Men's Hair Loss Causes and Baldness
Understanding the cause of men's hair loss
may better indicate exactly why it presently has
no cure.
The
most common cause of hair loss in men, is male
pattern baldness representing almost 95% of all
hair loss in men. Men who have this type of hair
loss usually have inherited it as part of their
genetic makeup.
 ANDROGENETIC
ALOPECIA - the modem medical term for male
pattern hair loss - can be broken down in two
parts.
First, Androgenetic, consisting of ANDROGEN (Any
of the various hormones that control the
appearance and development of masculine
characteristics such as testosterone). And
GENETIC--the inheritance of genes from either
the mother or the father's side of the family.
Add AGE, which when coupled with genetics,
represents a time clock that will signal the
hair follicle to produce an enzyme named 5 alpha
reductase. When the testosterone present in the
follicle combines with the enzyme 5 alpha
reductase, it produces dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Second, ALOPECIA meaning hair loss, of which
there are many types.
Put
simply, scientists are working against aging,
hormones and genetics. This is no easy task. Add
the fact that male or female pattern hair loss
is not life threatening, and it is easy to see
why many physicians do not view hair loss as a
priority in scientific research.
What is working for you in terms of research is
that large pharmaceutical firms now know that a
cure for hair loss could mean a fortune in
revenue for their companies and stockholders.
Although we may not see a cure in our lifetime,
it is possible. Science is closer to
understanding hair loss due to many recent
advancements. To say the cure is around the
corner would only be speculation but hope
certainly is alive.
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Causes of Hair Loss in Men
Alopecia areata: Generally
thought to be an autoimmune disorder.
Causes "patchy" hair loss, often in
small circular areas in different areas
of the scalp.
Alopecia Areata information.
Alopecia totalis: Total hair loss
of the scalp, (an advanced form of
alopecia areata).
Alopecia universalis: Hair loss
of the entire body, (also an advanced
form of alopecia areata).
Traction alopecia: Hair loss
caused by physical stress and tension on
the hair such as prolonged use of hair
weaving, corn rows etc.
Telogen effiuvium: Hair loss
Caused by Physical stress, emotional
stress, thyroid abnormalities,
medications and hormonal causes normally
associated with females. |
Anagen effiuvium: Generally due to
internally administered medications, such as
chemotherapy agents, that poison the growing
hair follicle.
Trichotillomania (TTM), or "trich" as it is
commonly known, is an impulse control disorder
characterized by the repeated urge to pull out
scalp hair, eyelashes, facial hair, nose hair,
eyebrows or other body hair, often resulting in
noticeable bald patches.
Chemotherapy: One of the most common side
effects of chemotherapy treatment is hair loss.
Chemotherapy hair loss may occur on the scalp,
face, underarms, and other places on the body.
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