Male pattern baldness can be distinguished by a certain pattern of receding hairline especially at the temples and the crowns of the scalp. This is also popular as Androgenetic Alopecia that does not only deplete hair but also lowers down the confidence level in young men. Androgenetic Alopecia occurs either due to genetic concerns or due to the imbalance of the male sex hormone. This disorder is mostly seen among people around 15 to 30 years.
Causes of male pattern baldness
Genetics and imbalance in male sex hormones called androgens are the topmost reasons that can trigger male pattern baldness. Every single hair has a growth cycle that includes growing and falling out of the hair follicles. But with changing hormone levels the hair follicle starts shrinking and finally falls out. In fact, some men also experience deteriorating hair quality and reduced pace of hair growth.
However, there are other factors that may also give rise to male baldness like thyroid conditions, cancer or even side effects of certain medications. In such cases, it is very important to consult a doctor and start following the instruction that they provide.
Treatment procedure
Men experiencing hair loss near the temples or the crown of the head are no doubt suffering from male pattern baldness. But there are some men who experience a single bald spot and receding hairline in an “M” shape until most of the hair is gone. Some men may not choose to undergo a male pattern baldness treatment but others may choose to undergo certain treatment procedures that are available in the market –
- Minoxidil (Rogaine)- Minoxidil (Rogaine) is a medical solution that is to be applied on the scalp as that slows down the hair loss for some men. As an added benefit Minoxidil is also responsible for stimulating the growth of the hair follicles. The procedure is time-consuming and may take about a year to exhibit visible results. However, this may not be a permanent solution for hair loss as hair fall may get resumed when they stop the medicine. Rogaine involves side effects like dryness, itchiness of the scalp or even burning sensation in the scalp, weight gain, swelling of face, chest pain. In such cases, it is very important to consult with a doctor immediately.
- Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar)- Another male baldness treatment is Finasteride which is an oral medicine and is responsible for slowing down the rate of hair loss. According to some researches, Finasteride has a greater success rate in comparison to Minoxidil. But just like Minoxidil, hair loss may resume when finasteride is no more taken. The results are visible only after three months to one year after taking the medication. This medication includes side effects like depression, itching, rash, breast tenderness, swelling of the face and lips, or other issues related to pain in testicles or even painful ejaculation. Finasteride is also responsible for lowering the PSA levels which may lead to prostate cancer.
- Laser and light treatment– Laser and tight treatment have also been proved as one of the best treatments that can prevent male pattern baldness. However, men may need to undergo laser treatment for 6 to 12 months at a stretch to achieve the desired result.
Hair transplant- Hair transplant is a medical procedure and one of the best male pattern baldness treatments that have a high demand in the market. It is a surgical procedure that involves implanting new hair follicles at the bald area of the head. These hair follicles are mostly obtained from either side of the head or from the back of the head. The procedure is executed under local anesthesia. There are two most common types of hair transplant procedures- FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant).
The FUT procedure involves extracting skin from the back of your scalp and then the incisions are closed. The surgeon then segregates the large skin into smaller sections and then these smaller sections are implanted into the scalp to achieve the most natural appearance.
In FUE the hair follicles are extracted directly from the back of the scalp that results in tiny incision marks on the donor site. These hair follicles are implanted on the recipient site with great care. An experienced surgeon can implant more than thousands of hair follicles in one session.
