The most common type of male pattern baldness is androgenetic alopecia. The disease is hereditary and is triggered by the accumulations of excessive amounts of dihydrotestosterone (sex hormone). Androgenic alopecia in men responds well to early treatment.
Androgen - what is it
We are talking about specific sex hormones present in both sexes. Androgen is synthesized in several places—these can be the adrenal glands, ovaries or testes.
The hormone presented is important because:
- ensures the production of sperm;
- guarantees the growth of bone and muscle tissue;
- has a positive effect on libido, degree of performance and mood;
- improves the functioning of the brain.
A decrease in the amount of the hormone is not critical for vital functions. However, it can be a factor leading to androgenic alopecia. Other diseases can develop: pituitary insufficiency, testicular pathology - the treatment of which should be started as early as possible.
Causes of androgenic alopecia
From the point of view of physiology, an increase in dihydrotestosterone in the blood leads to the development of the disease. It is also influenced by the increased susceptibility of follicles to this hormone. Another factor in the development of alopecia is a high degree of enzyme activity, as a result of which testosterone begins to degrade.
In addition to changes in the hormonal plan, the appearance of androgenetic alopecia in men can be influenced by:
- hereditary predisposition;
- accession of chronic pathologies;
- acute and rapidly developing infections;
- diseases of the digestive system;
- prolonged stress, depression;
- pathological changes in the work of the genitourinary system;
- taking medications;
- bad habits;
- poor nutrition, the use of low-quality products.
The list of provoking factors also includes a lack of vitamins and minerals, especially retinoids. Prolonged use of strong medications, alcohol consumption or smoking can lead to male pattern baldness. Another serious factor in androgenetic alopecia can be poor environmental conditions in the place of residence or work.
Who's at risk the most
If a man is often faced with stress, then the likelihood of baldness in him increases. The same applies to poor nutrition or the presence of bad habits, which aggravates metabolism, metabolism and leads to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, hepatobiliary and endocrine systems.
Most often, androgenic alopecia in men is formed with the simultaneous influence of two or more factors: genetic predisposition and poor nutrition, or others. That is why it is very important that a man lead a healthy lifestyle, take vitamins and systematically visit a doctor, undergo full-fledged treatment.
How often does it occur
The androgenetic type of baldness in the stronger sex is most often identified. He is allotted from 20% of the total number of such cases. At the same time, androgenic alopecia in men develops already at the age of 20 to 30 years, which indicates a serious dependence on hereditary causes.
Symptoms of androgenic alopecia
Trichologists pay attention to seven successive stages of the development of the disease.
On the first of them, bald patches are formed, which affect the forehead and the edges of the temples. Further, the man will develop bald spots in the form of a small triangle. As androgenetic alopecia develops, it will move towards the crown.
At the next stages, the symptoms of male pattern baldness are as follows:
- Active hair loss in the forehead and temples. The first curls in the parietal zone may become thinner.
- The appearance of well-defined areas that suffer from androgenetic disease. Two affect, respectively, the temples and forehead, one more - the crown.
- Lack of clear boundaries between balding areas. Such areas in their shape with androgenetic alopecia begin to resemble a horseshoe.
- An even more rapid spread of balding zones in men throughout the crown, frontal and temporal parts.
At the last stage of androgenic alopecia in men, an extensive bald patch is identified. In its shape, it already clearly resembles a horseshoe.
Diagnostics
A number of laboratory tests will be required prior to treatment. A clinical blood test is mandatory, the indicators of endocrine gland hormones, as well as male sex hormones, are checked. To fully monitor the condition of a man, one cannot do without checking the blood for the presence of syphilis and various lymphocytes.
More specialized studies are also being applied. They are indispensable in order to study not only the condition of the hair, but also the follicles. If androgenetic alopecia is suspected, hair shaft microscopy and a peeling stage are performed.
A pull test is imperative to determine how thin it is. A biopsy of the scalp with further immunofluorescence study and microscopy is also required.
Signature Treatment Flagship Store
It is advisable to consult a trichologist at the initial stage of the development of pathology. This will help increase the effectiveness of the therapy. In this case, the treatment should be comprehensive.
Preparations
Doctors prescribe drugs that regulate the ratio of hormones. We are talking about Penester, Proscar, Finasteride and Minoxidil. Drugs from a pharmacy are usually not used in combination, but separately from each other in order to eliminate hormonal imbalance.
More modern drugs that can be combined with Minoxidil and other medicines have been actively used in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. The treatment will be effective because they are formulated on the basis of polyunsaturated fatty acids and are able to inhibit the activity of an enzyme that destroys hair follicles.
A similar algorithm of action is possessed by preparations based on zinc or vitamin B6. They are also used as primary agents for the growth of facial hair.
Folk therapy
Self-prepared means will be an addition to drug therapy. For example, herbal shampoo. To obtain it according to folk methods, it will be necessary to combine hop cones, root parts of burdock and calamus with each other. Dry ingredients are taken in proportion: for four parts of hop cones - one part of burdock and calamus roots. The herbs are poured over with 1 liter of hot water, brought to a boil and boiled for 10 minutes.
Then this future medicine for androgenic alopecia in men is infused for 30 minutes and thoroughly filtered. It is recommended to wash your hair with infusion every other day.
Another remedy for baldness is a wild garlic mask. For its preparation, the plant, together with the root part, is crushed as much as possible to a mushy state. The finished mask is distributed over problem areas, and after 35-45 minutes it is washed off with regular shampoo. It is recommended to carry out the procedure for androgenetic alopecia several times a week.
Surgery
In situations where the above treatment methods do not give a positive result, a hair transplant operation is performed. The transplant is usually done using your own hair. The final result will depend on the stage of androgenetic disease and the characteristics of the male body.
Androgenic alopecia in men can be stopped in two ways. The first is the transplantation of follicles from the back of the head and other parts of the body using the STRIP technique. In this case, the man is transplanted with his own follicles. In one such transplant, it will be possible to transplant at least 2000 bulbs.
Transplantation is also performed using the FUE technique. The procedure is carried out using specialized miniature instruments. Various areas can act as donors: from the back of the head and abdomen to the hips or back.
Procedures
For androgenic alopecia, a laser is used for treatment. The of such radiation with a low degree of intensity will help start cell influence metabolism, and also normalize blood microcirculation. In addition, the procedure is useful for men, because as a result, the hair is not only strengthened, it begins to grow better, becomes denser and thicker.
Physical therapy can also include:
- galvanization - an increase in the degree of vascular permeability due to exposure to minimal current discharges;
- mesotherapy — normalization of nutrition, provided by the introduction of injections under the skin with cocktails of vitamins;
- massage - improving the blood circulation process, which has a positive effect on the general condition and growth rate of curls.
Electrotrichogenesis is also carried out. The technique used in androgenetic alopecia, allows you to activate the hair follicles under the influence of an electrostatic field. It is possible to combine massage with electrophoresis to speed up treatment and recovery.
Additional recommendations
In addition to apparatus therapy, you need to pay attention to other tips from trichologists. It is important for men with androgenic baldness to use vitamins, saturate their body with trace elements, dietary supplements, biotin.
The menu will be adjusted by excluding coffee and alcoholic beverages from the diet. To speed up the treatment, it is necessary to give up fatty, salty, flour and spicy dishes. For androgenetic alopecia, it is highly recommended to eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day.
How to prevent relapse
To exclude the development of the disease will allow rational nutrition, the use of multivitamin complexes.
Also, cope with androgenic imbalance will allow:
- high degree of activity;
- elimination of negative environmental conditions;
- the use of such cosmetics, which is suitable for a certain type of curls, as well as the scalp;
- early treatment of pathological conditions.
If a man has a high likelihood of developing androgenic alopecia, it is strongly recommended to systematically monitor the ratio of sex hormones. This will prevent future surges in DHT. In case of hair problems, it is better to consult a trichologist, without waiting for the first signs of baldness, which will have to be treated comprehensively.
