androgenetic alopecia

What is alopecia? Alopecia is the general scientific term for hair loss. There are many subtypes of Alopecia including: Androgenetic Alopecia, Alopecia Areata, Traction Alopecia, Alopecia Universalis and so on. Put very simply, alopecia means hair loss. The other part of the name describes the subtype. The most common of which are :Androgenetic Alopecia, ( Alopecia androgenica ). Androgens are male hormones and therefore the name can be broken down to mean male hormone dependant hair loss: Male Pattern Baldness as it is more commonly known. The scientific community are still trying to get to the bottom of what actually causes male pattern baldness. Initially the male hormone testosterone was considered to be the problem. As time went by, a derivative of testosterone known as Dihydro-testosterone (DHT) was pinpointed as the bad guy. The problem is that DHT rises as we age and DHT blocking drugs do not seem to keep the problem at bay longer term - so confusion therefore still exists. Female Pattern Baldness. When women lose their hair, it tends to be more of a diffuse pattern than males. However women can have raised androgens ( male hormones ) and do adopt similar hair loss patterns to men – i.e receding temples / balding crown as well as a diffuse pattern of loss. Alopecia Areata. Patchy hair loss which usually starts off with a single bald patch. The auto- immune system is involved with this form of loss. That means that the body’s immune system amounts an attack on the hair follicle in the same manner that it would if you had a virus like influenza. The patch can sometimes correct itself or spread to a wider area. When the patch is contained to the scalp, the name Alopecia Areata is used. However should it present in the beard region the name alopecia barbae is used.Alopecia Totalis An auto-immune disease similar to Alopecia Areata that results in the loss of all hair on the scalp. It may begin as Alopecia Areata and progress into Alopecia Totalis. Alopecia Universalis An auto-immune disease that results in the complete loss of all hair over the entire body, including eyelashes and eyebrows.The Real World! It is convenient to categorise alopecia above, but in the real world the pattern of loss can present in combinations of the above:The most common example I see are: 1) A patch on the scalp ( AA ) and some eyebrow loss. 2) Male or female pattern baldness alongside alopecia areata 3) Male pattern baldness and alopecia barbae (AA)It follows you must first establish the pattern of loss before treating it, particularly as one or more patterns of loss may be present at the same time.

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Male and female pattern hair loss In men, androgenetic alopecia causes hair loss in a well-defined pattern. The process starts above both the temples. Gradually the hairline recedes to form a characteristic “M” shape. Hair loss is also witnessed at the crown (near the head top), often resulting in either partial or complete baldness. In the case of hair loss in women hair becomes thinner all over the head. However, the hairline does not recede. Total baldness caused by the disease among women is rare. Causes of male androgenetic alopecia? Androgen can be called the root cause of male androgenetic alopecia. It is a generic term referring to any natural or synthetic compound (usually a steroid hormone) stimulating or controlling the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics in vertebrates by binding to androgen receptors. The latter is an intracellular steroid receptor specifically binding the two types of androgens - testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This receptor binding allows the androgens to stimulate and regulate the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics in vertebrates. Male androgenetic alopecia is caused by androgenetic function and androgen receptors are at the centre of androgenetic functions. Genetic factors in androgenetic alopecia Androgenetic alopecia is influenced by genetic factors. People with a strong predisposition to the disease start balding in their teens. Those with a weak predisposition may start balding in their 60s or 70s. Less than 15 per cent of men have little or no baldness by the age of 70. As per research, several genes that one inherits from both of his parents play a role in this disease. Paternal hair loss reportedly correlates with alopecia possibility in sons. On the other hand, androgen receptors (AR) - that can correlate with baldness - are X chromosome linked.

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Androgenetic alopecia (a.k.a. androgenic alopecia or alopecia androgenetica) is a common form of hair loss experienced by both males and females. Androgenetic alopecia hair loss among males is also called male pattern baldness. And in the case of females it is called female pattern baldness. The reason the term “pattern baldness” is used Androgenetic alopecia is called “pattern baldness” (or “pattern hair loss” or pattern balding”) as the hair loss in the affected person follows a characteristic pattern. The pattern is potentially a reversible hair miniaturization, mostly limited to the central scalp. The difference between androgenetic alopecia hair loss among males and females: The only difference between male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness is the pattern of hair loss. Among males, the hair loss takes lace in a well-defined pattern. It typically starts above both temples. And gradually the hairline recedes to form a characteristic “M” shape. Hair loss also takes place at the crown (near the top of the head), often resulting in either partial or complete vertex baldness. Among females, the hair becomes thinner all over the head top. And the hairline does not recede. Androgenetic alopecia resulting into total baldness is something very rare among females. Treatments for androgenetic alopecia hair loss The principal medications available for male hair loss treatment and female hair loss treatment include the following: Finasteride – The original objective of its development was to treat enlarged prostate conditions. But a low dose version of Finasteride is approved to treat male pattern baldness. It tackles the factors causing androgenetic alopecia by preventing the conversion of 5-alpha-reductase into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the main male hormone linked to hair loss. And reducing its production plays an effective role in countering male pattern baldness. Women are strictly advised to consult physicians before using the drug. Dutasteride (Avodart) – It works in a manner similar to that of Finasteride. But it reportedly reduces overall DHT production to a great extent – more so than Finasteride. Women are again strictly advised to consult physicians before using the drug. Minoxidil (Rogaine) – It directly stimulates the hair follicle into an increased level of growth activity. The herbal supplements- Apart from medicines, some herbal supplements also play crucial roles in androgenetic alopecia hair loss treatment. The herbal supplements that you will find very helpful in countering pattern baldness include the following – Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens), Boarage oil, Stinging nettle (Urtica diocia), Green tea extract, Grape seeds, Apple skin, Black cohosh, Licorice, Ayurvedic antistress tea, He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum), Pygeum (Pygeum africanum), Cinnamon and Dragon Bone, Mixture of Bupleurum and Dragon Bone, Silver and Platycodon Formula.

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Alopecia is a kind of disease where the autoimmune system of the body attacks the new cells forming in the hair follicles by mistake. Its main characteristic is hair loss that is sudden and random, as well as recurrent in some cases. Alopecia affects both men and women, regardless of age. There are different kinds of alopecia; the variation depends on where the disease occurs in the body, as well as its probable causes. The different kinds of alopecia are as follows: 1. Alopecia Areata. Alopecia areata is a kind of alopecia that refers to hair loss that occurs in rounded patches. These patches can appear anywhere on the body. 2. Alopecia Totalis. Alopecia totalis refers to the loss of hair on the scalp. As the name suggests, alopecia totalis is total baldness. 3. Alopecia Universalis. Alopecia universalis is a kind of alopecia where the affected person loses all the hair on his or her body. 4. Alopecia Barbae. Alopecia barbae happens only with men. It is the loss of hair on the beard area. 5. Alopecia Mucinosa. Alopecia mucinosa happens when the hair loss is accompanied by the appearance of scaly patches on the skin. 6. Anagen Effluvium. Anagen effluvium is hair loss that is commonly associated with chemotherapy and with taking certain kinds of medication. In anagen effluvium, the hair falls off in patches, although it grows back as soon as the chemotherapy or the consumption of certain drugs is stopped. 7. Telogen Effluvium. Telogen effluvium is also called temporary hair loss. It happens when the amount of hair being shed is more than normal and the hair visibly thins. 8. Androgenetic Alopecia. Androgenetic alopecia is the type of alopecia that is considered hereditary. It is also known as male pattern baldness, although it can also affect women. In androgenetic alopecia, the hair on the scalp turns nearly transparent before falling off. 9. Scarring Alopecia. Scarring alopecia happens when the hair shedding leaves the skin scarred. 10 Traction Alopecia. When a person is prone to pulling too much at his or her hair due to styling perhaps or personal habits, the excessive pulling can discourage the hair follicles to stop developing new cells for new hair. The shedding that occurs as a result is called traction alopecia. There are varying causes for each of these different kinds of alopecia, and doctors normally isolate the cause for the ailment while examining the patient. The patient should, therefore, be honest and transparent with his or her attending doctor so that alopecia, regardless of what kind it is that is affecting the patient, would be treated properly.

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Androgenetic alopecia, better known as male pattern baldness, is the most common cause of baldness among males. No wonder that experts always take interest in studying various androgenetic alopecia cure techniques. Apart from researching on androgenetic alopecia drugs, they also take keen interests in androgenetic alopecia natural treatment. The effectiveness of the various anti-androgenetic alopecia drugs is unquestionable. Several persons have benefited from their use. However, it does not belittle the importance of the natural treatment of the disease. Several people have successfully cured their androgenetic alopecia problem through natural treatment. Androgenetic alopecia natural treatment The following herbal supplements are some of the sources useful for Androgenetic alopecia natural treatment Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) – Extracts from saw palmetto berries possess fatty acids and sterols. They create a barrier for 5-Alpha-Reductase, and also decrease DHT uptake by hair follicles. Moreover, they lower down the block binding of DHT to androgen receptors. The combination of saw palmetto’s liposterolic extract and beta-sitosterol has delivered significant improvements in anti-androgen activity in various research studies. Boarage oil – Boarage oil possesses omega-3 fatty acids. Its presence in a diet is likely to prevent hair loss. It might even promote hair re-growth. Boarage seeds also carry gamma linoleic acid (GLA). The latter, an omega-6 fatty acid, is likely to help in androgenetic alopecia cure. Stinging nettle (Urtica diocia) – Stinging nettle supposedly stimulates new hair growth and brings back natural hair color. A nettle root extract reportedly prevents testosterone from being converted to DHT, the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness. Green tea extract – Green tea extracts play bar in the way of testosterone’s conversion to DHT. Grape seeds – Grape seeds have OPCs (oligomeric proanthocyanidins). The latter stimulate epithelial cell growth. They also check the growth-inhibiting effect of a molecule produced by androgen affected hair follicles. Apple skin – Apple skin is another source of androgenetic alopecia’s natural treatment. Research has proved that procyanidin therapy is a potential treatment for male pattern baldness. Apple procyanidins are known to have far reaching hair-growth promoting capacity. The skin of immature (baby) green apples is the richest known source of procyanidin. Black cohosh - Black cohosh is able to regulate estrogen hormone levels. Therefore it may help in hair loss prevention and restoration. Black cohosh is regularly used in natural hair loss restoration formulas. Licorice – This native European herb is a key hair loss treatment agent, thanks to its ability to regulate estrogen hormone level. Ayurvedic antistress tea – By consuming a mixed drink of Nardostachys jatamamsi and Bacopa monnieri each day you may prevent hair loss. Moreover, it will help you in relieving your stress. He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) – It is a Chinese herb with hair loss remedy qualities. Pygeum (Pygeum africanum) – This herb can be another tool for you in countering male pattern baldness. Cinnamon and Dragon Bone - It provides a solution for the round spots of alopecia. Mixture of Bupleurum and Dragon Bone – It is another tool to treat round alopecia spots. Silver and Platycodon Formula - It is another herbal supplement promoting hair growth. So hopefully now you are convinced that the drugs in the market are not your only refuge. If you develop androgenetic alopecia, you may counter it by various herbal supplements. And some of them (green tea extract, apple skin, etc.) are easily available.

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