Hair Loss Facts:
- 40 percent of all women and half of all men will experience hair
loss in their lifetimes.
- The most common causes of hair loss are genetically related.
- Everyday shampooing, combing and blow-drying does not speed up
hair loss.
- Experts say that people with certain nutritional deficiencies
can sometimes experience hair loss.
BPH
Androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness (MPB) is responsible
for the vast majority of hair loss in men. While there are many
possible reasons people lose hair, including serious diseases, reaction
to certain medications, and, in rare cases, extremely stressful
events, most hair loss in men can be blamed on heredity.
What male pattern baldness sufferers inherit are hair follicles
with a genetic sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Hair follicles
sensitive to DHT begin to miniaturize, shortening the lifespan of
each hair follicle affected. Eventually, these affected follicles
stop producing cosmetically acceptable hair.
Male pattern baldness is generally characterized with the onset
of a receding hairline and thinning crown. Hair in these areas including
the temples and mid-anterior scalp appear to be the most sensitive
to DHT. This pattern eventually progresses into more apparent baldness
throughout the entire top of the scalp, leaving only a rim or "horseshoe"
pattern of hair remaining in the more advanced stages of MPB. For
some men, even this remaining rim of hair can be affected by DHT.
What Is DHT?
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a derivative or by-product of testosterone.
Testosterone converts to DHT with the aid of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase.
While the entire genetic process of MPB is not completely understood,
scientists do know that DHT shrinks hair follicles, and that when
DHT is suppressed, hair follicles continue to thrive.
Hair follicles that are sensitive to DHT must be exposed to the
hormone for a prolonged period of time for the affected follicle
to complete the miniaturization process. Today, with proper intervention,
this process can be slowed or even stopped if caught early enough.
What male pattern baldness sufferers inherit are hair follicles
with a genetic sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Dihydrotestosterone
(DHT) is a derivative or by-product of testosterone
|
