Hair Loss In Men
Male balding has many names and is commonly referred to as any one of the following:
Androgenetic/Androgenic Alopecia | Male Pattern Balding
Scientists and medical practitioners currently believe (and have evidence to support) that male hair loss is a genetic predisposition. Thanks, mother.
The hair loss disorder is responsible for 95% of hair loss in men and it affects approximately 66% of men under the age of 35 [1]. The root cause (sorry, we had to) of hair loss is yet to be discovered and as a result of this, the number of available and effective treatments is very limited. Many institutions, businesses, and superstitious family members have jumped on this as an opportunity to promise miracle solutions, but, as much as your great uncle is a legend, his hair growth formula isn’t going to work!
As humans, our biology is highly intricate and while there is no cure for hair loss today, there is a good understanding of the biology and some of the mechanisms involved in the balding process: -
- Androgens (sex hormones):
DHT is a male sex hormone that is produced as a by-product of testosterone through an enzyme in the body called the 5α-reductase enzyme. Every day, whether you are predisposed to Male Pattern Hair Loss or not, this enzyme converts a certain amount of your testosterone into DHT in tissue such as the skin, liver, prostate, and hair follicles.
If you’re genetically predisposed to hair loss, androgens, like DHT, bind to receptors in your hair follicles, and over time thick scalp hairs are replaced with shorter, finer hairs which continue to shrink and weaken until they become virtually invisible, vellus hairs of bald skin (this is called hair miniaturization).
- Prostaglandins
Prostaglandins are lipids (fat cells) that our bodies generate in response to inflammation. This means that more prostaglandins will be found at a site of inflammation. Prostaglandins function in a “yin and yang” like manner, maintaining a delicate balance. Prostaglandins have been shown to be important in hair follicle function [2] but, more importantly, increased levels of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and decreased levels of prostaglandin D3 (PGD3) have been found in the scalp of men who are affected by androgenic alopecia [3]. Scientists believe that prostaglandin D2 inhibits hair lengthening through a receptor known as Gpr44. In addition to this, PGD2 also causes calcification (the build-up of unwanted calcium deposits in the scalp) [4] which restricts blood flow to the follicle, ultimately causing hair miniaturization and hair loss.
Even though the condition cannot be cured, solutions (both medical and non-medical) do exist to help regrow hair follicles that have not yet been completely miniaturized.
Key Hair Loss Takeaway
Hair loss is a genetic predisposition believed to be caused predominantly by DHT and prostaglandin D2.
The &BAM Perspective
Currently, there is no miracle cure for hair loss. Anyone trying to sell you that solution is being dishonest. It is best to address the problem as early as possible and to be consistent with whichever solution you choose. This is why, as a minimum, we recommend using 3-month kits. The BAM Kit is an affordable off-the-shelf solution that is based on real hair loss science.