Why Does Male Pattern Baldness Persist?

Hair loss in men occurs when three main factors interact: genetics, age and hormones. Male-pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, occurs as hormone levels change over the course of time. Additionally, genetic factors can also affect the likelihood of male-pattern baldness.

The genetic factors contribute to the gradual shrinkage of the tunnel-shaped structure in the skin at the base of your hair, known as hair follicles. Your hair progressively grows shorter and finer, until no new hair grows.

According to a research study by DermNetNZ, male pattern baldness affects half of all men by the age of 50. Men whohave hair loss problems in their first and second level relatives, have a higher chance of losing hair themselves. Most men develop some degree of baldness, according to their age and genetic makeup.

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Causes of Androgenetic Alopecia

Pattern baldness is typically related to these following factors:

1. Family history (hereditary hair loss): The most common cause of hair loss is a hereditary condition that occurs with aging. This condition is also called androgenetic alopecia, male-pattern baldness and female-pattern baldness. It usually occurs gradually and in the predictable patterns such as, a receding hairline, bald patch in men; hair thinning and excessive hair fall in women.

Androgenic alopecia is caused by the effect of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), derived from testosterone, on your hair follicles. Eventually, the hair follicles become so small that the hair doesn't even reach the skin surface.

1. Hormonal changes and medical conditions: A variety of health conditions can cause permanent or temporary hair loss, including hormonal changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and thyroid problems. Medical conditions include alopecia areata, which is immune system related and causes patchy hair loss; scalp infections such as psoriasis, and a hair-pulling disorder called trichotillomania. Moreover, telogen effluvium is another condition where there is more than normal amounts of hair fall. 

3. Conventional medications and nutritional deficiencies:Hair loss can be a side-effect of certain conventional medications, such as those used for stomach cancer, arthritis, stress and depression, heart diseases, high blood pressure and certain skin infections. Hair loss is also caused by malnutrition, iron deficiency (low level of iron, leading to anaemia) and other nutritional deficiencies.

1. Hairstyles and hair treatments: Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair, such as ponytails or cornrows (a hair style in which the hair is braided very close to the scalp), can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia. Certain hair treatments like straightening and hair colouring can also cause excessive hair fall. If scarring occurs there could be permanent hair loss.
2. Any stressful event: You can also experience a general hair thinning  several months after a physical or an emotional shock. This type of hair loss is usually temporary.

These hair loss factors aren't inevitable, but it is ideal to keep fit, maintain a healthy weight, avoid smoking and eat healthy in order to mitigate the hair loss problems.

According to a research study by The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), hair loss in men has been linked to prostate cancer, diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure or hypertension. A number of genetic changes have been linked to male pattern baldness, but only androgen receptor (AR) gene is associated with hair loss in men.

Although a natural part of the aging process for millions of men, hair loss can be psychologically distressing. A sudden onset of hair loss can sometimes indicate a serious health condition that may primarily need medical attention.

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