LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Baldness: Pattern Baldness
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Androgenic alopecia ... known as male pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss. It occurs more frequently in men than in women. It is a permanent type of hair loss and occurs in a characteristic pattern on the scalp. The hair loss begins at the temples and at the top of the head towards the back, causing a receding hairline and a bald spot. Balding may begin at any age after puberty and can range from partial loss to complete baldness. Hormonal imbalance, mainly testosterone, and genetic factors are responsible for this type of hair loss.
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Most men experience male pattern baldness because of genetics. Baldness is an inherited trait, just like the color of your hair. If your hair follicles were genetically coded for baldness, it means that even before you were born, you would be sensitive to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This hormone is what makes your hair follicles shrink as you get older... resulting in male pattern baldness. As your hair follicles shrink, your hair will slowly stop growing to its normal length – and then stop growing all together. What you’re left with is male pattern baldness.
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It is estimated that 35 million men in the United States are affected by male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia. "Andro" refers to the androgens (testosterone, dihydrotestosterone) necessary to produce male-pattern hair loss (MPHL). "Genetic" refers to the inherited gene necessary for MPHL to occur. In men who develop male pattern baldness the hair loss may begin any time after puberty when blood levels of androgens rise. The first change is usually recession in the temporal areas, which is seen in 96 percent of mature Caucasian males, including those men not destined to progress to further hair loss.
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Male pattern baldness is not a laughing matter. It usually starts with the hair at the temples, which gradually recedes to form an "M" shape. You ... may find your hair is finer and does not grow as long as it once did. The hair on the crown of your head begins to thin out and eventually at the top points of the "M" meet the thinned spot on your crown. Over time, you are left with a horse-shoe pattern of hair around the sides of your head. Any remaining hair in the balding areas usually manifests some miniaturization.
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Male Pattern Baldness is a genetic disorder that affects millions of men worldwide, causing them to gradually lose their hair over time. In fact, Male Pattern Baldness is the leading cause of hair loss in men and it ... affects women though on a much smaller scale.
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Hamilton first noted that androgens (testosterone, dihydrotestosterone) are necessary for the development of male pattern baldness. The amount of androgens present does not need to be greater than normal for male pattern baldness to occur. If androgens are present in normal amounts and the gene for hair loss is present, male pattern hair loss will occur. Axillary (under arm) and pubic hair are dependent on testosterone for growth. Beard growth and male pattern hair loss are dependent on dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Testosterone is converted to DHT by the enzyme, 5ยค -reductase.
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Pattern Baldness