Male Pattern Hair Loss: The Most Common Hair Loss Pattern in the World

by Monica C.

Posted on Sunday 23rd of August 2009

Male pattern hair loss is the most common hair loss pattern in the world. It occurs both in males and females, though females rarely undergo the more brutal and humiliating final phases of MPH. Usually, women only suffer from receding hairlines and generalized thinning.

Men, on the other hand, are mostly subjected to a saddening experience where the thinnest hairs fall off in the very end.

Pattern Thinning

As you may already know, hair loss is actually a complex process. First, the body will not allow every hair to fall at the same time. Accelerated, generalized hair loss is only possible when a person is ill, or is undergoing any treatment that involves radiation.

Pattern thinning is actually a cumulative process of hair loss. The death of the hair cells occur in measured waves. Usually, the front of the hairline suffers first. When the process of eroding the hairline is complete, only the wreath or fringe hairs remain.

Androgenic Alopecia

Androgenic alopecia is one type of pattern thinning that affects a large segment of the population. While figures vary from country to country it is estimated that in the United States, more than 95% of all balding men are affected by AN.

Men who really have the genetic predisposition to develop androgenic alopecia will notice that as they go through their twenties, their hairline will already begin to suffer. Characteristically, the hairline will begin to 'creep' backward, as hair falls successively from the front.

Some men on the other hand, would begin to lose their hair from the very top portion of the skull, slowly spreading outward.

What You should Do?

If you're already seeing signs of androgenic alopecia on your scalp, the very first thing that we recommend that you do is to consult with your doctor. Looking into guides and books would be useless if you don't know what you're up against and to what extent.

Your doctor would examine your scalp for any signs of diseases and would study the current pattern of balding. Once he has established these parameters, he would probably give you a prescription. If all medical science fails, perhaps it's time that you consult with a hair replacement specialist.

2 Types of Hair Replacement Specialists

There are 2 main kinds of hair replacement specialists. The first kind is also a kind of doctor that specializes in methods that aim to bring back hair production on your scalp. The second type doesn't have training in medicine but can still help you.

The second type of hair replacement specialist is the wig maker. The wig maker specializes in measuring your hair, your level of baldness and what kind of wig would be best for you.

Propecia and Minoxidil

The 2 aforementioned drugs are the most popular with men and women who are suffering from balding. Minoxidil especially, has been gaining ground since the nineties. Do these products work? It depends on the patients themselves. The company that first distributed Minoxidil claims that progress with hair re-growth will come within a few months. Propecia on the other hand, has been marketed to counter balding in steroid users.