How to Treat Male Pattern Hair Loss

Male pattern baldness (also known as androgenic alopecia) is estimated to affect about 50 million men in the United States. It starts with hair loss above the temples generating the typical M shape. Over time, the loss of hair continues around the top of the head and sometimes claims the hair on the sides and rear of the head as well, leading to complete baldness. If you experience male pattern baldness and do not feel comfortable with your appearance, there are certain treatment options available

Method 1 of 3: Exploring Treatment Options

 

1

Understand how male pattern baldness works. Although androgenic alopecia is linked with the presence of male sex hormones (androgens), its exact cause is unknown.^[2]

• Male pattern baldness is caused by genetic predisposition and the main androgen believed to be associated with baldness is dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
• Increased level of DHT in hair follicles is believed to shorten the hair's growth cycle and delay growth of new hair.
• Over time, the hair follicles stop growing new hair; however, the follicles remain alive, suggesting that they may still be able to grow new hair

2 Try Minoxidil (Rogaine). Minoxidil is an FDA approved topical treatment to treat male pattern baldness. It is a solution that stimulates the hair follicles to grow and is applied directly onto your scalp.

• Minoxidil slows hair loss and some men experience growth of new hair. However, hair loss usually returns if the medication is stopped.
• Adverse events associated with Minoxidil include itching, skin rash, acne, burning, inflammation, and swellin^g
• Serious side effects that may indicate too much of the medication has absorbed to your body include blurred vision, chest pain, dizziness, fainting and irregular heartbeat 

 

3 Ask your doctor if you should take finasteride. Finasteride (marketed under Propecia and Proscar) is an oral prescription pill and somewhat more effective than minoxidil. It works by binding to the enzyme that would otherwise convert free testosterone to DHT.

• Finasteride slows hair loss as long as you take it. However, as soon as you discontinue therapy, hair loss typically returns within a year.
• Side effects associated with finasteride include chills, cold sweats, confusion, dizziness, hives, swelling in the legs, arms and face, tingling and weight gain

4 Get a hair transplant. During a hair transplant, tiny patches of hair are moved from one part of your scalp to the balding area. Hair transplants are usually done during several sessions and although they can be expensive, the results are effective and permanent.

• Before the procedure, you will receive local anesthesia to numb the scalp.
• During the procedure, a small section of a hairy scalp is removed (donor area) and the remaining skin is stitched together. Then, small groups of hair are carefully separated out from the donor area and inserted into the bald area.
• Thousands of hairs may be transplanted during one session
• Hair transplants can cause scarring and bleeding, and there is a risk of infection
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Method 2 of 3: Improving Your Hair Health

1  Eat hair-loss fighting power foods. Nutritional imbalances are often the cause for hair loss. Poor diet can lead to macronutrient (proteins, fats, carbohydrates) and micronutrient (vitamins and minerals) deficiencies which in turn can make your body unhealthy and cause hair loss. To support the health of your hair and your overall well-being, add some or all of the foods listed below to your diet:

• Eat red, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables (such as carrots, sweet potatoes, peppers, and cantaloupe) that are packed with vitamin A or beta carotene. Some research suggests that vitamin A promotes the growth and health of cells, including hair follicles^]
• Promote healthy hair by eating fatty fish (such as salmon and sardines) that are packed with omega-3 fatty acids.
• Eat yogurt and other vitamin B5-rich foods that may increase blood flow to your scalp and consequently, promote hair growth.^]
• Make a salad with spinach that is packed with vitamin A, iron, folate, and vitamin C. This vitamin and mineral cocktail helps support healthy scalp and hair.
• Make sure you get enough protein by eating lean meat (such as chicken or turkey), low-fat dairy products, and protein-rich vegetables (such as beans). Hair is made of a protein molecule called keratin and thus, proper dietary protein is needed to nourish hair.^]
• Eat foods that contain vitamin B7 (also known as biotin), which may help promote hair grow. Foods to eat include eggs, fortified cereals, milk products and chicken.
• Eat zinc-rich foods, such as oysters, lobster and fortified cereals. Zinc deficiency can cause hair loss which is why you should ensure you are getting enough of this mineral from your daily diet

2

Drink lots of water. If your body isn't hydrated, your skin and hair cells won't be able to grow and flourish. To keep your hair healthy and growing, drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.

• Aim to get at least 8 cups of water a day and more during exercise or hot weather.
• Caffeinated drinks (such as coffee, tea, and sodas) are dehydrating and thus, drinking these can actually cause water imbalance. Try to stick to water and unsweetened teas and juices and limit your caffeine consumption to 1-2 drinks a day.

3 Eliminate stress in your life. Although androgenic alopecia is not reported to be stress related, stress can cause hair loss. In order to keep your hair healthy, avoid factors that trigger stress in your life. Three types of stress-related hair loss conditions are recognized:

• Telogen effluvium is a condition in which stress forces a large number of hair follicles to go into a resting phase and fall out within months.
• Trichotillomania is a stress-induced condition in which you have an irresistible urge to pull out hair and is often triggered by stress but can also result from tension, loneliness, boredom or frustration.
• Alopecia areata is a condition caused by the body's immune system attacking hair follicles, which results in hair loss.^[
• Unlike male pattern baldness, stress-induced hair loss is not necessarily permanent. If you control the stress, your hair might grow back

  4 Get a physical exam. Some health conditions and diseases can cause hair loss that is not related to male pattern baldness. If you are losing hair, visit your doctor who can diagnose the cause of hair loss and rule out any underlying conditions

• Hormonal imbalances and changes (such as during pregnancy, after childbirth or during menopause) and thyroid conditions can cause temporary hair loss.
• Scalp infections, such as those caused by ringworm, can invade the hair and cause scaly patches and hair loss. Hair generally grows back when the infection is treated.
• Other disorders, such as lichen planus and some types of lupus and sarcoidosis, may result in permanent loss.

Method 3 of 3: Using Natural Remedies

1 Try onion juice. Although more scientific studies are needed, onion juice may promote hair growth in patients who suffer from alopecia areata. According to a small study of 23 participants, applying crude onion juice to the scalp twice a day promoted hair regrowth within six weeks in 20 participants.

• Although this study was done in patient with alopecia areata, you may want to give it a try if you suffer from androgenic alopecia.
• Extract onion juice by grating an onion and then straining the juice.
• Apply onion juice to your scalp twice a day for 30 min, then wash off. Try this for at least 6 weeks to see if this natural method will help your hair loss.

 

2 Try scalp massage. Massaging your scalp will increase blood flow to the hair follicles, which can promote scalp health and strengthen your hair’s roots. However, this method has not been scientifically proven to reduce or prevent hair loss and you should try it with that in mind.

• Use coconut or almond hair oil, or other oils such as olive, castor, or amla (Indian gooseberry) oil. Optionally, you can add a few drops of rosemary oil to make a mixture.
• Apply the oil by lightly massaging it into your hair and scalp. Repeat at least once a week.

3 Try fenugreek seed paste. Fenugreek (also called methi) seeds contain ingredients that may stimulate hair growth and enhance rebuilding of hair follicles.^[31]

• Mix one cup of fenugreek seeds and water. Let it soak overnight.
• Grind the mixture and make a paste that you then can apply to your hair.
• Cover with a plastic bag or shower cap and let it sit for about 40 minutes. Rinse your hair and repeat every morning for a month.
• However, as with the other natural therapies for hair loss, this method has not been scientifically proven to reduce or prevent hair loss and it might not work for you.

4  Try other home remedies. There are numerous other home or natural remedies you can try. However, keep in mind that these are not scientifically proven methods and might not work. Always consult your doctor if you have doubts about a home remedy.

• Try aloe vera gel, which may help optimize your scalps pH and promote healthy hair growth. Massage aloe vera gel to the scalp and leave it on for an hour. Wash off and repeat three to four times a week.
• Try licorice root paste, which has properties that may help soothe the scalp and help reduce irritation. Mix ground licorice root (1 tablespoon), saffron (quarter teaspoon) and a cup of milk. Apply the mixture on bald areas, cover and leave it on overnight. Rinse off in the morning and repeat once or twice a week.
• Try Chinese hibiscus flower that may help promote hair growth, cure dandruff, and thicken hair. Mix flowers with coconut oil, heat until charred and strain to collect the oil. Apply to the scalp at bedtime and leave it on for overnight. In the morning, wash your hair and repeat a few times a week.
• Other remedies you can also try include beetroot, flaxseeds or coconut milk

crdt:http://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Male-Pattern-Hair-Loss

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4 Honey Treatments for Dry and Damaged Hair

Hair is pretty incredible. Although technically dead when it is outside of your scalp, it can still be “healthy” or damaged. Today we put so many products into our hair, apply high levels of heat to it, just to sculpt it a certain way, achieve a certain look, without second thought about what we’re actually doing. In my opinion, beautiful hair is healthy hair and healthy hair is not the product of what you find on the shelves in stores, but rather in your own kitchen.

Why Honey (and the other stuff)?

If you have dry or damaged hair, honey can help. A natural humectant, honey attracts moisture. It’s also full of antioxidants and nutrients to feed hair follicles that house the live part of hair, encouraging hair growth. That being said, it also needs a medium to help spread it around, otherwise you can end up with just a sticky mess, so the recipes include other natural ingredients that help you restore dry hair to a health and luster, from the scalp up

1. Just Honey

This recipe contains just honey and water, nothing extra added or needed!

You will need…

-1/4 cup of organic raw honey
-Fresh water

Directions

Mix ¼ cup of organic raw honey with just enough fresh water to thin it out to the point where you can spread it around your hair (add it tablespoon by tablespoon.) Obviously this depends on how much hair you have-you can up the amount of honey if you need to. When you’re ready, apply as you would shampoo to damp hair and let it sit for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

2. Honey and Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is added here as it leaves hair with lovely shine and acts a natural conditioner.

You will need…

-1/4 cup of organic raw honey
-10 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

Directions

Mix together honey and ACV. Apply as you would shampoo to damp hair, and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse out with warm water.

3. Honey and Olive Oil

Olive oil can create a big difference in moisture after just a few uses, and promotes a healthy scalp and hair roots. It also helps smooth and coat dry and damaged hair shafts.

You will need…

-1/2 cup of honey
-1/4 cup of olive oil

Directions

Mix together ½ cup of honey and ¼ cup of olive oil, warming the mixture slightly if you need to. Apply to hair as needed.

4. Honey and Coconut Oil

Coconut oil, like olive oil, helps moisturize hair and hair roots. It seems to add a little bit more shine (in my opinion) and is a little lighter as well. It’s packed full of nutrients that make it an automatic go to ingredient in hair treatments.

You will need….

-1/4 cup of honey
-3 tablespoons of warmed coconut oil

Directions

Combine coconut oil and honey and blend thoroughly. Work into damp hair as you would shampoo. Let sit for 10 minutes, and then rinse with warm water.

Much of what you see in stores is just different ratios of basically the same stuff with different fragrances. With honey , you know what you’re getting every time, and personally, I love the results. I like to think of my hair as fairly healthy overall, but with the dry winter months coming up, a little extra moisture and conditioning is always wanted.

Tips

-Stick to raw organic honey. If you have to warm it a little bit that’s fine, but the ultra-pasteurized clear stuff you buy at the supermarket really doesn’t have many benefits.
-Try adding some honey to your regular shampoo or conditioner if you don’t feel like making up a separate treatment.
-Avoid harsh products and heat treatment (like straightening your hair every day.) Natural is beautiful!
-Be aware of the type of hair that you have. Applying olive oil and honey to limp, thin, hair that is prone to getting oily will probably just make it greasier and heavier.
-There’s no need to use these treatments every day. Once or twice a week should be sufficient.
-Be patient. Applying honey to damaged and dry hair is not going restore it to perfect condition right away.

P.S. Take a look at the Everyday Roots Book. It's a Book that we created to help you replace the toxic products and medications in your home with healthier, all-natural alternatives. It contains 215+ effective home remedies and covers everything you will need to protect your family and save money every month.

crdt:http://everydayroots.com/honey-hair-treatment

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What other options do people have for hair loss?

There are many options and alternative cosmetic treatments for hair loss. Some of these are listed here and include hair-fiber powders, hairpieces, synthetic wigs, human hair wigs, hair extensions, hair weaves, laser, and surgery.

Hair-fiber powders: Colored, powdery fiber sprinkles are commercially available and may work to camouflage balding areas. These colored sprinkles have special properties that help them attach to hair and give a fuller appearance. Toppik is one manufacturer of these products and can be found online. These cosmetic products are available without a prescription, are fairly inexpensive ($20-$40 range), and quite safe with minimal risk. Often these may be used in addition to medical treatments like Rogaine, Propecia, and hair transplants, and they are a great temporary measure to tide one over for special occasions.

Hairpieces: Among the time-honored ways to add hair temporarily are hairpieces or hair weaving, in which a mesh is attached to the remaining hair and artificial or human hair of similar color and texture is woven with existing hair. Quality varies considerably with price; also, hairpieces and weaves may stretch, oxidize, and loosen.

Surgery or hair transplants: Surgical hair restoration approaches include various versions of hair transplantation (taking hair from the back and putting it near the front) or scalp reduction (cutting away bald areas and stitching the rest together). Transplant procedures have improved greatly in recent years. They can produce much more attractive and natural-looking results than older methods that sometimes leave a "checkerboard" or hair plug look. Many transplant patients now take Propecia to maintain or keep what they've transplanted. When considering a hair transplant, check the surgeon's credentials and experience carefully. Micrografts are some of the newest techniques whereby surgeons transplant single one to two hair follicles. Hair transplants may be very expensive and time-consuming procedures ranging widely anywhere from $1,000-$20,000, depending on the number of hair grafts transplanted. Typically, 500 or more hairs may be transplanted in a session

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All Natural Hair Treatments

Spring is here and its #time to get winter off those locks with some all natural hair treatments. Dry, cold air can do a number on your hair. Thank goodness that good ol’ vitamin D is back - now we can get our tresses shiny and ready for all those fantastic spring hair trends. Stick to this list for some price savvy all natural hair treatments to get your hair in top shape! 

1. Egg

 Eggs are great for more than your nutrition. These goodies are filled with healthy fats and proteins perfect for all natural hair treatments. If you have hair that is prone to oil, use only the #egg whites; hair that is dry should go for the egg yolks. Mix about 1/2 a cup of whichever part of the egg fits your needs and slather it on unwashed, damp hair. Here is the kicker: to get the full effect, the egg must stay on for twenty minutes. Once you have handled your (literal) egg head for twenty minutes, rinse with cool water and clean your #hair as usual. 

2. Baking Soda

 

 

 #Everything from hairspray to shampoo can leave unwanted residue behind. If your hair gets weighed down easily or never feels clean, try a baking soda rinse to get rid of that extra residue. Mix two tablespoons #baking soda with about a half cup of water, then massage the mixture into the hair from the scalp to ends. Let this mixture set for about fifteen minutes, then rinse and wash as usual. This treatment can be applied twice a month, or whenever #hair is needing some extra cleaning.  

3. Olive Oil and Lemon

 If you ever get an itchy scalp, this hair remedy may become your new #best friend. Scalps can itch for many reasons, including an allergic reaction to #hair care products, stress, and dry weather. This olive oil and lemon mixture will reduce flaking and add some extra moisture for dry #skin. Combine two tablespoons of lemon juice (fresh is best), olive oil, and water, then massage onto your scalp. Let the mixture set for about twenty minutes, then rinse and wash as usual. The lemon will help exfoliate your scalp while the olive oil moisturizes. 

4. Coconut Butter

 Coconut butter is fantastic for your body’s nutrition, and for your hair’s health. Like eggs, coconut butter is high in proteins and fatty acids, but it also reduces UV damage on your #skin and hair. Massage about one tablespoon of room temperature coconut butter in your hands until it is malleable, then apply to hair just like you would a leave-in #conditioner. This is great to do before or after a day at the beach and will leave #hair smelling super yummy!

 

5. Flour

 Flour is great for those days when your #hairstyle looks great but your roots are a bit greasy. Either use a dry sponge or your fingers to apply about one tablespoon or less of flour onto the roots of your hair, focusing on the areas where it is most oily. Let the flour sit for about three to five minutes, then brush through #hair with fingers or a comb to get out any remaining flour. This flour method can be used for multiple days in a row to reduce oil and unwanted shine

6. Avocado

 Avocados have a protein to fatty acid ratio that does wonders for frizzy hair. Mash half an avocado in a bowl and apply to washed #hair that has been towel dried. Let sit for fifteen minutes, then rinse and style. If avocados are not available, try about 1/4 cup of mayonnaise instead. Mayo does not have all the proteins and nutrients as #avocado, but will help moisturize hair. 

7. Yogurt

 Plain yogurt, high in probiotics, will help condition hair and increase hair growth. For a great conditioning treatment that will also remove residue, blend 1/2 cup of yogurt until smooth and apply to hair. Wrap #hair in a towel and wash after fifteen minutes. Add one egg to the mixture and reduce the wait #time to ten minutes for some extra frizz reduction

8. Beer Rinse

 

 Beer is something that a lot of #people don't think about when they are looking at all natural hair treatments. Just a #little bit of beer rinsing through your hair can go a really long way! It will tame the #frizz and it will bring all of the luster out of your hair! Trust me on this one. 

9. Honey

 After you've shampooed, give a try to putting a bit of honey on your hair, leaving it there and then rinsing it out before you condition. Your #hair will feel softer, be super shiny and look amazing! 

10. Cold Water

 Did you know that simply changing up the temperature of your water while you are rinsing can actually make your hair #look beautiful? Hot water opens up the pores of your hair, while cold water closes them and keeps your #hair shiny and soft! 

11. Coconut Oil

 With everything out there today about #coconut oil, you better believe that it is a fantastic all-natural hair treatment! Now, you want to melt down the oil, wait until it cools and then put it on your #hair, that way you'll get the fullness of it

12. Vodka

 

 The thing about this particular rinse is that you might want to drink it! Vodka is something that should be put on right after your shampoo and condition! Just one shot and you'll see how shiny your #hair is

13. Vinegar Rinse

 Finally, I know that this one is going to smell, but it works! Vinegar is something that will wash away any build up that you have and it will leave your hair #beautiful! All you do is rinse your hair in vinegar after you shampoo and condition. Also, let your hair air dry!

Salon hair treatments can cost upwards of $200 per treatment. These natural options may seem funny, but they will do wonders for your hair’s health and keep some extra #money in your hands. What are some of the craziest #hair treatments you have tried?



crdt:: http://hair.allwomenstalk.com/all-natural-hair-treatments/13/

 

 

 

 

 

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How to Make Your Hair Grow Faster

Impatient with how slow your hair is growing? Get some tips on how to make your hair grow faster.

 

 

Can I make my hair grow faster?

Realistically, no. But here are three hair-helper tips that certainly can help your hair grow faster.

1. Dry Scalp Massage: Give yourself at-home scalp massages, says L.A. stylist Philip B. They stimulate the blood flow to your scalp, which helps nutrients get to your hair follicles more quickly.

2. Wet Hair Massage: While washing your hair, massage the scalp with your fingertips, starting at the back of the neck and moving around the hairline.

3. Vitamin 101: UCLA dermatologist Harold Lancer also suggests taking an over-the-counter vitamin every day that contains

  antioxidant blends and vitamin B derivatives to help increase hair strength. Dr. Lancer recommends the brand Marlan, available at most major drug stores

 

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Why Hair Loss Is More Common In Men, And What You Can Do About It

Men experience hair loss at nearly twice the rate as women, but why?

Ask most women how they feel about their hair and they’ll most likely tell you about how important it is to them — it is, after all, a reflection of their identity. Men may not say it as often, or care as much about long, silky curls, but their hair is just as much a reflection of their identity too. So losing it can be devastating. So devastating that 62 percent of men involved in a 2005 European study said hair loss would affect their self-esteem, with the biggest concern being they’d lose whatever attractiveness they had. Unfortunately, hair loss, and eventual baldness, is far more common in men than women. But why?

Both men and women can experience hair loss, the most common of which is called male or female pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia. Hair loss is much different than hair shedding (telogen effluvium) too, which can occur in just about everyone at some point or another when the body goes through something traumatic, such as a stressful event. Eventually the hair will grow back, though. With hair loss, this isn’t the case; it’s permanent, affecting as many as 70 percent of men and 40 percent of women in their lifetimes. For this reason, we’ll focus on androgenetic alopecia 

You may have gotten some idea of the cause from its name. Though there are a variety of environmental factors that may also play into a person’s risk, androgenetic alopecia is widely believed to be a genetically inherited condition as it “tends to cluster in families,” according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Specifically, variations in the so-called AR gene may increase activity of androgen receptors in the hair follicles, which respond to androgens like dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a byproduct of testosterone. DHT shrinks hair follicles though, making it difficult for healthy hair to live. And because it’s constantly being made in testosterone-filled men, it’s far more likely to affect them than women 

Because all of our hormones are raging during puberty, androgenetic alopecia can begin as early as a person’s teens, and risk increases with age. By age 35, approximately two-thirds of men will have lost at least a little hair, and by 50, about 85 percent have said goodbye or experienced hair thinning, according to the American Hair Loss Association. In women, the condition can also develop early but usually occurs after menopause — this effect isn’t caused by higher testosterone levels, but rather a sharp drop in other hormone levels. And while men typically lose their hair in a defined pattern — think a widow’s peak and a bald crown — women lose hair and experience thinning all over, although they never fully go bald 

Though it may seem like there’s no stopping hair loss — because there really isn’t — there are ways to prevent it or slow it down. Here are four: 

·Avoid inflaming the hair follicles. While cornrows and other hairstyles that pull the hair tight may look good, they can inflame and scar the hair follicles, which ultimately kills healthy hair. In people predisposed to androgenetic alopecia, these types of hairstyles are especially risky. Incorrectly applying chemicals to the hair, such as dyes, bleaches, and straighteners can also cause damage. 

Get some FDA-approved medications. You’ve probably heard of Rogaine (minoxidil) before. While some people may not believe it works, the drug can certainly prevent hair loss, and sometimes restore hair growth too — most people just don’t know how to use it. The trick, according to Men’s Health, is to use it at least twice a day for six months. Some people may shed hair initially, but eventually it will work. Propecia, a prescription drug, blocks testosterone from turning into DHT, thus preventing hair loss. 

Change your diet. Hair needs proper nutrition to grow healthy — you are what you eat after all. Make sure there’s a good amount of iron, zinc, vitamin D, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and biotin in your diet. Also skip out on the fatty fried foods and desserts; oil from the fried food might turn testosterone into DHT faster through heightened oil-gland activity, while the sugar from desserts increases insulin levels, triggering the release of testosterone. 

Get surgery. A few surgeries exist, but according to Men’s Health, more men are choosing one called follicular unit extraction (FUE) because it’s less invasive than other techniques. It involves grafting hair follicle groups from a donor area on the person’s scalp and then transplanting them to the balding area. “It’s a shorter, less painful recovery, and completely eliminates linear scarring along the back of the head,” Dr. Alan Bauman, a hair-loss specialist in Florida, told Men’s Health.  

Bauman said 50 percent of hair loss can occur before it’s even noticeable to the human eye. This means taking preventive steps is all the more important in reducing risk of hair loss. 


crdt:http://www.medicaldaily.com/why-hair-loss-more-common-men-and-what-you-can-do-about-it-338546 

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Hair loss explained: How and why men go bald

Some men develop noticeable bitemporal recession (a receding hairline) and this may precede hair loss elsewhere on the scalp by many years

All men lose hair progressively as they grow older.  For some the loss is barely noticeable.  For others it is obvious, and when hair loss is severe or occurs at a young age can be very distressing.

The hallmark of male pattern balding is that hair loss progresses in a distinctive and highly reproducible pattern.  While this sounds straightforward, in fact there are three main areas of scalp that lose hair preferentially, and the relative loss in each of these areas produces variations in the pattern of progression of the hair loss. These are:

1.  Hair loss in the temple starts at the anterior hairline and moves backwards.  It occurs to some degree in all boys as they transition from adolescence to manhood.  Fewer than 5% of adult males retain the straight anterior hairline seen in young boys. Generally the loss in this area is mild.  Some men develop noticeable bitemporal recession and this may precede hair loss elsewhere on the scalp by many years. 

2. Hair loss on the crown starts around the whorl (at the back of the head), and spreads outwards in all directions to produce a circular baldness.  A second, smaller focus of balding occurs at the 6 o’clock border in some men

3.  General diffuse thinning over the mid-frontal scalp (at the top of the head) is often first noticed as widening of the central part-line.  This pattern is most prominent in Asian men.  It is also the hallmark of female pattern hair loss - the female equivalent of male pattern that affects over 75% of women as they age.

One fascinating aspect of this is the way the hair loss spreads from hair follicle to hair follicle without skipping over areas.  The effect is that the bitemporal recession produces a slowly expanding triangle of hair loss over each temple, without sparing any of the follicles within the affected zone.  The same occurs over the vertex.  No individual hairs are spared 

While this observation might lead one to speculate on a hair loss chemical moving from one damaged follicle onto the next, no such chemical has ever been identified. 

Even more baffling is the observation that when hairs adjacent to an enlarging bald patch are transplanted to a different part of the body they still miniaturize on schedule as if they were still growing the scalp.  This pretty much rules out a diffusible chemical and suggests the process of hair miniaturization that shrinks the hairs to fluff is already programmed into the hair follicle DNA.

In addition to the obvious pattern of hair loss that we are all accustomed to seeing, we discovered a second, invisible pattern of hair loss that produces the hair thinning that precedes the balding.

Hair on the scalp is different to hair elsewhere on the body.  It grows in follicular units that produce tufts of between 2 and 5 hairs that emerge from a single pore. Each follicular unit has a primary hair that is present at or shortly after birth. Secondary hairs develop around the age of 2-3.  This is why hair in babies is fine and light and downy, but becomes thick and bushy by school time.

When androgenetic alopecia first starts it preferentially shrinks the secondary hairs, so that the follicular units on the affected scalp only produce one terminal hair rather than a tuft of hairs.  It is only when the primary hair - the last remaining fibre form the tuft disappears that bald scalp emerges.

Overall hair volume can reduce by 50% without any visible bald spot.  Women tend to notice that their ponytail thickness is reduced or that their hair shedding had increased long before baldness becomes apparent.  As men tend to have shorter hair and might be less observant, they may not notice the hair loss until an actual bald spot has developed.  A sunburnt scalp is the first clue they are going bald for some men.

The factors that control these two patterns of hair loss progression appear to be hereditary in that identical twins generally lose their hair at the same age, the same rate and in the same pattern.  Genetic and epigenetic factors seem to be involved in this.  The actual mechanics of these factors produce hair loss are still yet to be worked out, but this has not stopped doctors working the pattern of patterned hair loss to their patients advantage.

The flip side of having scalp regions that lose hair preferentially is that there are also scalp regions that do not lose hair – namely the back of the head (or occipital scalp).  Knowing that hairs can be shifted around the scalp while retaining their pre-programmed preference to bald or not to bald is the basis of hair transplantation surgery.  Many thousands of men and women around the world have been able to conceal their baldness by borrowing hairs from the back of their head to fill in gaps on the front.



crdt::http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/hair-loss-receding-hairline-baldness-causes-10472942.html

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