The most common type of hair
loss men experience is androgenetic alopecia or male pattern
baldness. Commonly referred to as simply “alopecia,” this type of
hair loss accounts for 95% of all hair loss in men.
Typically, men first
experience a slightly receding hairline and/or some thinning in the
crown or vertex area of the scalp. The loss usually continues over a
period of time and in some cases individuals will lose all their
hair in the affected area leaving only bald tissue.
What is
Alopecia?
The simplest answer is
genetic predisposition. Three factors generally influence the rate
and degree of hair loss – advancing age, genetics and
dihydrotesterone (DHT). DHT is a form of testosterone that is
produced by an enzyme in the body called 5-alpha reductase. As an
individual begins to age into their 20’s, 30’s and so on the DHT
causes the hair follicles on the scalp (with exception to the hair
on the sides and back of the head because the genetic coding in
follicles within these areas of the scalp are not susceptible to the
(DHT) to begin to slowly break down the healthy life cycle of
the hair shaft. Over time, the follicle will only produce a fine,
unpigmented, vellus hair and eventually may stop producing a hair
shaft at all. Low Level Laser Therapy is very effective in treating
this type of hair loss.
Alopecia
Areata
This type of hair loss
occurs when an individual experiences small bald patches on the body
and/or the scalp. The factors that activate this form of hair loss
are not fully understood by science. It is theorized, however, that
alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where cells of an
individual’s own immune system prevent hair follicles from producing
healthy hair shafts.
Alopecia Totalis
This form of hair loss is
extremely rare. It occurs when an individual experiences total (or
near total) hair loss on the entire
scalp.
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