[h=2]What is male pattern hair loss?[/h]Male pattern hair loss (also known as androgenetic alopecia) affects all men to some degree as they grow older. Progressive thinning of the hair on the head eventually leads to baldness. The hair loss usually begins at the temples, with the hairline gradually receding. Subsequently, hair at the crown (back) of the head also starts to get thinner.
In severe cases, loss of hair progresses over the entire crown of the head, leaving only a horseshoe pattern of hair around the back and sides of the head (see Figure).
[h=2]What causes male pattern hair loss?[/h]Testosterone is the most important androgen (male sex hormone) in men and is needed for normal reproductive and sexual function. Testosterone is important for the physical changes that happen during male puberty, such as development of the penis and testes, and for the features typical of adult men such as facial and body hair. In the body, testosterone is converted to DHT by an enzyme (5-alpha reductase). DHT acts on different organs in the body including the hair follicles and cells in the prostate.
In some families there are genes passed on through the family that make men more likely to have androgenetic alopecia. In men with these genes, the hair follicles are more sensitive to DHT. This leads to hair follicle miniaturization (where the hairs growing from the follicles become thinner and shorter with each cycle of growth) at a younger age.
The balding process is gradual and only hair on the scalp is affected.
[h=2]How common is male pattern hair loss?[/h]Most Australian men will become aware of hair loss as they grow older. Significant balding affects about one in five men (20%) in their 20s, about one in three men (30%) in their 30s and nearly half of men (40%) in their 40s.
[h=2]Is there a link between male pattern hair loss and prostate cancer?[/h]Because testosterone, through the action of DHT, is involved in the growth of the prostate and hair growth, some studies have been done to see if men who are balding are at an increased risk of prostate cancer. An Australian study found a link between men with vertex hair loss (hair loss from the crown only) and prostate cancer. There was no association found between prostate cancer and men with frontal hair loss, or frontal hair loss together with vertex hair loss.
More studies are needed to answer the question of links between hair loss and prostate cancer.
In severe cases, loss of hair progresses over the entire crown of the head, leaving only a horseshoe pattern of hair around the back and sides of the head (see Figure).
[h=2]What causes male pattern hair loss?[/h]Testosterone is the most important androgen (male sex hormone) in men and is needed for normal reproductive and sexual function. Testosterone is important for the physical changes that happen during male puberty, such as development of the penis and testes, and for the features typical of adult men such as facial and body hair. In the body, testosterone is converted to DHT by an enzyme (5-alpha reductase). DHT acts on different organs in the body including the hair follicles and cells in the prostate.
In some families there are genes passed on through the family that make men more likely to have androgenetic alopecia. In men with these genes, the hair follicles are more sensitive to DHT. This leads to hair follicle miniaturization (where the hairs growing from the follicles become thinner and shorter with each cycle of growth) at a younger age.
The balding process is gradual and only hair on the scalp is affected.
[h=2]How common is male pattern hair loss?[/h]Most Australian men will become aware of hair loss as they grow older. Significant balding affects about one in five men (20%) in their 20s, about one in three men (30%) in their 30s and nearly half of men (40%) in their 40s.
[h=2]Is there a link between male pattern hair loss and prostate cancer?[/h]Because testosterone, through the action of DHT, is involved in the growth of the prostate and hair growth, some studies have been done to see if men who are balding are at an increased risk of prostate cancer. An Australian study found a link between men with vertex hair loss (hair loss from the crown only) and prostate cancer. There was no association found between prostate cancer and men with frontal hair loss, or frontal hair loss together with vertex hair loss.
More studies are needed to answer the question of links between hair loss and prostate cancer.
