Androgenic Alopecia as a Cause of Hair Loss
Sometime in your childhood, you may have observed your
grandfather’s shiny cranium and wondered if that could happen to you too.
If you asked him, he would probably
have said that you have a full head of hair and that any hair loss won’t
afflict you until much later in life. You
could live the rest of your life satisfied with that assurance, at least
until the first signs of androgenetic alopecia emerge.
It really doesn’t matter how much
hair you have; if there are people in your family who have suffered this
condition, then there is a 50 percent chance that you may inherit the
proverbial family crown.
Androgenetic alopecia is a very common condition,
passed down genetically from ascendant to descendant.
The prime instigating factor in
causing this condition is a hormone called androgen. Androgens are important
for regular male development. They
are also crucial for the libido and of course, hair growth in both genders.
With age, the presence of androgens, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in
particular, in hair follicles causes a disturbance in the growth cycle of
hair. After a follicle goes through
its regular cycle and hair falls off, new growths will appear thinner and
shorter. There are also other
potential risk factors such as an enlarged prostate and high blood pressure,
which are currently the subject of research.
Androgenetic alopecia is also called male pattern
baldness, although that doesn’t mean it will not happen in women.
Around 13% of women will experience
this after menopause and alarmingly, 75% of them after the age of 65.
This type of baldness is called such
due to the M-shaped pattern displayed by people with the disorder.
This is combined with thinning hair
at the top of one’s head.
If one feels that androgenetic alopecia is waging war
on your beloved mane, minoxidil could be of some help.
Available in two or five percent
solutions, 50% of men and 60% of women experienced moderate to dense
regrowth after four months of use. The
main drawback however, is that after stopping application, your head may
look like it never used the product in less than a year.
Prepare to be a minoxidil user for
life if it works, and if not, a physician can make you try prescription
finasteride.
Finasteride
works by lessening the presence of dihydrotestosterone or DHT in the hair
follicle. Also called Propecia, men
may either experience hair regrowth or a halting of hair loss, at least.
This medication is most successful in
the crown area of the head. Interestingly, finasteride also works on
patients with prostate problems such as BPH and cancer, both possible risk
factors in male pattern baldness. Some
sexually related side effects however, may occur.
Impotence and abnormal ejaculation
are the most prevalent. Pregnant
women also shouldn’t use the drug as it may cause birth defects.
It is no surprise that it’s a
prescription drug.
It is best to consult a physician if you suspect
androgenetic alopecia is affecting you. Considering
possible side effects, it would be better to seek medical advice before you
begin administering a treatment of any kind.
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