Hair loss affects millions of people, but that doesn’t mean you have to just put up with it. Male pattern baldness (MPB), also known as androgenic alopecia, is characterised by thinning hair or a receding hairline. The good news is that there have never been more science-backed hair care products for preventing baldness and encouraging hair growth. Continue reading to find out more.
What Is Male Pattern Baldness?
Male pattern baldness, also called androgenic alopecia, is the most common type of hair loss in men. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), more than 50 per cent of all men over the age of 50 will be affected by male pattern baldness to some extent.
Causes of Male Baldness
Men normally lose their hair when three main factors interact: genetics, age, and hormones.
Male-pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, occurs as a man’s hormone levels fluctuate throughout his life.
Genetic factors also influence male-pattern baldness.
These factors contribute to the gradual shrinkage of scalp hair follicles, which are tiny cavities in the skin at the base of hairs. Hair gradually becomes shorter and finer until no new hair grows.
Most white men develop some degree of baldness according to their age and genetic makeup. Male pattern baldness affects up to half of all white men by the age of 50 years and up to 80 per cent of men in the same group by the age of 70 years. Other ethnic groups, such as Chinese and Japanese, are less affected.
Can Male Baldness Be Reversed?
It’s not always possible to reverse hair loss, but the sooner you take action, the more likely you’ll see good results. While not guaranteed, many people can stop or slow down hair loss—and sometimes even regrow hair—using the science-backed solutions below.
Techniques to Address Hair Loss
1. Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a hair loss treatment available over-the-counter and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It comes in foam or serum form and is useful for hair regrowth. Minoxidil promotes beard growth while treating hair thinning and scalp baldness. It revitalises and expands your hair follicles, promoting naturally thicker hair growth.
Male pattern baldness can be effectively treated with minoxidil. For 48 weeks, participants in an older 2002 study who used 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil experienced faster results and 45% more hair regrowth.
Minoxidil has also been shown in studies to help awaken dormant hair follicles. It can be used as a gel, foam, or solution. It is available as a gel, foam, or solution. In a topical application, the skin absorbs about 2% of the medicine (involving a low drug concentration). It promotes faster and thicker hair growth.
How to use it?
Here are the steps to use the topical solution:
- It is essential to dry out the hair thoroughly before applying the solution.
- Fill the dropper (available with the solution) with 1 ml of the solution.
- Apply on the patchy or bald areas using a dropper. Part the hair properly so that the solution comes into contact with the scalp.
- Use your fingers to rub the solution along the scalp for better penetration and let it sit for 4-5 hours.
- Lastly, wash your hands properly with soap and lukewarm water.
2. Finasteride
Finasteride is a medication used to treat male pattern baldness, affecting the scalp’s crown and middle.
This medication comes with a number of warnings about its use. It is only appropriate for adults and is not appropriate for pregnant or breastfeeding women or children.
Finasteride was initially developed by scientists to combat prostate cancer. It works by lowering the level of a hormone known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the scalp. DHT appears to thin hair follicles on the scalp, so lowering DHT levels may promote hair regrowth and slow hair loss.
Finasteride, unlike minoxidil, does not affect hair growth in other body areas.
Finasteride is available in topical and oral formulations. According to a 2020 review, the topical formulation of this drug is less likely to cause serious side effects than the oral version.
How to use it?
All you have to do to use finasteride is take a tablet once a day. Finasteride is an oral medication that can be taken with or without food. For best results, try to take finasteride at the same time every day.
3. Biotin Hair Gummies
This is a relatively newer entry in the hair care industry. Biotin hair gummies usually come in packs of 30 or 60 chewable gummies designed to last for a month or two. Vitamins are essential for healthy hair. Usually, these hair gummies consist of zinc and multivitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E to strengthen your hair. It can also help delay hair ageing, improve hair texture and protect hair from harmful radicals. All this to give you voluminous, smooth hair.
4. Ketoconazole Shampoos
Ketoconazole shampoo is an anti dandruff shampoo that is used to treat scalp fungal infections. You can use it to treat conditions such as stubborn dandruff and psoriasis. Ketoconazole is most commonly used for its antifungal properties to treat infections, but there is anecdotal evidence that it may promote hair growth and reduce hair loss. A pilot study involving 15 people with alopecia showed that ketoconazole anti dandruff shampoo might promote hair regrowth.
Summing up
If you have stress-related hair loss, your hair follicles have not been permanently damaged. Managing your stress and taking care of your health may result in your hair growing at a normal rate again.
Consult your hair doctor if over-the-counter remedies aren’t working or you do not see results. They can assist you in determining the cause of your hair loss and advise you on the next steps. They can help you determine the best treatment plan for your symptoms if regrowth is possible. You can also explore science-backed hair care products by ManMatters catered to address different hair problems. They also have a dedicated hair care app where you can consult with a hair doctor about your options from the comfort of your home and get a personalised hair care regimen depending on your hair concerns.
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