Beautiful and luxuriant hair is not only imperative for women. For most men, hair is a symbol of virility and strength, and its loss many see as loss of masculinity. Male pattern baldness or Androgenic efluvium is hair loss in men, usually, starting from the third decade of life. It occurs in 60 percent of cases and, unfortunately, the main culprit for this is genetics and poor maintenance of hair health.
Male pattern baldness is caused by follicular regression that can appear after puberty. Follicular regression of scalp usually manifests with temporal hairline reduction and the familiar bald patch at the posterior vertex. This type of male pattern baldness is inherited and occurs due to hormonal changes.
Who is responsible?
The responsible hormone is dyhydrotestosteron (DHT). DHT is strong sex hormone that stimulates body, scalp and facial hair growth. It also affects growth of prostatic gland and can cause hypertrophy of prostatic gland. In genetically – prone scalps, DHT initiates process of follicular miniaturization so the hair shaft width is progressively decreased.
How DHT affects hair follicle?
The consequence of the action of DHT is manifested through hardening of tissue (collagen) around the hair roots, thus preventing the flow of nutrients . The root is becoming weaker, while the hairs are becoming thinner until the root completely stop growing. DHT also destroys the hair follicles from within, and emerges at the surface of the scalp which can cause various inflammatory processes, especially dandruff.
DHT shortens the anagen phase of hair growth while it prolongs the telogen, resting phase, and hair loss. Logical solution is prevention of DHT it before it “goes” into the hair roots. On the other hand, it is necessary to prevent hardening of collagen to help tissue to remain soft and flexible, and to stimulate hair growth with necessary nutrients either naturally or supplements.
Hair loss “plan” in men
Men are lossing hair using “fixed” plan. Hair starts to thin in the frontal region with pronounced sideburns. These areas are spread and blend together till the total loss of hair from forehead to neck. The process of losing hair can last for many years, and sometimes total loss of hair never happens. The hair is changing – losing the volume and intensity and exceeds from so-called terminal strong and firm to the intermittent, and in the end to the weak and thin hair velus.
In the worst cases, only the hair that remains on the scalp is in the form of a wreath (so-called Hippocratic alopecia) beacuse hair follicles are not affected by “receivers” of male hormones. This part of the scalp is not lost even in the worst forms of male pattern baldness. This phenomenon is known as the phenomenon of eunuchs.
Experts in this area differ 7 stages of male hair loss:
Norwood scale
Legend:
1 – no symptoms of hair loss
2 – inferior temporal line of hair pulling
2A – butt pulling hair – less pronounced
3 – moderate temporal withdrawal
3A – frontal retreat – moderately expressed
3V – moderate loss on the top of the skull
4 -6 progressive inclusion of vertex and temporal areas
7 – complete loss of hair on the frontal region and vertex
OTHER HAIR LOSS CAUSES
Hair may fall out because of many other co-factors, such as taking certain medications, recovery after infections, disruption in the functioning of thyroid gland, surgery and post-operative conditions, high heat, and malnutrition. Also, the hair may fall out in time two to four months after a stressful event. This condition usually progresses to complete baldness, although it may appear more hair loss.
Reason for hair loss can be use of excessive gels, waxes, and grease. The same goes for wearing the hair in a ponytail. Tied hair falls easier because the hair root is not only “holding” it’s own hair weight but the weight of adjacent hairs. For normal hair growth, with good and proper hygiene necessary is healthy skin of the head, but above all, a good general state of the organism.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
The ancient Egyptians had fought against baldness with the help of oil layers and date fruits. In ancient Greece people used a mixture of opium and horseradish. Imagination is not diminished to this day – scalp massage with use of electricity and garlic.
On the market there are products for both local as well as for general, system use, to strengthen and enhance hairgrowth and improvement of its quality.Topical preparations are in the form of shampoos and lotions, and oral liquid used tabletswith vitamins and minerals that are needed hair and nails. These are the B group vitamins, folic acid, biotin, L-cystine, inositol,silicon dioxide, iron, zinc and copper.
Tretament options are divided to:
Most common hair loss medicament is minoxidil 2% (for women) and 5% (for men). This is a solution that is applied on the scalp twice a day. It leads to the re-growth of hair. The effect of cure becomes visible for several months, and sometimes only after a year. It is applied continuously. In place of application can lead to inflammation of the skin. Minoxidil is effective in approximately 40% of people.
Finasteride is a drug used used only by men. The effect of treatment was seen after 3 months, a little more hair growth occurs after six months. Another solution is Dutasteride.
HAIR LOSS SHAMPOOS
The key to any kind of growth is to apply the hair loss shampoo as soon as you detect any change in the condition of your hair. Hair loss shampoos can work very effectively if applied early. The choice of shampoo is an individual thing, depending on the type of the scalp, it is important that immediately after washing does not produce any reaction like itching.
HAIR LOSS VITAMINS
Vitamin A provides a healthy scalp and hair. fIt can be ound in vegetables, especially carrots. Vitamins of group B and C are important for the circulation and the growth and hair color. By entry of sufficient amounts of these vitamins will allow your hair to be strong and do not shoot, so you should eat many fruits, vegetables, grains, eggs, milk and bread. For the hair gloss vitamin E is a necessary and it can be found in brown rice, nuts, yeast, and leafy green vegetables.
Serums provide oxygen and nutrients needed for healthy growth and development of hair. It also actsagainst the factors that affect hair loss. The complex of active ingredients protects hair from damage and helps reduce its relegation, while other nutrients and remedial substances contribute to health of the scalp and skin of the head creating a perfect background for hair growth.
HAIR LOSS LOTIONS
Hair loss lotions provide effective and fast therapy for hair loss and its treatment ensures excellent therapeutic results. Recommended as a treatment for hair loss, hair regeneration, dandruff, alopecia, baldness, fragile and dry hair.
HAIR TRANSPLANTATION
Hair transplantation procedures are used to treat various forms and degrees of permanent alopecia in both men and women. Intact hair follicles may be harvested from within the safe donor area of a patient’s scalp by either strip method or follicular unit extraction; each harvesting method has unique advantages and disadvantages.
