The androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness is responsible for the vast majority of hair loss in men. While there are many possible reasons why people lose hair including serious disease, reaction to certain drugs and in rare cases to stressful events, most men suffer hair loss because of genetic inheritance. The are usually inherited hair follicles with a genetic sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Hair follicles that are sensitive to DHT begin to miniaturize and make thinner, shortening the lifespan of each hair follicle affected. Eventually, these affected follicles stop producing hair.
Male pattern baldness is usually characterized with the beginning of a retreat and thinning of hair on the crown. The hair in these areas and mid-anterior scalp appear to be most sensitive to DHT. This pattern over time progresses to the entire scalp from the top, leaving only a rim or “horseshoe” of hair. A closer look at the DHT dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a derivative or by-product of testosterone. Testosterone converts to DHT with the aid of the enzyme Type II 5-alpha-reductase, found in the oil glands in the hair follicle. While the entire genetic process of male pattern baldness is not fully understood, scientists know that DHT shrinks hair follicles, and that when DHT is suppressed, hair follicles better. Hair follicles that are sensitive to DHT must be exposed to the hormone for a prolonged period of time for the affected follicle process suffers from thinning hair. Today, with proper intervention, this process may be delayed or halted, if treated in time.
Diagnosis
The typical male pattern baldness is usually diagnosed based on appearance and pattern of hair loss, along with a detailed medical history, including questions about the prevalence of hair loss in your family. An experienced dermatologist should examine the scalp under magnification (preferably with a device called a densitometer) in order to assess the degree of miniaturization of hair follicles. This assessment is very important to recommend the proper course of treatment.
