Baldness

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Male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia) is the most common way that men lose their hair. It
accounts for 95 percent of all hair loss in men. "Androgenic" refers to an "androgen"--a steroid
hormone, such as testosterone, that influences the development of masculine characteristics.
"Alopecia" means hair loss. Male pattern baldness is hair loss caused by hormonal activity in
men who may be genetically predisposed for the condition. The important thing to remember is
that balding does not affect your physical well being. However, if it starts affecting the way you
look at and feel about yourself, you may need to consult your healthcare provider.

Balding can begin at any time after puberty and affects people in different ways. Men who begin
balding at an early age are more likely to lose more hair. Caucasian males are the most likely to
go bald--some estimates are as high as 80 percent-while Chinese males are approximately half
as likely to develop a balding pattern. The specific pattern of balding can also vary from person
to person. "Classic balding" is where the hairline creeps up toward the top of the head, but there
are other patterns as well. For example, some men lose hair only on the top of their head while
others may only keep the hair on the sides of their head.

Hair follicles produce two types of hair: vellus and terminal. Vellus hair is the soft fuzz that covers
most of your body. Terminal hair is scalp hair--the hair you brush and comb every day.

At any given time, you are in the process of shedding about 10,000 of the 100,000 or so scalp
hairs you began the day with. Hair itself lives for about five years before it is shed, and a
replacement hair normally takes its place within six months. The difference between men with
pattern balding and those who keep their hair is that balding men don't always get a replacement
hair for the ones that are shed.

Testosterone, Hair Follicles, and 5-alpha reductase. Male pattern baldness depends on the
presence of male hormones. Levels of these hormones are high in males after puberty. The most
well known male hormone is testosterone. Testosterone can be converted into a more potent
hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme found in skin cells
and hair follicles. Men with male pattern baldness have high levels of DHT in their skin. When
this hormone binds to a hormone receptor on the hair follicle, it slows down hair production. The
follicles also produce weaker, shorter hair and may stop making scalp hair altogether. All that is
left may be vellus hair--the soft fuzz that covers most of your body.

In short, male pattern balding depends primarily on DHT and 5-alpha reductase levels and their
binding effect on hair follicles.

Male pattern baldness does not affect all hair at the same time; some hair is more "androgen
sensitive" than others. For instance, you are more likely to lose the hair on the sides of your head
than on the top of your head. Over the counter treatments such as Rogaine and Nioxin have
proven effective for some people. Order these from the privacy of your home... Just click on
the link below for the latest low prices and product information: