Are You Suffering From Male Hair Loss?
Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common cause of baldness and is described as Male Pattern Baldness (MPB).
MPB affects all men as they get older to some degree. This process can start as early as the late teens. By the age of 50, about half of all men have some degree of hair loss. For some, this process is of no concern. For others, this process impacts their self-esteem and causes significant emotional distress.
Prompt diagnosis and treatment is essential in order to obtain an optimal treatment outcome as the longer the condition is allowed to progress, the harder it becomes to treat.
Pattern balding or thinning refers to the inherited pattern of hair loss genetically passed down from either side of the family. It is caused when hair follicles are oversensitive to the male hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This causes the hair to become thinner and shorter.
The reason men go bald is due to the chemical makeup of their hair. The hair on top of the scalp has higher levels of the enzyme 5 alpha reductase (5AR) that causes an increase in the naturally occurring hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT miniaturises the hair over time, gradually, in many cases until none is left and the head becomes shiny bald (the most severe cases).
The hair at the back of the scalp (known as ‘permanent hair’) naturally has lower levels of DHT so this hair does not commonly fall out.
MPB may skip a family member or even a generation and starts sometime after puberty.
There is no cure for male pattern baldness, but pharmacological treatments may slow down the process. Our doctors may prescribe a non-surgical treatment or lotion. Other treatments include wearing wigs, laser Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP), plasma injections, LaserCap therapy, or a range of other non-invasive treatments.
For some men, these are not “solutions” and will seek a more permanent treatment alternative, such as hair transplant surgery to address their baldness.
Get in touch with our friendly team to get started.