Male pattern baldness most likely starts with testosterone, the hormone produced in the testes that helps make a man a man (and go bald like a man). Testosterone is a naturally occurring hormone that stimulates the growth of male (androgen) characteristics. As testosterone flows through the body, it interacts with an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, which is concentrated in the genitals and skin. The enzyme converts testosterone into a more potent hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which some urologists have referred to as "testosterone times ten" It is formed directly from testosterone in tissue, particularly in the secondary sex organs and is higly biologically active, except in muscle and bone.
Male pattern baldness is a result of a gene in the body that converts large quantities of testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone). This DHT hormone, though helpful during fetal development, is devastating to hair follicles, causing them to become damaged and shrunken. The usual life of a hair follicle is 5 years, 4 of those spent growing and the last year being stagnant, but follicles that are damaged fall out and are not replaced by new follicles. This is why male pattern baldness is gradual but irreversible in its later stages.
Male pattern baldness Treatments range from the medicinal to the surgical. FDA approved medications like Rogaine and Propecia can provide effective short-term relief from baldness and have been a popular baldness remedy for years. Rogaine is a topical solution that has proven to be one of many effective Male pattern baldness treatments in that it helps follicle regrowth but works for only about 60% of all patients. Propecia, on the other hand, is very effective in stemming existing hair loss but is most powerful when used in the early stages of male pattern hair loss and baldness. Unfortunately both medications are temporary in nature, as results cease once use of the medication has been discontinued.
Until science comes up with a baldness cure the closest we may have in male pattern baldness treatments is the hair transplant. Once the domain of artificial-looking rugs and patches of irregular clumps of hair, the transplant is now the most effective and permanent remedy for baldness. By transplanting hair follicles from healthy areas of the scalp, like the back and sides, to areas in need of help, such as the temples and the top of the scalp, procedures like Follicular Unit Transplantation can provide male pattern baldness sufferers with a powerful strategy for dealing with this pesky medical condition that, though free of other side effects, can drastically affect the quality of one’s life.
