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The most common form of balding is male pattern hair loss, which is hair loss due to genetic causes. In other words, it runs in the family coming from either the mother or father's side. This type of genetic or inherited hair loss results in a receding hairline and/or balding at the crown.
Male pattern hair loss (also called androgenic alopecia) accounts for about 95% of all cases of hair loss..
Mild to moderate male pattern hair loss affects about half of all men by age 50, but many men start noticing hair loss at a much earlier age. They notice more hairs than usual in the sink, their comb or on the pillow. Then they feel and see their hair actually becoming sparser. If left untreated, total hair loss can result.
Propecia is one treatment that's been proven effective for genetic hair loss in men. (Read more about Propecia below.).
DHT is one of many male hormones in the body. DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) is important for development early in a man?s life, but it appears to be the main cause of hair loss as men get older. DHT shrinks the hair follicle until it no longer produces visible hair, although fine, fragile peach-fuzz hair may remain.
Researchers have found that men with male pattern hair loss have increased levels of DHT in the balding area of their scalps. Human hair normally follows a cycle of growth, falling out, and new growth. But increased levels of DHT contribute to the shortening of that growth phase, meaning the hair falls out sooner in its life span and is not replaced by new, healthy hair.
This results in thinning of the hair on the scalp and eventual hair loss, either partial or total.
The FDA-approved drug Propecia works by blocking the formation of DHT in your system. The active ingredient in Propecia (Finasteride) interrupts a key process in the development of inherited male pattern hair loss by lowering DHT levels in the scalp.
It's important to note that there are several other factors that can cause non-inherited hair loss (disease, injury, stress, medications). Propecia is not prescribed for those types of hair loss. It is only recommended for hair loss due to androgenic alopecia, or male pattern baldness.
Some men using Propecia (66% in studies) will experience an actual regrowth of hair while a vast majority of Propecia users (83%) stop losing their hair. So clearly the sooner you start treatment for your hair loss, the better the results will be.
Learn more about treatments for hair loss here: Hair Loss Facts
Learn more about Propecia and how it works here: Propecia FAQ
