Androgenetic alopecia, commonly referred to as male pattern baldness, is a condition that affects up to 70% of men at some point in their lives. This condition is the most common type of hair loss and causes miniaturization of hair follicles.
Most men who experience male pattern baldness have a family history of hair loss but it is also associated with hormones. These hormones are called androgens (testosterone and androstenedione), along with dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The result of too much testosterone being converted to DHT is the miniaturization of hair follicles, which leads to thinner hair. If those follicles continue to shrink they’ll eventually become dormant, resulting in male pattern baldness.
Male pattern baldness is typically diagnosed by the pattern of hair loss the individual has. Men with this condition have signs of a hairline recession, thinning or balding at the temples and on the crown (vertex) of the scalp. The pattern of hair loss can be seen differently for each person but hair loss generally begins around the temple or crown. Some men’s hairline starts to recede or they may have a single bald spot to start. Although it is rare, male pattern baldness can begin as early as the teen years but is commonly seen to appear gradually during adulthood.
Treatment options for men experiencing male pattern baldness range from medications to hair transplant surgery. Medications that can be taken once male pattern baldness is diagnosed can be a great first step for many as it can help men hang onto the hair they have and prevent them from continuing to lose more. These medications include prescription finasteride, or Propecia (oral or topical), and Rogaine, which is an over-the-counter medication.
If you are someone who has more moderate-to-severe thinning and/or balding the above listed medications are still usually a good place to start in conjunction with hair transplant options.
At UFP Hair Restoration, we are able to offer our patients two different methods of hair transplantation; FUE (follicular unit extraction) and FUT (follicular unit transplantation). There are slight differences between the two methods. The major difference is that the FUT method requires a strip of hair being excised from the back of the scalp in order to obtain the donor hair follicles. The FUE method does not require any incisions. Both methods require minimal downtime and provide patients with incredibly natural results.
To learn more about male pattern baldness and treatment options in Draper, SLC, Layton and surrounding areas, please call our office at (385) 344-4247 or contact us HERE.