5 Things Even Your Dad Didn’t Know About Male Pattern Baldness

5 Things Even Your Dad May Not Know About Male Pattern Baldness – by Alan J. Bauman, M.D.

Odds are, your grandpa experienced it, probably your dad too. Is any man truly safe from hair loss?

For most men, hair loss seems unavoidable. If you look down the street, it is hard to find a man older than 40 who isn’t experiencing some degree of hair loss or thinning. If you look at the statistics, this makes sense. According to the American Hair Loss, or Androgenetic Alopecia, has been proven to be caused by the progressive miniaturization of hair follicles that are sensitive to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a breakdown product of the male hormone testosterone. Male pattern hair loss is inherited and can start anytime after puberty. Under the influence of DHT, the follicles which are sensitive to it start to miniaturize, producing progressively thinner, shorter and less pigmented hair over time resulting in a loss of coverage in a highly-recognizable pattern: recession of the frontal/temporal hairline and baldness in the crown/vertex areas. Eventually, the follicles stop producing hair altogether.

But despite its prevalence among men, there are still an abundance of misconceptions and misinformation surrounding hair loss.

Here are five little-known facts about male pattern baldness.

1. Despite what you’ve been told, it isn’t mom’s fault. Genetics are the main cause of hair loss in men and women; in fact, there are approximately 200 genes that regulate hair and hair growth. But while it has long been believed that hair loss is passed down solely from the mother’s side, we now know that the genes can be inherited from either your mother and father’s side, or a combination of the two and we are always discovering an increasing number of non-genetic factors which can accelerate hair loss. Are you at risk? New genetic tests can accurately determine an individual’s risk of losing their hair so they can begin preventative treatments early.
2. 50% of Your Hair is Gone Before it Becomes Noticeable. How early you spot your thinning hair determines how much hair you save. If you wait until the hair loss is visible to the naked eye, you’re too late – 50 percent is already gone! While this number may seem shocking, it confirms what those in the hair restoration field have long known, that the best tool in fighting hair loss is early detection, making it essential for patients to seek the advice of a certified hair restoration physician as soon as possible.
3. Your Hair Loss by the Numbers
   • 50 million men in the U.S. are reported each year to suffer from hair loss – and that’s a conservative estimate.
   • Male Pattern Baldness accounts for 95% of hair loss in men.
   • According to an ISHRS Survey, 60% of men can’t correctly spot a hair transplant
   • Men have a 4 in 7 chance of inheriting the baldness gene.
   • There are approximately 200 genes that regulate hair and hair growth.
   • If you wait until the hair loss is visible to the naked eye, you’re too late – 50% is already gone.
   • By 35, two-thirds of men will experience some degree of hair loss; and by the age of 50, 85% will have significantly thinning hair.
   • 9 out of 10 balding men cite hair loss as their No. 1 concern.
   • Over 800,000 men and women seek treatment for their hair loss each year.

   If you or someone you know has hair loss, hair thinning, baldness, or eyebrow / eyelash concerns, click to start either a long-distance virtual consultation OR an in-person, in-office consultation with Dr. Bauman. You can also Ask Dr. Bauman a Question or simply call Bauman Medical Group  at +1-561-394-0024.