Causes of Hair Loss
Hair loss in men is often called male pattern baldness (MPB) or androgenetic alopecia.
The causes of MPB are not entirely understood but are mainly due to genetics, although environmental factors can undoubtedly speed up the process in people who are already losing their hair.
In genetically susceptible people the hair follicles become overly sensitive to a form of testosterone called dihydrotestosterone (often abbreviated to DHT). DHT slowly attacks the hair follicles over time causing them to become smaller and weaker with each natural growth cycle.
Contrary to popular belief hair loss is not caused by an excess of testosterone, but individual sensitivity to the effects of DHT on the hair. Hormone levels are not different in MPB sufferers.
An effective prescription only medication is available to treat MPB called finasteride. Finasteride works by reducing the production of DHT.
As the MPB process continues most men lose their hair in a predictable pattern which has been classified by the medical profession by a scale called the Norwood Scale as shown below.
