about how the treatments work and their effectiveness.

Hair transplantation is very effective at treating male pattern baldness. Since hair follicles from the side and back of the head are resistant to the DHT androgens, hair simply must be transplanted from healthy parts of the scalp to the affected areas. The surgery has become increasingly popular in the last few years. Since 2004, there has been a 34% increase in hair transplant procedures, according to a survey conducted by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS). The increase is a result of an increase in effectiveness of the procedure and the natural results it yields. In 2006, 87% of hair restoration surgeries were for patients with pattern baldness.

Bosley Medical has performed nearly 200,000 of such procedures, making it one of the most reputable resources for victims of male pattern baldness to seek treatment. More information about Bosley Medical or hair restoration procedures is available at BattleAgainstBald. com, a blog that is sponsored by Bosley and documents the progress of two Bosley hair transplant patients, Seth and Torrance. It speaks to those who are struggling with any kind of hair loss and would like to learn more about hair restoration.

~Ben Anton, 2007