The most common form of hair loss for both men and women is androgenic alopecia and in men, this is known as male pattern baldness (MPB). This condition can affect up to 70% of men at some stage of their lifetimes, however, for some men it can begin early in life - in their late teens or early twenties.
As boys reach puberty, their levels of testosterone increase and this includes a testosterone derivative called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Some men are more sensitive to DHT and this results in the growth phase (anagen) of the hair lifecycle to shorten and the resting phase (telogen) to become longer. The hair follicles shrink which causes the hair to become thinner and eventually unable to grow at all. This process is known as follicular miniaturisation.
One of the causes of male pattern baldness is that of genetics, or having a family history of hair loss. Research has found that there is a correlation between the condition and male sex hormones called androgens. Androgens have several functions in the human body, including the regulation of healthy hair growth. Inherited male pattern baldness usually offers no side-effects, apart from potential emotional wellbeing. However, sometimes baldness is a sign of more serious causes, such as certain illnesses, medications and conditions. It is important to consult a doctor if you experience hair loss after taking certain medications or experiencing health problems or if you see redness, a rash, experience discomfort or pain, peeling of the skin on the scalp, hair breakage, patchy hair loss or hair loss in a short space of time.
In cases where the patient would like to treat MPB, it may be possible to restore hair from miniaturising hair follicles as they can remain alive for some years, which means that certain non-surgical treatments can slow and in some cases, even reverse the effects of hair loss, if treated early. However, once the follicles become dormant, the hair will not grow back naturally, meaning that more advanced, surgical procedures will be necessary to restore hair to the scalp.
At Your Hair Doc, Dr. Munir Somji, one of the worlds' leading hair transplant surgeons can discuss with you, your hair loss condition and develop a unique treatment plan to bring you the very best possible results for your individual concern.
For more information about the wide-range of surgical and non-surgical options available at Your Hair Doc, and to book a no obligation consultation with Dr Somji, speak with one of our friendly and knowledgeable team on 0208 418 0362.
