Male pattern baldness is the common type of hair loss that develops in most men at some stage in their lives; the condition is sometimes called androgenetic alopecia.. It is mostly the result of a genetic event that causes dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a male hormone, to cause the hair follicles to atrophy. The hair produced becomes progressively smaller, until it is practically invisible or may even disappear completely. It usually takes 15-25 years for people to go bald, however, some men go bald in less than five years.
Usually, the hair begins to recede at the front to start off with and at the same time, it usually becomes thin on the top(crown) of the head. A bald patch gradually develops in the middle of the scalp and the receding front, until the bald patch on the top eventually enlarges and joins together.
A rim of hair is frequently left around the back and sides of the scalp. In some men, this rim of hair also thins and goes on to leave a completely bald scalp.
Who gets male pattern baldness?
Nearly all men have some baldness by the time they are in their 60s. However, the age the hair loss starts varies. About three in ten 30 year-olds, and half of 50 year-olds are fairly bald. Some women also develop a similar type of hair loss, mainly at the crown. Baldness in women is much more common after the menopause- about 13 in a 100 women have some baldness prior to the menopause, increasing to 75 in a 100 above age 65.
What causes male pattern baldness?
Hair grows about an inch every couple of months. Each hair grows for 2 to 6 years, remains at that length for a short period, then falls out. A new hair soon begins growing in its place. At any one time, about 85% of the hair on your head is in the growing phase and 15% is not.
Each hair sits in a cavity in the skin called a follicle. Baldness in men occurs when the follicle shrinks over time, resulting in shorter and finer hair. The end result is a very small follicle with no hair inside.
The following usually happens to men as they slowly become bald:
- Affected hair follicles on the scalp gradually become smaller than normal.
- Each new hair becomes thinner than the previous one, as the follicle shrinks.
- Each new hair grows for much less time than the normal three years, before falling out.
- All that stays eventually is a much smaller hair follicle and a thin stump of hair that does not grow out to the skin surface.
Ordinarily, hair should grow back. However, in men who are balding, the follicle fails to grow a new hair. It is not well understood why this occurs, but it is related to your genes and male sex hormones.
Symptoms
The typical pattern of male baldness begins at the hairline. The hairline gradually recedes to form an "M" shape. The existing hair may become finer and shorter. The hair at the crown also begins to thin. Eventually the top of the hairline meets the thinned crown, leaving a horseshoe pattern of hair around the sides of the head.
Hair loss in patches, diffuse shedding of hair, breaking of hair shafts, or hair loss associated with redness, scaling, pain, or rapid progression could be caused by other conditions.
Usually, the hair begins to recede at the front to start off with and at the same time, it usually becomes thin on the top(crown) of the head. A bald patch gradually develops in the middle of the scalp and the receding front, until the bald patch on the top eventually enlarges and joins together.
A rim of hair is frequently left around the back and sides of the scalp. In some men, this rim of hair also thins and goes on to leave a completely bald scalp.
Are there any complications from male pattern baldness?
Although male pattern baldness is a common and harmless condition, it can be linked to heart disease. One study compared 45 year old men who had baldness with men of the same age who had a full head of hair. The study found that men who had frontal hair loss at the crown were at a slightly increased risk of heart disease (an extra nine for every 100 men with a full head of hair) whilst those who had severe hair loss at the crown had a significant risk of heart disease (an extra 32 for every 100 men with a full head of hair).
The risk for men with hair loss at the crown is further increased if they have high cholesterol or a raised blood pressure.
Women with male pattern baldness should be checked for causes of raised male hormone levels, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (a condition in which cysts develop in the ovaries).