There are pictures in my parents’ home of my dad as a young man. In one, he is wearing a heavy winter coat and gloves, curly hair comes out at the edges of his hat. As he aged, a bald spot began to grow on the crown of his head. When I was a kid, I could find my father in a crowd by searching for his bald spot.
Now that he’s in his late 60s, his bald spot has grown to cover a most of his head, although he still has some hair on the sides of his head. My grandpa, by contrast, was completely bald by the time he was in his 60s.
A client recently shared this story after coming to see me about his thinning hair. He was concerned that he too, may be following in his grandfather’s footsteps. His questions prompted me to write this blog post.
What is male-pattern baldness?
Male-pattern baldness is a condition affecting up to 50 percent of all men. It is caused by a mix of genetics and male hormones. The medical term for male-pattern baldness is androgenetic alopecia.
Androgens are male hormones that react with the hair follicles, shrinking them, causing thinning hair, and eventually resulting in hair loss. Even though hair isn’t visible on the head, the hair follicles are still alive, which is why certain treatments, such as Rogaine, can be successful.
The pattern in male-pattern baldness is an M shape. The hair loss typically begins at the hairline or temples and gradually affects a larger portion of the scalp. Some men lose all of their hair, while others have a bald spot with hair growing on the sides.
If hair loss runs in the family, are you automatically going to lose your hair too?
While there is a high genetic correlation with male-pattern baldness, you are not guaranteed to lose your hair if your family members have hair loss. However, having a family history does increase the likeliness.
What treatment or products can slow the process down?
There are hair loss treatments for men experiencing androgenetic alopecia. These include minoxidil, more commonly known as Rogaine, and finasteride, with the brand name of Propecia.
- Rogaine is applied to the head and must continue to be used for hair growth to continue – once you stop using it, your hair will begin thinning again.
- Propecia is a hair regrowth treatment that lowers the level of adrogens, or the hormones that cause hair loss. It is a pill that is taken once a day. Like Rogaine, once you stop taking it, your hair will begin falling out again and any increase in hair growth will be lost.
- Hair Transplant a.k.a. Hair Grafting: An outpatient procedure, this is typically performed in your doctor’s office. With this procedure a patch of scalp from a donor area is cut into small segments, then transplanted into the balding area. The donor area is then closed with stitches, which usually come out in about 10 days. The end result is very natural looking and virtually undetectable.
Restoring Hair for Men and Women
Are you experiencing hereditary hair loss? To find out more about which treatment options are available for hair loss and thinning hair as well as other African-American hair loss treatments specifically designed for Afro-textured hair, schedule a Frank & Honest Hair Consultation or contact our team in New York City or Columbus, Ohio.
