What's Up With Male Pattern Balding?
You've seen it in the movies, you've spotted it on TV. You've
noticed it at the workplace and (if you're a man) you may even
have seen it on yourself. It's that classic hairdo that never
goes out of fashion: male pattern balding. What's up with this
strange fact of mens' lives? Why does it happen? Can we stop it?
And why does it have that weird shape?
First, if you're not sure what male pattern balding looks like,
scan the room you're in or look at the TV. Chances are if you
see ten men, you'll spot at least a couple sporting some stage
of the male pattern balding hairdo. It begins with a bit of a
receding hairline and some thin hair right on top. And as the
pattern develops, the hairline heads back towards the increasing
bald spot until the two become one.
So why does it happen? Male pattern balding is a result of the
two H factors: heredity and hormones. Unfortunately, the exact
cause is not clear, but we know it has to do with these two
factors. Let's take a look at them both.
Heredity refers to the simple fact that if you're family has a
history of hair loss, you'll probably be sporting some male
pattern baldness at some point in your life. Obviously, this is
a pretty common condition. In fact, by the time men are 30, a
quarter of them have begun to lose their hair. By 60, two thirds
of men have experienced hair loss.
The second factor is the male hormone testosterone.
Testosterone, as all guys know, shows up during puberty and
causes hair to start growing all over the place. Ironically, it
is testosterone and its close relative DHT that stops hair from
growing on the scalp. Follicles become smaller and smaller until
the hair ceases to exist at all.
Is there anything you can do about it? Well, not really.
Honestly, if there was a cure would half of the male population
be sporting this silly hairstyle? Now there are some options
that work for some people, but understand that none are a cure.
Rogaine is a very well known hair regrowth treatment as is the
prescription drug Propecia. You can also research hair
transplants and hair pieces.
The simple fact, however, is that we don't understand male
pattern balding, can't control it, and can't cure it. It doesn't
cause any medical conditions and certainly won't kill you. At
worst, it is a socially embarrassing condition. But only if you
make it that. Losing your hair doesn't change you and your true
friends will know that. Will women pay you less attention? Only
the ones that you don't want a longterm relationship with
anyway. So don't panic. Don't do anything silly like try a comb
over. Embrace your new hair style and be confident that at least
25% of your peers are going through the same thing.