Hair loss for men is almost always due to genetics, inherited genes from both parents predisposing the individual to a fate of male pattern hair loss. But it is not the only reason so we offer you a guide on when you need to speak to a doctor.
Male Pattern Hair Loss
The immense complexity of hair growth, with over 200 genes involved in the process and so many interlinked processes in the human body required to make everything run correctly, might make you think it is almost a miracle any of us grow any hair at all.
The physical manifestation of male pattern hair loss is a little easier to grasp. Usually beginning with a recession at the temples and followed, or accompanied, by thinning hair on the crown. This is followed, either very quickly or with a large gap, by a slow advance until you eventually arrive at a ring of hair connecting your ears that runs around the back of your head. On closer examination, what you witness is a shrinking of the follicles that produce the hair in the affected area. Until it finally produces no hair at all… it does, however, stay alive and inspire hope that something might be salvaged. Not forever though, the follicles will eventually return to being normal skin.
Hair Alert
The condition of your hair is a pretty good gauge for your general health, any deficiencies will manifest. That said, your appearance is typically how a doctor will diagnose you as having male pattern baldness. He will expect to see hair missing from the right areas. But he will also be on the lookout for a handful of other indicators that might suggest something else is going on. If the hair is being lost in patches for example, or if a significant amount of hair has suddenly shed, or broken. Also, if the hair loss is accompanied by any other skin disorder, like redness or a rash, but especially if there is pus or pain.
If the doctor has any concerns that the hair loss might be due to a factor other than genetics there are a series of simple tests that can be carried out to identify the culprit… and treat it effectively in most cases.
When To See The Doctor
If you present with any of the symptoms mentioned you should be making an early appointment. So if you suddenly start breaking hair, or losing lots of hair, especially if it is falling out in unusual places… places other than the temples or top of the crown. If you start losing hair after starting a new medicine. If the hair loss is accompanied by pain, pus, itching, swelling or redness.
HIS Hair Clinic
The single most important piece of advice is not to panic, but not to delay either. The sooner you start treatment the better… bear in mind that we do not usually notice our own hair loss until it has already considerably advanced.
