Natural Remedies Blog for Male Disorders

Male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia is a type of hair loss that commonly affects men. It is characterized by hair thinning which starts at the frontotemporal region, which is an area at the front of the scalp just above the temples. Hair thinning in area results in reshaping and recession of the hairline. Most cases of male pattern baldness begin at age thirty or forty. There are also cases that start as early as during puberty. Hair loss progresses over time. During the onset of male pattern baldness, hair loss is hardly noticed by the affected individuals. Only when significant amount of hair was lost that they become aware of the condition. Since the condition is progressive, appropriate treatment should be administered at the earliest time possible to prevent complete baldness.

Causes of Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness is caused by several factors. However, everyone affected by the condition have genetic predisposition. That is, they carry the genes responsible for its development. Aside from genetic factors, male pattern baldness also occurs due to environmental influences such as diet and lack of exercise. The role of diet and lifestyle in male pattern baldness was suggested by the increase in the number of cases in Japan due to the increase in fat intake and sedentary lifestyle of the Japanese.

Androgens are also essential in the development of the condition. The interaction between genetic factors and androgens lead to hair miniaturization over time. Hair miniaturization refers to the process of hair thinning due to the replacement of long, thick hair with short, unpigmented ones. This means that the affected area on the scalp does not really turn bald. Rather, it appears bald because hair that grows in the area is relatively short. Hair miniaturization results in overall thinning of the affected area.

Androgens are male hormones that include testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and many others. Of these androgens, male pattern baldness is specifically linked to DHT. DHT is a testosterone derivative but it is more potent. DHT increases in the scalp due to the presence of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which facilitates the conversion of testosterone to DHT.

Treating Hair Loss

Early intervention is necessary to prevent complete baldness. In seeking for treatment, the cause of the problem should be considered. Male pattern baldness is caused by the increased levels of DHT in the scalp. Reducing the levels of DHT can prevent the hormone from damaging the hair follicles. Several natural treatments have been successful in addressing the problems with DHT. For many centuries, herbs have been used as a natural hair loss treatment. Herbs such as saw palmetto and stinging nettle that have natural ability to block DHT are widely found in nature and are really effective. If you don’t like the inconvenience of applying herb extracts, you can also take hair vitamins. Vitamins with antioxidant properties help promote hair growth. All-natural DHT-blocker supplements are also available. These supplements claim to stop hair loss and promote hair growth at the same time.