Androgenetic Alopecia

Androgenic means relating to the male hormone androgen and alopecia means loss of hair. Androgenic alopecia is common form of hair loss which can affect both male and female humans and chimps. In humans it is more particularly associated with the male species and a more common name is male pattern baldness. This type of hair loss follows a properly defined pattern, beginning above the temples. With time the rate of hair loss increases which most of the times leads to complete baldness.

Causes

There lots of different causes for the occurrence Androgenic alopecia, these may be from our environment or might be genetically inherited. There has been a lot of research in the past to try an determine what causes androgenic alopecia and it has been determined that it is related to the hormones androgens, particularly dihydrotestosterone. Androgens are important hormones for the normal sexual development of a male during different life stages. Male pattern baldness is a result of genetic sensitivity of hair vesicles which causes them to decrease in size when exposed to it. This decreases their life span and stops them from producing hair normally.

Hair loss due to life style

Genetic factors do play a principle role in the presence and development of Androgenic alopecia, lifestyle also plays a role. In Japan after World War 2 when the country moved to a more higher-fat and higher-calorie diet, this was met by an increase in male and female pattern baldness in the country. Pattern baldness was either very rare or non-existent amongst people amongst less modern societies living in their traditional manner with traditional diets. It has also been suggested that weight training may have a negative effect on hair as it increases testosterone level.

Evolutionary theories

One of the more recent theories suggests that baldness evolves in male through sexual decisions as a signal of aging and social maturity, where as there is a decrease in aggression and risk taking. This may result in a male being viewed as more sociable person but less of a physical threat, which would increase abilities to secure reproductive partners and raise progeny to adulthood.

Treatments

Although many people tend to accept hair loss as a natural phenomenon which was bound to happen, just like the changing hair color there are still treatments available to combat this. These include:-

• Minoxidil, the recommended second-line treatment
• Topical Caffeine

Dutasteride and Ketoconazole are also 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, but as of 2009 have not been FDA-approved as hair loss treatments.