What is male Pattern Baldness?
For men male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia) is the most common form of hair loss. In the early stages hair begins to recede at the front coupled with thinning of hair on the crown. As this develops the top of the hairline meets the crown creating a horseshoe effect of hair on the sides and back of the head, this can also thin leaving a completely bald scalp.
"He's the kind of guy that when he dies, he's going up to heaven and giving God a bad time for making him bald"
Marlon Brando
If you are a man between the ages of about 20 to 45 & you start to lose scalp hair, chances are 95% certain that you are experiencing male pattern baldness.
Shrinking follicles!
Every hair resides in a cavity in the skin called a follicle. The follicle decreases in size over time causing shorter & finer hair, this is when baldness in men occurs. Usually the hair would grow back but in balding men the follicle fails to grow a new hair, genes & male sex hormones are both understood to have a roll to play in this process.
About 35 million Americans suffer with male pattern baldness, thats over half the population of the United Kingdom.
Most men have some baldness by the time they are 60, 3 in ten 30 year olds & half of 50 year olds are quite bald.
The phychological effect
"The tenderest spot in a man's make-up is sometimes the bald spot on top of his head"
American journalist Helen Rowland
Male pattern baldness can have serious phychological effects on a person, low self esteem, depression, feelings of unattractiveness & introversion can all stem from this affliction. This is not helped by the fact that we're living in a image obsessed society and the pressures of perfection can take a huge toll on any person suffering with male pattern baldness, or any other bodily imperfection for that matter.
The good news
Some men can cope with male pattern baldness, some even grow to love their new look. For those that choose to take action there are a number of methods in combating this, various hair loss medications & hair transplant surgery are largely effective along with the infamous hairpiece!
"Better a bald head than no head at all"
American physician & humorist Austin O'Malley
