If you’re male, baldness is a natural part of the aging process. By the time you reach your 60’s, most of you will be - at least - partially bald. Fortunately, this type of hair loss is gradual, developing over a period of 20 to 30 years.

However, the statistics with younger men losing their hair, and at a much quicker rate are high. Three in ten 30 year olds, and half of 50 year olds are quite bald. In its extreme form, some males start to thin at the age of sixteen and are almost entirely bald by the time they reach their early twenties.

The age at which you might develop the condition, is determined by your gene pool.

Why do so many men lose their hair?
It’s all down to what’s commonly known as Male Pattern Balding or the more medically correct terms Male Pattern Alopecia and Androgenetic Alopecia.

Male hormones are called androgens. The way they work, and affect each male depends on what you’ve inherited from your parents. It’s a dominant gene – which means if it’s present, it will nearly always cause hair loss whether it comes from the paternal or maternal side, or both.

If it is on both sides, hair loss will start early and be more acute. If your great-grandparents, grandfathers, fathers, uncles and brothers have experienced early hair loss then there’s a greater likelihood of it happening to you.

Appearance
Hair loss follows a typical pattern on the head – hence the name Male Pattern Baldness. It starts by receding at the front of the hairline, whilst simultaneously thinning on top. A bald patch then gradually develops in the middle of the scalp. At the advanced stages, the receding front, and bald patch on the top, eventually join together. A rim of hair is often left around the back and sides of the scalp. Sometimes that thins too, leaving a completely bald scalp.

The Process of hair loss
Each hair follicle in the body contains an enzyme or chemical catalyst called 5 alpha-reductase as well as a large number of other enzymes, which are responsible for both protein metabolism and for pigment manufacture.

For a reason as yet undiscovered, the genetic make-up can cause some of the hair follicles, containing 5 alpha-reductase, to start converting the male hormone testosterone into an altered form called 5 di-hydro-testosterone which has an inhibiting effect on the normal growth cycle of hair causing each successive hair to grow finer in texture and for a shorter period of time.

In extreme cases the hair becomes similar to the fine downy hair found on other parts of the body.

Remember that male pattern baldness affects most men at some stage. But with treatment, further hair loss can often be prevented and sometimes encourage re-growth.

If you are suffering from male hair loss call The London Centre of Trichology on 0207 935 1935