Monday 14 March 2011

Male Pattern Baldness or Androgenic Alopecia

Male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia affects some 50-60% of the male population at some point in their lives. This is because the baldness gene forms a part of their genetic makeup and it is passed on to them, from parent to child.

Are you suffering from male pattern baldness?
Are you concerned that you might be losing your hair? Have you noticed an increasing number of hairs being left behind in your bath or sink after washing? Does your hairbrush seem to be pulling out more hairs than normal? Are you finding that you have to adopt a slightly different hairstyle lately?

What are the signs you should be looking for?
It’s a good idea to keep a look out for all of these things but do not panic at the sight of a few stray hairs in the bath or shower and do not worry if a number of hairs are left in your brush or comb after you brush your hair. The average head of hair loses and replaces up to 100 hairs per day.

What you should be looking at is where these hairs are coming from. Have a good look in the mirror at your hair line. If you notice a thinning of your hair, to the left and right of the centre of your hair line, then there is a good chance that you will be experiencing the early stages of what is termed Androgenetic Alopecia or Male Pattern Baldness.

What’s happening with Male Pattern Baldness?
If you are suffering from male pattern baldness or Androgenetic Alopecia, what’s happening is this; some of the hair follicles in your scalp, and you have anywhere between 90,000 and 140,000 depending on your hair colour, are coming under attack from one of your hormones, namely Dihydrotestosterone or DHT. 
 
The DHT attaches itself to your hair follicles, forcing them to shrink over time. As the follicle shrinks, so does the single strand of hair that grows through it, gradually reducing in diameter until eventually, the strand is choked off completely and the follicle becomes too small for another hair to grow through.

The reason this condition is known as male pattern baldness is because in males, the condition follows a very distinct pattern which results in time, with hair disappearing to the left and right of centre at the hairline and later, from a patch or bald spot at the top of the head. 
 
As the hair line recedes, so the bald patch increases in size until eventually it meets the receding hairline. This leaves the sufferer with that characteristic “friar tuck” type hair style with hair remaining to the sides and back of the head, but missing from the front and top.

What can I do about it?
Do not waste time; this condition must be caught early. Contact The London Centre of Trichology, a hair loss clinic London who specialise in treating male pattern baldness. The London Centre of Trichology is pleased to offer a free hair loss consultation  to men who believe they might be suffering from male pattern baldness and other hair loss problems. Our hair loss treatments work by boosting blood and oxygen circulation to the scalp. They strengthen the hair follicles, block the hormone DHT from formulating in root follicles and cleanse the hair root.

At the London Centre of Trichology, our range of hair loss prevention treatments are tailored to suit each client’s specific needs. Treatments will stop further hair loss and follicle miniaturisation, and in some cases, result in hair re-growth. One of the principal benefits of our natural hair loss programme is that it doesn't cause any nasty side effects like some other hair loss products. Also if you stop the programme, then your hair won't instantly fall out as can be the case when using other treatments.