Male Pattern Baldness: Androgenetic Alopecia

Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) or androgenetic alopecia is the cause of over 95% of hair loss, and is the cause hair loss in over 50% of men, as well as in a significant proportion of women. It is caused by a rise in DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a direct component of testosterone, which is produced in the testes in men, and in the adrenal glands in both sexes.

Although both men and women can suffer significant hair loss, over 50% of men will suffer with Male Pattern Baldness (MPB), also known as androgenetic alopecia, at some point in their lives. The reason behind this hair loss is a genetically inherited sensitivity to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The enzyme 5-alpha-reductase converts the hormone testosterone to DHT, the substance identified as the end-cause for hair loss.

Doctors and scientists are studying DHT production in the body to understand it more thoroughly. The scientific developments of the past two decades have brought hope and promise to many who suffer with this type of hair loss. Treatments like Rogaine®, Rogaine® for Women, Propecia, and improved surgical treatments have brought relief to many who would have previously had to settle for gradual hair loss, wigs, or hairpieces.

The discovery of the role of DHT in preventing hair loss has opened the doors to possible herbal solutions to hair loss prevention, such as saw palmetto, nettles, rosemary and horsetail.

Even more promising is the fact that the hair loss commonly known as androgenetic alopecia is found to occur mainly in Western civilization or those who have adopted the ways of Western civilization, meaning that there may be dietary practices that contribute to hair loss and therefore giving hope to the possibility that diet could control not only temporary hair loss, but androgenetic alopecia as well.