Progression of Male Pattern Baldness
By Sara Wasserbauer | Published on August 16, 2010 | 0 Comments
It’s an unfortunate fact that male pattern baldness will affect most men at some stage in their life. For some men, hair loss may not be a problem until their 40s, 50s, 60s, or later. Other men, however, may not be as lucky.
The devastating thing about male pattern baldness is that the process can be relentlessly progressive, and in some cases wickedly rapid. While some men might lose their hair over the course of several decades, for others, the baldness evolution can kick into full swing in as little as five short years.
What causes male pattern baldness? It’s a topic that researchers have been trying to nail down for years. Dr. Sara Wasserbauer is a Diplomate of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery who runs her own practice in Walnut Creek, California, just outside San Francisco, and according to her, male pattern baldness is a prevalent problem for which there is currently no absolute preemptive cure. Also known as androgenetic alopecia, male pattern baldness is linked to the presence of DHT, a metabolite of testosterone that inhibits follicular growth. There are no known lifestyle or dietary factors that contribute to the presence of DHT; as far as experts in the field can tell, male pattern baldness is mostly a matter of genetics.
How does male pattern baldness typically play out? According to Dr. Wasserbauer, the progression of hair loss in most men tends to be pretty typical in that it will start with recession at the front of the hairline and continue until the hair has thinned out enough to create a bald spot. From there, a rim of hair may develop around the head, but in some cases, the top of a man’s scalp will become completely bald over time.
Treatments are Available
Though the progression of male pattern baldness can be rather cruel, the good news is that there are numerous treatments available for men looking to remedy the problem. According to Dr. Wasserbauer, options such as Rogaine (Minoxidil) and Propecia are often times able to produce impressive results by improving hair growth and stopping male pattern baldness in its tracks. Additionally, many male patients can benefit from laser therapy, a relatively new treatment that seems to encourage follicular growth.
For those who have already lost a fair amount of hair, there are several restorative options available courtesy of a network of well-trained transplant surgeons such as Dr. Wasserbauer. Thanks to advances in the world of hair transplants, patients who choose to undergo surgery can experience remarkable results with minimal scarring and discomfort.
Of course, the tricky thing about hair transplants is that they will need to be performed in a manner that takes future hair loss patterns into account. A good hair transplant surgeon will first analyze the progression of male pattern baldness on a patient before mapping out a strategy for hair restoration.
Using Donor Hair Wisely
An experienced hair transplant surgeon will often focus on rebuilding the front of the hairline before tackling areas towards the back of the head. The reason for this approach is that most men only have a finite amount of donor hair available for transplant purposes. Since male pattern baldness is likely to continue to progress years after such treatment is rendered, it’s best to work on filling in the most prominent area of the head before potentially running out of donor hair.
Offering Hope
Advances in hair transplant techniques and technology have made male pattern baldness a treatable condition, at least to some extent. Rather than suffer with low self-esteem and a perpetually bruised ego, anyone experiencing hair loss should contact a qualified surgeon in his area to see what treatments might be available. Dr. Wasserbauer likes to emphasize the fact that she’s happy to offer consultations to patients who want to learn more about their restorative options. She also insists that contrary to what some might think, men today don’t have to resign themselves to a lifetime of baldness or missing hair. After all, just because male pattern baldness is a ruthless beast doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways to fight back.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.