All You Need to Know About Male Pattern Baldness

February 24, 2023
10:53 am

All You Need to Know About Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, causes hair loss in men at a rapid rate, mostly due to fluctuating sex hormones. Each strand of hair emerges from a tiny cavity in the scalp, known as a follicle. Over time, the follicle starts shrinking, resulting in thinning hair. Eventually, the follicle stops growing new hair and the hairline may start receding, causing the most visible signs of male pattern baldness.

Examinations

Most male pattern baldness cases are diagnosed based on the receding hairline and the pace at which one loses hair.

However, if it is also accompanied by an itchy scalp, redness, sores, pus or a scaly appearance, along with any form of pain, the doctor might recommend other tests to diagnose any underlying health problems or nutritional defects. The condition can occur as early as a man’s late thirties, but if it starts in the twenties, their doctor may request additional checkups and tests.

Causes of Male Pattern Baldness

It is normal to lose 50 to 100 strands of hair in a day, but if someone loses more for an extended period of time, this might actually indicate that they are suffering from alopecia. The causes are mostly genetic, and if one has a history of alopecia in the family, they are most likely to experience it.

On the other hand, those without any history of this illness may also be afflicted due to hormonal imbalances. The hormone dihydrotestosterone plays a major role. Since the hair has a life cycle, any hair loss should be replenished with the next cycle. However, hormonal imbalances disrupt the cycle and cause the follicles to shrink. This process is termed miniaturization and is caused by dihydrotestosterone that deteriorates the hair roots, preventing new hair growth.

What’s the Difference Between Typical Hair Loss and Male Pattern Baldness

With regular hair loss, new hair starts emerging as soon as the older strands fall off, which is why it is hardly noticeable. Although you see hair strands in your comb every day, it typically won’t affect your hair thickness significantly until later in life.

With male pattern baldness, you are likely to lose a larger number of hair strands daily, and the regrowth of new hair also slows down significantly. The hair roots are affected by dihydrotestosterone; with each cycle, the hair that emerges becomes thinner and finer. They also become more brittle and new growth eventually stops entirely.

Treatments

There are many options for hair loss treatments, but it depends on whether you want to opt for surgical or non-surgical options. Your doctor will also determine your health condition before suggesting a treatment plan.

At MM Seattle SMP, we specialize in providing one of the best Scalp Micropigmentation solutions for your hair loss. SMP is a non-surgical method of depositing a special pigment in the outer or papillary layer of the scalp using a microneedle.

The process is much like getting a tattoo, creating the appearance of natural-looking hair. You won’t have to take steroids or go under the knife for the procedure. The entire procedure can be done in three sessions, depending on the appearance you are hoping to achieve. It is a long-lasting solution for male pattern baldness and can help you camouflage scalp scarring as well.

If you want to regain your confidence, then call us today for an appointment, and our experts will guide you through the procedure. We look forward to hearing from you!