|
Men's Hair Loss Causes and Baldness
Understanding the cause of men's hair
loss may better indicate exactly why it
presently has no cure.
The most common cause of hair loss in men,
is male pattern baldness representing almost
95% of all hair loss in men. Men who have
this type of hair loss usually have
inherited it as part of their genetic
makeup.
 ANDROGENETIC
ALOPECIA - the modem medical term for
male pattern hair loss - can be broken down
in two parts.
First, Androgenetic, consisting of ANDROGEN
(Any of the various hormones that control
the appearance and development of masculine
characteristics such as testosterone). And
GENETIC--the inheritance of genes from
either the mother or the father's side of
the family. Add AGE, which when coupled with
genetics, represents a time clock that will
signal the hair follicle to produce an
enzyme named 5 alpha reductase. When the
testosterone present in the follicle
combines with the enzyme 5 alpha reductase,
it produces dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Second, ALOPECIA meaning hair loss, of which
there are many types.
Put simply, scientists are working against
aging, hormones and genetics. This is no
easy task. Add the fact that male or female
pattern hair loss is not life threatening,
and it is easy to see why many physicians do
not view hair loss as a priority in
scientific research.
What is working for you in terms of research
is that large pharmaceutical firms now know
that a cure for hair loss could mean a
fortune in revenue for their companies and
stockholders.
Although we may not see a cure in our
lifetime, it is possible. Science is closer
to understanding hair loss due to many
recent advancements. To say the cure is
around the corner would only be speculation
but hope certainly is alive.
Causes of Hair Loss in Men
-
Alopecia areata:
Generally thought to be an autoimmune
disorder. Causes "patchy" hair loss,
often in small circular areas in
different areas of the scalp.
-
Alopecia totalis: Total hair loss of the
scalp, (an advanced form of alopecia
areata).
-
Alopecia universalis: Hair loss of the
entire body, (also an advanced form of
alopecia areata).
-
Traction alopecia: Hair loss caused by
physical stress and tension on the hair
such as prolonged use of hair weaving,
corn rows etc.
-
Telogen effiuvium: Hair loss Caused by
Physical stress, emotional stress,
thyroid abnormalities, medications and
hormonal causes normally associated with
females.
-
Anagen effiuvium: Generally due to
internally administered medications,
such as chemotherapy agents, that poison
the growing hair follicle.
-
Trichotillomania (TTM), or "trich" as it
is commonly known, is an impulse control
disorder characterized by the repeated
urge to pull out scalp hair, eyelashes,
facial hair, nose hair, eyebrows or
other body hair, often resulting
in noticeable bald patches.
-
Chemotherapy: One of the most
common side effects of chemotherapy
treatment is hair loss. Chemotherapy
hair loss may occur on the scalp, face,
underarms, and other places on the
body.
|
|
|
