Friday, May 1, 2009

Steps to Pro-actively Address Male Pattern Baldness

By David U. Goodman


Did you know that two-thirds of American men experience a marked loss of hair before the age of 35, and that by the age of fifty 85% of men have some significant thinning of hair? Are you one of the millions of men who is beginning to experience hair loss? Or are you already coping every day with the frustration of a bald spot that just keeps getting bigger and bigger?

If you are one of the many men currently experiencing hair loss - you're not alone. One look at the statistics above will tell you that! And while hair loss in men may be acceptable in our society it can be the source of much quiet desperation and frustration for those of us as individuals who aren't prepared for it. Most of us would do almost anything to stop or reverse our hair loss! There are a number of treatments available, but the process of finding one that works for you can be both time consuming and expensive.

Available treatments vary depending upon the root cause of an individual's hair loss. Some cases cannot be effectively reversed but many can. Before trying to find a treatment to slow or reverse your hair loss you should understand the various conditions that can cause it.

* Heredity and Male Pattern Baldness (MPB). By far the most common cause of male hair loss, MPB is hereditary and usually treatable. MPB is directly attributable to approximately 80% of the cases of premature hair loss in men. There are several products designed to ward off MPB - the key is to find one that works for you.

* Hormonal Imbalance. Hair loss can be an indication that a serious health issue exists and needs to be addressed. A problem with your thyroid gland can create a hormonal imbalance in your body that can lead to hair loss. Once corrected your hair will return, but it is important to consult your physician if you suspect your hair loss is health related.

* Fungal infections. Infections such as ringworm can invade the hair and skin of your scalp, resulting in hair loss. Once infections are treated, hair generally grows back. Fungal infections can be treated with an oral or topical medication.

* Medications. Check the label of all medications (prescription and over-the-counter) that you are currently taking - some of these will often list hair loss as a potential adverse effect. Typically radiation treatment and chemotherapy are considered root causes of hair loss but many other medications can be responsible for some degree of hair loss as well. Consult your physician if you have questions regarding medications that you are currently taking if you feel they might be responsible for hair loss that you are experiencing.

* Underlying disease. Diabetes or the onset of diabetes can result in hair loss. Also, lupus can be responsible for hair loss. Be vigilant for other symptoms that might accompany thinning hair, as underlying illnesses are usually accompanied by other symptoms. If you feel that an illness might be responsible for your hair loss be sure to consult your physician.

As you can see, you really need to rule out illness, infection and medication as root causes of your hair loss. It is important that you do so to assure that some underlying health issue does not go unaddressed. That having been said, given the statistics it is likely that Male Pattern Baldness is a factor in your hair loss. If this is the case there are a number of remedies available that each show varying levels of effectiveness in different subjects. You can likely find one that will slow or even reverse your hair loss, but searching can be difficult and expensive.

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