Male-Pattern Baldness

Unless you were Telly Savalas, Winston Churchill or someone equally famous for their shining top, you would surely be happy to have an impressive patch of thick hair on your head. But how many of us continue to enjoy this luxury? Baldness is a very common cause of concern among men. Why do we lose hair and are there ways to correct the problem?

Why does a person lose hair?

Individual hairs grow for two to four years, depending on many factors including heredity and nutritional status. They then fall out and new hairs begin to grow. In some men, the hair follicles at the top of the head become sensitive to the male hormones, as they age. Prolonged exposure to these hormones sometimes causes the hair follicles to shrink and produce only fine, short, light colored hairs, or none at all. This is most often a hereditary trait.

Different Patterns of Baldness

Are treatments available for baldness?

Lotions containing the drug Minoxidil were the only solution to baldness till recently. This chemical reduces the shrinking of the hair follicles and slows hair loss. But men who stop using it may lose hair suddenly. Also, there is a small chance of developing allergic reactions to the drug. Capsules containing the drug Finasteride are now available. This drug lowers the production of dihydrotestosterone, a hormone associated with male pattern baldness. In higher doses, this drug is used to treat symptoms of enlarged prostate. This drug may cause side effects in 5% of the men using it. They may have trouble in getting an erection, sexual desire may be less or they may ejaculate less quantity of semen.

Are there any other drugs that prevent hair loss?

A lot of research is being done regarding treatments to prevent hair loss and regain lost hair. But most of the claims made i the press and media may be false. Please consult your doctor before resorting to expensive drugs that may cause allergic reactions and disappoint you with little improvement in hair loss.

What is hair transplant?

Hair transplant is a surgical procedure by which hair from the back of the head is removed and transplanted onto the front, in the balding areas. Done by a skilled surgeon, this provides good cosmetic results. But there may be reactions to the surgery. The doctor may have to consider the medical history, level of certain hormones in the blood and perform certain tests before undertaking the surgery.

Can there be reasons other than male pattern baldness, which cause hair loss?

Certain medical conditions like fungal infections, prolonged fever, thyroid disease and malnutrition can cause hair loss. Chemotherapy can also cause this. But in these cases the hair loss will be generalized and not just on the top of the head.