What cases hair loss in men?
The most common cause of hair loss in men is androgenetic alopecia, or male pattern baldness. It affects up to 50-70%of men in their lifetime and there is a genetic component.
The usual presentation is slow progressive hair loss with associated ‘miniaturisation’ of the hair follicles. The once thick terminal hairs gradually changes in to finer, weaker hair.
The exact pattern in which this occurs can vary though usually the hair line and temples are affected first and then the crown. The Hamilton-Norwood scale can be used to classify the extent of male pattern hair loss.
The cause of male pattern hair loss is genetic and is thought to be related to how sensitive you are to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It can be passed on from either side of the family and it can be treated effectively.
The treatment for male pattern hair loss can be broken down in to non-surgical and surgical.
Will I need surgical treatment or can it be treated without surgery?
In the early stages of male pattern baldness the hair follicles shrink, gradually becoming thinner over time. This is known as follicular miniaturisation and can be treated effectively by non-surgical treatments.
If however you are more advanced and those follicles have become dormant the only way to restore your hair will be through surgical hair transplantation.
Both treatments work effectively which means great natural results can be achieved over time.
Often the best results will be obtained by using a combination of surgical and non-surgical treatments.