Stop Male Hair Loss

The cause of male hair loss is a subject that is under current investigation. However there are a few theories about the causes of male hair loss.

Before we launch into an exhaustive discussion on the causes of hair loss, it’s important to realize that whatever the theories are, the reason for balding is probably multifactorial i.e several factors working together

The DiHydroTestoterone [DHT] theory
DHT is a derivative of testosterone that is formed in the prostate gland, hair follicle, testes and adrenals It’s important in the development of male sexual characteristics eg deepening of the voice, male hair distribution, libido, development of muscle mass, etc. DHT is thought to be an important factor in male pattern hair loss. Once a hair is shed, DHT stimulates the follicles from which new hair grows to shrink a little. This results in the new hair being a little thinner than the previous hair in that follicle. With time the process gets to the stage where the hair follicle cannot support hair growth. This results in hair loss and male pattern balding

The problem with this theory is that all men with normal hormone function produce DHT in their hair follicles. So why do some men go bald and others not. Research has shown that over 70% of men over 80 years old have male pattern hair loss to some extent. But that leaves over 20% with a full head of hair. Perhaps the next theory can trow some light on this

Genetic theory
It is thought that the tendency to go bald is inherited from the maternal grandfather. So if your mum’s dad was bald, then you are more likely to develop male pattern baldness. This has resulted in the widely known fact that baldness is related to the X chromosome. However other research has shown that the x chromosome is not the only culprit in this. Japanese researches identified the SOX21 gene as a factor in the development of male pattern hair loss.  Chromosome 20 is another contributor to male pattern balsness. The question is how do these chromosomes result in male pattern baldness. The leading theory is that variations of these chromosomes cause the hair follicles to be more sensitive to the shrinking effects of DHT.

The theories described above are the leading theories regarding male pattern hair loss

However there are other theories
Reduced scalp blood flow
A study published in Journal of Investigative Dermatology in 1989 showed that  the subcutaneous blood flow to the scalp in bald men is 2.6 times less than in men with no hair loss leading to the conclusion that reduced blood flow to the scalp is a cause of male pattern hair loss. The obvious question is ‘Why do these men have reduced scalp blood flow?’ Could there be a genetic predisposition to this?

Drugs
Some drugs have been identified that can cause male pattern hair loss as a side effect. Examples include Warfarin [anticoagulant], Propanolol [betablocker], spironolactone [diuretic], carbamazepine [anticonvulsant], morphine [narcortic analgesic and oral contraceptives. These are just a few of the drugs but a review in your drug formulary will reveal many more. For most of these drugs, hair loss is associated with long term use. Also the occurence of hair loss is no reason to stop the medication which may have been given to you for control of more life threatening conditions. If you are concerned that the drugs you are on could be contributing to your hair loss, consult your doctor before discontinuing the drug.

It’s important to undestand the various causes of hair loss because it helps you understand how the drugs and therapy used to treat hair loss work