What Is Male and Female Pattern Baldness?

A huge number of men and women around the world experience one or another form of baldness, before reaching the age of 30. It is observed that most of them suffer from pattern baldness. So what is this pattern baldness? Let us try to understand it first! Read below to understand all the information related to the pattern baldness, their causes, diagnosis, and treatments.

The pattern of baldness can be generally distinguished into two types: one is male pattern baldness and another is female pattern baldness.
Male-pattern hair loss

There are various factors that contribute to male pattern hair loss such as scalp infections, nutrition deficiency, some sort of psychological condition, stress, lifestyle pattern, etc. But it generally occurs when Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is a modified form of testosterone, starts to harm the hair follicles. This leads to miniaturizing of the follicles resulting in thinner and shorter hairs/hair-fall/baldness.

Due to DHT, with time the thicker hairs start falling out and are subsequently replaced by the weaker ones which could make a person go bald in the future.

The male pattern of baldness is also strongly affected by the genetics of a person possesses. If a person’s genes are coded to provide resistance against DHT, then they will not lose any substantial hair or witness less hair fall. But on the contrary, if they are not coded genetically against DHT then the person might be more susceptible to witnessing the issue of hair loss/pattern of baldness.

Also, the genes which contribute to male pattern hair loss can come from either side of the parent’s genetics that is from the mother’s genetics or from the father’s genetics. Generally, during the male pattern baldness, the hairs start to shed from the top of the head since the follicles on the back and sides are specifically coded to defend against Dihydrotestosterone. Hence it’s common for men to have significant hairs on these portions of the head. Male-pattern hair loss is said to be progressive, which means if a male starts losing his hair at an early age then he can go bald very soon.

The signs of hair loss in men may include:

• Thinning of the hair on top of the scalp
• A receding hairline
• The exposed crown of the head and is replaced by a horseshoe-type of pattern that leaves hair only on the side and back of the skull.

How Male Pattern Baldness is diagnosed?

The male pattern of baldness is generally diagnosed by doctors via examining the scalp. The main purpose of this diagnosis is to check “what amount of hair has been lost by the patient recently and in how much time? In order to derive this information, the doctors use a device ‘densitometer’, which helps in observing the miniaturized hair follicles and the space between the hair follicles. This helps in identifying the most affected area of hair loss also known as the pattern of baldness in men.

Sometimes doctors also imply a specialized system of ‘Norwood Scale’ to classify and differentiate male pattern of baldness from general hair loss. Using this scale reference diagram of a pattern of baldness can be drawn that can help in differentiating between a receding hair-line ora complete hair loss.

What are Treatments and Preventions for Male Pattern Baldness?

The most effective treatments known for male pattern baldness are medications that block DHT, such as Finasteride, and numerous topical medications such as Minoxidil, which are known to facilitate hair growth (To be consumed only on doctor’s prescription).

Other treatments which a person can go for are scalp micro pigmentation, fake hairpieces, numerous hair supplement, and hair-loss control shampoo containing ingredients like ketoconazole, biotin, and saw palmetto which is also found useful in treating hair loss. These male pattern baldness treatments work only if adopted at the beginning of ‘hair thinning/hair fall’.

But if the hair loss has reached an advanced stage then one needs to consider the option of hair transplant surgery to restore the lost hairs. Hair transplant surgery involves transplanting hairs from the back and sides of your head (areas that aren’t affected by male pattern baldness) onto your crown, hairline, or other areas showing patterns of baldness/hair loss.
Female pattern baldness

Female pattern baldness is a type of hair loss that generally affects women. It’s somehow similar to the male pattern baldness but there is an exception, which is the pattern of hair loss in women is found to be different than that of men. Female pattern of baldness can arise due to various reasons such as Androgenetic Alopecia, women who have reached their menopause, high-stress factors, unhealthy eating habits, or poor lifestyle choices. Female pattern baldness can also be caused due to hereditary reason/genetic.

Besides these reasons, sometimes high levels of male sex hormone i.e., Androgens can also play a significant role in the female pattern of hair loss.

Normally during female pattern baldness, the hair follicles shrink which makes hair thin and fine. Furthermore, the growing phase of hair also slows down leading to a ‘decreasing rate of hair growth’.

How to diagnose female pattern baldness?

Generally, testing isn’t considered necessary to diagnose female pattern baldness, since it can be a witness right away on the scalp. But if the doctor suspects some another form of hair loss, then they might suggest a blood test to check the levels of hormones in the body such as thyroid test, androgens, iron, or other substances that can affect the growth of hair. This allows the doctor to detect the actual reason behind the female pattern of baldness.

Female pattern baldness Treatment

In the starting of female pattern baldness, the hair fall seems quite normal and manageable by women which they easily camouflage at first by adapting a new hairstyle. But as soon as the hair fall increases the situation seems to go out of hand and a pattern of baldness is visible by everyone.

In case of significant hair loss among women, the doctors can help by providing relevant medications like Minoxidil (Rogaine) which is a topical medicine known to enhance hair growth (Do not take without doctors prescription). Sometimes a diuretic known as Spironolactone is also given by doctors to their patient since the medicine is capable of blocking androgen, resulting in hair regrowth.

After assessing the hair loss situation the doctors can prescribe some supplements like folic acid, iron, biotin, omega-3 fatty acid, or omega-6 fatty acids, known to facilitate hair growth.

Besides these solutions, Platelet-rich plasma therapy has also emerged as a miraculous and proven way to treat female pattern baldness.

If none of these methods work then a hair transplant is considered as a last resort solution. There are various hair transplants clinics in India and the cost of hair transplant in India ranges around 30,000 to 1,50,000 Rs. approximately, depending upon the no. of grafts and city.

So, since you are clear about male and female patterns of baldness, don’t feel shy and go to a hair specialist doctor for getting long, beautiful hair on your scalp once again. If you are living in Jaipur then Dr. Jai Bansaland his hair clinic Dr. Hair India is the best hair transplant destination in the pink city which provides high-quality hair treatment to both male and female patterns baldness at affordable prices.