Male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia is men’s most common cause of hair loss. About 25% of men who suffer from it start to loose hair at age 21, and it takes 15-25 years to go completely bald. By 50, more than half of men show visible signs of male pattern hair loss like thinning, a receding hairline, or balding. Let’s explore the causes of male pattern baldness and ways to prevent and treat hair loss.
What is Male Pattern Baldness?
Male pattern baldness is a hair loss disorder primarily dependent on genetics and sex hormones. The hair becomes shorter, more delicate, and less pigmented as it develops. The androgenic alopecia is associated with the presence of dihydrotestosterone, which is a metabolite of testosterone. Men with low levels of testosterone do not develop male pattern baldness. In addition, some men are deficient in 5α-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. This enzyme prevents hair loss.
Causes of Male Pattern Baldness
There are plenty of factors that are involved in the development of male pattern baldness. Such as:
Genetics- The most common cause of male pattern baldness is genetics. Men get it in their genes from their ancestors.
Hormones- high levels of dihydrotestosterone are commonly found in hair follicles of a balding scalp. Excess testosterone causes a rise in the production of dihydrotestosterone which shrinks the hair follicles and results in baldness.
Age- Male pattern baldness becomes severe with age. Hair growth slows down, and hair follicles stop growing hair.
Race- white men are more expected to develop androgenetic alopecia than men from Asia, Native America, and Africa.
Treatment Options
Male pattern baldness cannot necessarily be prevented, but several treatment options can slow it down. Below are safe treatments that can preserve as much hair as possible if started early.
Haircare Products
If you think that hair care products have nothing to do with hair loss, you need to upgrade your knowledge. Even if you suffer from genetic hair loss, good hair care products help maintain a healthy scalp and slow down hair fall.
It is crucial to consider the ingredients of products before actually choosing them for your hair. At Satini Cosmetic Clinic, we offer a collection of shampoos, conditioners, and serums that are scientifically proven to improve hair density and hair thickness.
For example, the iRestore Anti-Hair Loss Shampoo contains REDENSYL™, an innovative complex designed to target male pattern baldness. If you use it regularly, it shows an increase in hair growth by 8.9%. The REDENSYL™ complex contains a unique combination of dihydroquercetin-glucoside (DHQG), Glycine, and Zinc that targets the structure of hair shafts and encourages them to produce more hair cells. Plant extracts like aloe vera, green tea, and apigenin are also added to the product. In addition, the shampoo also contains Panthenol and niacinamide, two active ingredients that make your hair thicker and supple.
The complete range of iRestore hair products is available at Satini Cosmetic Clinic. In addition, we have some additional products to help you with male pattern baldness symptoms. You can ask our doctor anytime if you want more information about the ingredients.
Laser Cap
The laser cap is a laser-based device that utilizes laser technology to stimulate the scalp and hair follicles. The low level of laser therapy emits photons that penetrate the scalp, targeting the hair follicles and increasing the adenosine triphosphate production in follicle cells, promoting hair growth and metabolism. In addition, it increases blood flow and nutrient transport to support the healthy development of hair.
The laser cap is available at Satini Cosmetic Clinic. You can use the laser cap daily, and we recommend you use it at least three times per week for at least 25 minutes per session. Several scientific studies have shown that this improves hair density by 18% and hair thickness.
We have never seen any problems with at-home laser use, but some people may notice that their scalp becomes warm. If this feels uncomfortable, please switch your laser off. Wait for 24 hours and have a shorter session next time. After that, you should be able to increase the duration of the laser treatment gradually.
Nutritional Supplements
We provide a supplement at Satini Cosmetic Clinic that contains Saw Palmetto. This herbal drug is derived from a tropical palm tree that grows in the Southeastern United States. It inhibits an enzyme called 5α-reductase that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, responsible for male pattern baldness. Saw palmetto prevents hair loss, promotes regrowth, and reduces inflammation. It is very well tolerated and only very rarely causes stomach upset.
Finasteride
This is a prescription drug that is used to treat male pattern baldness. It works by decreasing the amount of naturally produced dihydrotestosterone. Inhibiting the production of DHT hormone leads to increased hair growth and slows down hair loss. It is an FDA-approved medication for the treatment of male pattern baldness.
Finasteride lowers the dihydrotestosterone levels in the bloodstream by 70 per cent. As a result, it can slow down hair loss and promote hair growth in areas affected by male pattern baldness.
PRP Plasma
This treatment uses your own plasma to stimulate your hair to regrow. This is because plasma contains valuable growth factors that stimulate the hair follicle to produce more and thicker hair. Several scientific studies showed high patient satisfaction and increased hair density and thickness.
For this treatment, the doctor or nurse will take a small amount of your blood and put it into a centrifuge. This process will separate the plasma from your blood cells. We then very gently inject the plasma into your scalp. The procedure lasts approximately 30 minutes. Adverse reactions are infrequent; most commonly, you may get some bruising or swelling close to the injection site.
Please make sure that you come 30 minutes earlier to this appointment. This allows us to apply some numbing cream to your scalp to make the procedure more comfortable.
Microneedling
Medical micro-needling with dermapen 4 is a cosmetic procedure that is performed to address the various signs of ageing. It increases collagen and elastin production in the skin. But, only recently, is was also found to be effective for androgenic alopecia. Furthermore, it induces the stem cells in hair follicles, leading to better hair growth. In addition, micro-needling helps in better absorption of haircare products and PRP. At Satini Cosmetic Clinic, we add micro-needling to the PRP of your scalp to provide you with some additional benefits.
Book Your Consultation at Satini Cosmetic Clinic
Please get in touch with us anytime if you have any questions. You can also call us on 0800-121-622. Dr Nadja Haub will answer urgent telephone inquiries outside of our clinic hours on this number.
Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Apr; 21(8): 2702. Pietro Gentile1,* and Simone Garcovich2. Systematic Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma Use in Androgenetic Alopecia Compared with Minoxidil®, Finasteride®, and Adult Stem Cell-Based Therapy
Int J Womens Dermatol. 2019 Feb; 5(1): 46–51. J. Stevens, BSa,⁎ and S. Khetarpal, MD. Platelet-rich plasma for androgenetic alopecia: A review of the literature and proposed treatment protocol
J Dermatol Treat 2022 Feb;33(1):498-511. Platelet-rich plasma as a therapy for androgenic alopecia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Jul;77(1):136-141. The effectiveness of treatments for androgenetic alopecia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
