Androgenic alopecia, or male pattern baldness as it’s more commonly known, currently affects approximately 6.5 million men in the UK.
The condition gets its name from the pattern that the hair loss or thinning causes on the head, with the receding hairline generally followed by the thinning of hair on the crown of the head and the temples.
Despite being a particularly common type of hair loss, the symptoms of male pattern baldness can be particularly difficult to bear.
The condition causes the follicles of the hair to slowly degrade and diminish. Most sufferers take between 15 and 25 years to reach full baldness after the appearance of those early signs.
As male pattern baldness is caused by a genetic disorder, which causes testosterone to be converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blocker to adversely affect hair follicles, you may feel you have very few places to turn in regards to its prevention or treatment.
In this blog post, we take a closer look at the treatments for male pattern baldness for those experiencing hair loss and more importantly discuss whether they really work.
Stress is regularly linked to many types of hair loss, including male pattern baldness.
But could introducing stress management techniques into your life stop your male pattern baldness symptoms from worsening? Here Healthline answers this all-important question:
“There’s no known way to prevent male pattern baldness. A theory is that stress may cause hair loss by increasing the production levels of sex hormones in the body.
You can reduce stress by participating in relaxing activities, such as walking, listening to calming music, and enjoying more quiet time.”
When exploring the causes of your male hair loss, your first stop is most likely to be your local GP surgery.
Ruling out more sinister underlying health problems is vital when you first notice signs of male pattern baldness.
Once male pattern baldness has been diagnosed, your doctor may recommend prescription medication Finasteride, also known as Propecia.
This medication comes in tablet form and must be taken daily to realise the best results. It actively works to reduce the conversion of testosterone, which as we mentioned earlier turns into DHT to trigger male pattern baldness.
Evidence suggests that Finasteride’s success relies on it being regularly taken from the early stages of male pattern baldness onwards for a prolonged period.
Over the course of 1 to 2 years, however, the same study found a clinical improvement in men with male pattern baldness.
Over a longer period of 5 years, this study found that Finasteride was effective in 90% of its male participants.
Topical treatments, such as Minoxidil or Regaine, have had varying levels of success in men with pattern baldness, with some sufferers even reporting reversed hair loss.
These treatments are applied as a lotion or foam, which is massaged into the scalp daily to prevent further follicle loss.
Research shows that 60% of Regaine users reported an improvement when using the solution daily in comparison to 30% who reported no change at all.
Men’s hair systems – which include full head wigs and hairpieces – are great options for those at all stages of male pattern baldness, even if they are undergoing any of the treatments mentioned above.
Men’s hair systems give you the confidence to live life the way you want to, regardless of your hair loss challenges.
This is particularly true when comparing hairpieces with hair transplant surgery. Whether used as a short term or long term solution, our men’s hair systems offer a high quality and affordable solution as well as an extra natural look.
Explore our men’s hair systems today to find a look that’s you!
