Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss affecting primarily men and is most commonly known as male pattern hair loss. It is estimated that it is responsible for up to 95% of all baldness cases. Every third man between 25 and 40 has problems with hair loss. It is also often called male pattern baldness because it affects men more often than women and results from the activity of male hormones. Alopecia symptoms may appear after the age of 20, in which case we are dealing with a severe form of baldness. Usually, symptoms increase proportionally with age, and may not appear until after 40 years of age. In most cases, the underlying disease is genetic. What are the causes of androgenetic alopecia in men and what are the symptoms? Find out what are the most effective treatments for male pattern hair loss.

Causes

The direct cause of male pattern hair loss is the hypersensitivity of the hair follicles in some areas of the head to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) – a chemical compound that is a derivative of testosterone. Dihydrotestosterone, which is produced under the influence of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, affects the androgen receptors of hair follicles, which leads to their gradual disappearance, delaying the production of healthy hair, production of increasingly thinner and shorter hair, and finally to complete inhibition of this process. Patients who have been diagnosed with a higher level of DHT in the scalp usually experience a shortening of the hair development phase.

Symptoms


In the case of male pattern hair loss, the hair falls out in a very characteristic way. At first, hair loss occurs around the forehead and temples, forming bends, and on top of the head. Over time, however, only the perimeter of a completely bald head can remain hairy. Male pattern hair loss can also be accompanied by oily scalp, which is associated with excessive secretion of sebum or too much tension in the scalp muscles. Research states that male pattern hair loss occurs in men most often between the ages of 20 and 40. For men who develop male pattern baldness before the age of 36, there is a greater risk of coronary heart disease. However, the first signs of male pattern hair loss may appear as early as teenage years.

Treatment

Treatment of male pattern hair loss initially involves diagnostics, during which the doctor makes a careful observation of the scalp, performs a pull test or orders a conclusive biopsy. Sometimes it is necessary to conduct supplementary tests in the form of a trichogram or trichoscopy. After full diagnosis and examination, the doctor may suggest the patient and introduce topical treatment (minoxidil) or general treatment (finasteride) which you can purchase here. For commonly used hair loss treatment you should also use estradiol (a medicine containing this hormone), as well as special nutritional supplementation. Aesthetic medicine specialists are increasingly proposing to their patients the use of effective alternative methods of baldness treatment, which may include: needle mesotherapy, carboxytherapy and LED light therapy. Very often, the only way to restore hair to its former condition is hair transplantation.

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