Other types of hair loss
Aside from male pattern baldness, some of the most common types of hair loss
include:
Alopecia areata, which leads to patchy hair loss on the scalp.
While the causes of alopecia areata are not completely understood, the hair
loss is thought to be the result of the body's immune system attacking the hair
follicle. Alopecia areata often resolves without treatment.
Traction alopecia, which results from long-term pulling on
the hair. This type of hair loss can be caused by certain hairstyles, such as
tight braids. The hair loss is usually reversible once the cause of this pulling
is eliminated.
Certain diseases, such as diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus and disorders
of the thyroid gland can also cause baldness. Sudden hair loss may be an early
warning sign for some diseases and should be reported to a doctor.
Hair loss has many other causes, including illness, poor nutrition, skin damage,
some medications, and certain medical treatments such as anticancer chemotherapy
and radiation therapy. Ringworm, a fungal infection, may sometimes be the cause
of balding in children, but is generally not a problem in adults.
How is the cause of hair loss diagnosed?
Because there are many potential causes of excessive hair loss, consult a dermatologist if you are concerned. Your doctor will ask questions about your family's history of baldness. He or she may also want to examine a few hairs under a microscope or check the scalp for signs of skin damage. You may be asked questions about your diet, hair-care procedures, medications (including vitamins and herbal supplements) that you take, and recent illnesses. In some cases, your doctor may order blood tests or a skin biopsy (taking a small sample of tissue for examination) to help make a diagnosis. He or she may also ask you to monitor the number of hairs lost during a day, by collecting and counting as many as possible.
What are the treatment options for male pattern baldness?
Male pattern baldness is not a medical disorder. Whether treatment is desirable is a personal decision. Many men decide to let the process run its course. However, baldness can be a source of anxiety for others and can have a negative effect on self-image. If you decide that you are not comfortable with your hair loss, you may want to consider the treatment options described below.
Prescription medications
Minoxidil (Rogaine®) - Update*
Minoxidil is now available without prescription
Originally used to treat high blood pressure, minoxidil is now widely used as
a topical solution applied twice daily to treat male pattern baldness. Studies
have indicated that it may help grow hair in 10 percent to 20 percent of those
who use it, and it may slow the rate of loss for 90 percent. It is not clear
exactly how minoxidil works, but when it is effective, it seems to somehow prolong
the growing stage of the hair growth cycle, enlarge the follicles, and cause
follicles at rest to grow. Minoxidil is generally more effective for young men
and those whose onset of hair loss is recent.
Minoxidil may take four months or longer to show results. The treatment is relatively
expensive and must be applied indefinitely; when application is stopped, regrown
hair falls out. Newly grown hair may also not be as long and thick as normal hair.
As with most medications, side effects are possible, including irritation of the
scalp. The solution was originally available only in a 2 percent solution, but
the Food and Drug Administration has recently approved a 5 percent solution, which
has shown better results in some cases.
Finasteride (Propecia®)
Originally used for the treatment of enlargement of the prostate gland, finasteride
was recently approved by the FDA to treat male pattern baldness. It is taken
daily in pill form. Finasteride works by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone
to DHT, decreasing the levels of DHT in the blood and scalp. In this way, finasteride
helps to block androgen-dependent degradation of hair follicles. In a recent
study, nearly half of the men who took finasteride grew hair on the scalp, and
the drug was even more effective at halting hair loss. A significant percentage
did, however, continue to report hair loss.
Side effects associated with finasteride are mainly related to sexual function,
such as loss of sex drive, reversible impotence and a decrease in the quantity
of semen. These side effects were experienced by approximately 2 percent to
5 percent of patients in clinical trials. Finasteride is not approved for use
by women, because it may cause birth defects. Broken or crushed tablets should
not be handled by women who are or may be pregnant.
Currently, minoxidil and finasteride are the only medications approved by the
FDA for use in the treatment of male pattern baldness. Nonprescription preparations
are not effective and were banned by the FDA in 1989.
Other Pages
Male Pattern Baldness 1
Male Pattern Baldness 2
Male Pattern Baldness 3
