What is Androgenetic Alopecia?

Understanding the causes of androgenetic alopecia will allow you to choose the best treatment for your male pattern baldness.

We have already established that androgenetic alopecia is by far the most common cause of premature hair loss amongst men and a serious problem for many women. Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss. Androgenetic refers to the fact that a genetic predisposition to baldness and the influence of androgens (male hormones) are major factors in this type of hair loss.

It is clear then that there must be three important components in play for this type of hair loss to develop:

1) A genetic predisposition for balding to occur.

2) The presence of male hormones.

3) Aging - enough time for the first two factors to take hold.

Genetics - Although the most often cited predictor of future hair loss, familial baldness patterns are not completely accurate or reliable. The fact that one's parents or grandparents exhibit a certain pattern does not guarantee the same hair loss development amongst offspring. If however, your father was completely bald and you begin to exhibit excessive hair loss at an early age, it's safe to assume you will develop extensive balding sooner or later. It's simply a question of applying common sense.

Androgenic Hormones - All normal men and women produce what are known as male hormones, the most common ones being testosterone, androsteinedione and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). These hormones have a useful role to play in both sexes but occur in different concentrations. The fact that androgens occur in much higher concentrations in men explains why this form of hair loss is much more common in men than in women.

The effect of these hormones on hair follicles is as follows:

1) High levels of an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase occur in certain cells of the hair follicle and sebaceous glands.

2) 5-alpha-reductase converts testosterone into DHT.

3) DHT causes a process of miniaturization of the robust terminal hairs.

4) This leaves fine, short, less pigmented vellus hairs that provide inadequate scalp coverage.

5) The growth phase becomes progressively shorter until these hairs are lost for good.

Aging - Excessive hair loss can begin at any age and can develop at any pace from slow to fast. It may even stop only to start again and move to its logical conclusion. As time progresses the ratio between hairs in the growth (anagen) and resting (telogen) phase changes, resulting in decreasing hair coverage on certain areas of the scalp. Telogen hairs are increasingly easy to dislodge, thus accelerating the apparent rate of hair loss.

It is important that you understand this process and correctly identify the cause of your hair loss. A small number of treatments for androgenetic alopecia do exist but it is best that treatment commences while vellus hairs still exist. Don’t despair though if you’re beyond this stage – there are a few androgenetic alopecia treatments that will encourage regrowth.

It’s just a case of the sooner you start the better!