Male Pattern Baldness - Hair Loss & Hair Regrowth

Male Pattern Baldness is One of the most common causes of hair loss in men. According to research, more than 50 percent of all men below the age of 50 suffer from this condition. This type of baldness, which is also known as androgenic alopecia, can be solved with multiple answers if treated correctly.

This blog looks at the various symptoms, causes, treatment, and prevention methods available for pattern baldness in men. 

What is Male Pattern Baldness?

Male pattern baldness is associated with the production of the male sex hormone, which is a type of androgen, in the body. The hormone is responsible for a variety of functions, including hair growth.

However excessive production of the hormone can affect the hair regrowth cycle. It can weaken the cycle, making the hair turn shorter and thinner. Eventually, hair stops growing, leading to hair thinning and complete baldness.

What are the Stages of Male Pattern Baldness?

There are seven stages of male pattern baldness based on the nature of the receding hairlines. There are many versions of defining the level of baldness which has been over the years developed by different individuals with differing objectives. To name a few there is Advanced Hair Studio’s own method which divides the individual into many stages. There are also similar versions from James Hamilton who introduced a scale to measure the various stages of male pattern baldness. Another improved scale was created by Dr. O’ Tar Norwood in the 1970s. Since then, this scale is known as the Norwood Scale. by combining all versions we can see following resemblance of understanding and division:

• Stage 1 is also known as the control stage. People in this stage have a full head of hair.

• In stage 2, there is only slight evidence of hair loss around the temples.

• Stage 3 is the crucial one in which the hair loss becomes prominent and takes the shape of the letter M.

• In the next two stages 4 and 5 hair loss becomes prominent not just from the temples but also from the crown of the head.

• In stage 6, the front and the top bald areas of the heads join together.

• Stage 7 is the final stage, where no hair except for thin hair on the sides of the head remain. 

What Causes Male Pattern Baldness?

One of the main causes of male pattern baldness is genetics or a family history of baldness. It happens gradually as hormone levels change over age, especially in the later years. Research shows that male pattern baldness is associated with male sex hormones called the androgens. Inherited male pattern baldness has no physical side effects usually apart from the other known effects of different kinds. However, pattern baldness can also have some serious causes such as cancers, medication, thyroid conditions and anabolic steroids, which prevent hair regrowth.

Who is at the Risk of Having it?

Being the most common form of alopecia, anybody can suffer from male pattern baldness. However certain types of people are more at risk and, therefore, need effective treatment. Experts say that if you have a family history of androgenic alopecia, then you are likely to suffer from this condition at some point in time.

However, baldness can also occur due to underlying diseases. As such, it is important that any male pattern baldness treatment first excludes all possibilities of underlying diseases before proceeding. Furthermore, genetic home reference can also serve as an effective guide in diagnosing male pattern baldness.

How can you Diagnose it?

Doctors try to understand the pattern of hair loss to diagnose male pattern baldness. They usually perform a scalp examination to determine the amount of hair loss. They might use a device called a densitometer / a proscope to understand the nature of the receding hairlines, the amount of hair loss and the density of hair follicles on the scalp.

They also examine the client’s medical history and conduct other tests, to rule out certain health conditions which stop the hair regrowth, such as the nutritional disorders and fungal conditions of the scalp. However, medical treatment of hair loss due to diseases or a medical condition like cancer may involve a biopsy. 

What is the Treatment for Male Pattern Baldness?

The best treatment for male pattern baldness involves both surgical and non-surgical options. Non-surgical options include the use of medication for treating high blood pressure and male pattern baldness. 

However surgical solutions are also present, which include FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) or FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) hair extraction processes. In FUT, a strip of hair-bearing cells is removed from the donor area and then placed on the head.

On the other hand, in the FUE procedure, the entire donor area is shaved. Then individual follicular hair units are removed and placed inside the scalp. This procedure helps to avoid the linear scars that are usually associated with FUT.      

How can you Prevent Male Pattern Baldness?

Here are some tips from Advanced Hair Studio, compiled with the decades of experience and client interactions, for reducing hair loss and for hair regrowth:

1. Find the Cause of Baldness

There can be multiple reasons for pattern baldness. Don’t always assume that it must be genetic. Find out the real cause of baldness. Usually our hair loss consultants can guide you with the cause with just having a look at your scalp, with their years of experience and expertise.

For example, if the hair is reduced in an M pattern leaving the original hairline distorted, but the crown hair is intact, the cause may be an underlying disease. Also Hormonal or nutritional deficiencies like Thyroid Problem, Low iron, Low vitamins, etc. can also cause this trouble.

But you cannot analyze the problem yourself and so you should visit a dermatologist or Hair loss specialist as soon as you see the hair thinning or balding spots.

2. Smart & Healthy Eating Habits

Stay away from fried and sweet food. Skipping oily and fried foods will reduce the oil-gland activity, slowing down the switch from testosterone to DTH. Staying away from a lot of sugar will reduce the insulin flood.

Insulin can trigger the release of testosterone making it available for DTH conversion. Take food rich with Vitamins like B complex, C, D and iron. Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet.

3. Take Help of Science Than of Superstition and Ads

You will see a lot of superstition going on around, regarding hair loss. But none of that really helps. Also, there are so many shampoos out there claiming that they can induce hair regrowth or can stop your hair from falling.

As every hair has a growing and a resting phase and at any time 10% or less than that of your hair are going to be in the resting phase, no shampoo can help in stopping it.

There are some shampoos medically tested but they are not advertised that much, others are a waste of time and money. Instead if you really want to take medicines, stick with the tried and tested solutions. OTC drugs such as finasteride (Propecia) and minoxidil (Rogaine) are also used but the fact remains only a certain percentage of people may get results that too for limited time. Usage needs to be continued. Also mind well, they both are better at maintaining what you have, not at gaining what you have lost already.

4. Relieve Your Stress

Stress can add to hair loss. Spare some time of the day for yourself. Exercise, listen to the music you love and do whatever you like, as it helps in stress relieving too. It won’t regrow your hair but will definitely help maintain what you have.

Face your hair loss and accept it. Balding men tend to cope in three ways: they compensate by focusing on fitness or fashion, dodge mirrors, or simply accept the changes. Acceptance takes the stress out of hair loss while the other strategies increase it, a German study found.

5. Try a New Look

Dump your comb. Sometimes men with a good physique and fitness tend to like a shaved head. Many Hollywood actors do this and still look good. In fact, a bald head can make a man look more mature and dominant than a man with the head full of hair. Most of the time shaving your head can turn into a vast improvement in your look rather than a head with bald patches.

Try this look. Some of you may have already tried it. Let us know what the outcomes were. (Some people say that they can bench-press with more weight with a bald head then with a head with bald patches. Just joking!)

6. Use the Lights to Come Into the Limelight

A scientist was trying to see if laser light can cause cancer but instead he found out something else. The Laser doesn’t induce the cancer but definitely induces hair regrowth. Studies have found that a Laser hair treatment can give you noticeable results in case of hair thinning and make your hair follicles stronger and healthier.

There are many solutions available in the market like laser hair treatment at Advanced Hair Studio, a home laser hair treating helmet under AHS Fitness and Home Program, Laser hair combs, etc. So you can either have a hair loss specialist administer the treatment or invest in the helmet.

7. When Nothing Helps, Get a Hair Transplant

Gone are the days when hair plugs made your scalp look more like a brush then a head with natural hair. The site, from where the hair plugs were removed, looked like a polka dotted head because of the circular scars. Now are the days of Strand-by-Strand procedure instead of the normal FUT and FUE.

This is just a one-day procedure that can give you natural looking hair. We can show you the hair regrowth results for yourself once you visit our studio over a coffee. If you get it done by our expert plastic surgeons, no one will be able to make out the difference between the transplanted hair and your natural hair.

If you need help with any of the above techniques, book an appointment with Advanced Hair Studio.

Conclusion

Male pattern baldness, as we have seen from the above discussion, is one of the most common causes of hair loss in men. Genetics and male hormones play an important part in causing male pattern baldness. Androgen, the male hormone found inside the human body is the main reason behind this condition. 

Regardless of the stage of baldness, you are facing, Advanced Hair Studio’s treatments are effective to prevent hair loss. Our hair experts will conduct a cutting-edge Advanced Hair Check to let you know the best treatment effective for your pattern baldness.