Male Pattern Baldness

Male Baldness Information

If you are suffering from male pattern baldness you aren't alone. In fact, it is estimated that about 40 million men in the United States alone are affected by such hair loss.

Male pattern baldness is also the most common form of hair loss. It results in the loss of much if not all of the hair from just above the forehead back to the top of the crown of the head. Typically left in place is much of the hair that wraps from the sideburn on the right side of the head to the sideburn on the left side of the head.

The good news is that there are a variety of treatments available that can help remedy hair loss in some way.

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Minoxidil

More than five years ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved over-the-counter sales of products containing minoxidil. Originally a blood pressure medication, minoxidil was found to also spark the regrowth of hair.

It was also discovered that minoxidil was most effective when applied to the scalp several times daily and that hair growth would continue as long as minoxidil was used.

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Dinasteride

Not long afterward, the FDA approved the use of dinasteride to treat baldness in men. Dinasteride, initially prescribed to treat prostate ailments, has also proven to help some men retain their hair and to grow new hair by reducing dihydrotestosterone (or DHT) in the body. (Increased DHT levels can result in thinning hair, then baldness.)

Minoxidil and prescription dinasteride products can be purchased online.

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A transplant is the removal of hair from one area of the head and planting it in a hairless area of the scalp. If the transplanted hair and the receiving scalp are healthy, the result scan be extremely positive for some men. In fact, there have been reports of some men regaining a natural-looking hairline.

However, it's the men with lots of healthy hair from which to glean transplant plugs that usually see the best results.

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Scalp Reduction

Yes … scalp reduction is exactly what it sounds like … the surgical removal of patches of scalp so that the remaining hair covers (with the help of implanted stretching devices) more of the exposed head.

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Hair Pieces

Good toupees have come a long way since the days of "the rug." Quality toupees are now available that are made from human or synthetic hair. There are also assorted substances on the market to attach the hairpiece to the scalp.

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Hair Weaves

There are facilities throughout the nation that can create natural-looking heads of hair by weaving prepared hairpieces to existing fringe hair. The hairpieces are made of the client's hair, human hair from another source or synthetic materials. Clients return to the facility every six weeks or so to have their hair cut and the hairpieces rewoven into existing hair.

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Herbal Help

Although only a few substances have proven to actually re-grow hair, there is little argument that Mother Nature provides materials that can help you keep the scalp healthy and increase the possibility of regaining hair.

Maintaining a clean scalp is essential. In addition, some natural substances have been known to inhibit the levels of DHT in the system, thereby reducing the potential damage that can result from dihydrotestosterone production.

.. Saw Palmetto, derived from the shrub berries of the same name, has been reported be an effective DHT reducer... Zinc has also been known to help hair follicles ward off the effects of DHT... Green tea reportedly inhibits the production of the enzyme that produces DHT.

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Bald is Beautiful

For those who find their bald state a source of pride, you also are not alone. There are a number of organizations that have been created exclusively for men such as you. One of them, said to have more than 15,000 members, is the Bald-Headed Men of America. The group has been promoting baldness pride and self-esteem for more than 25 years and has created a Bald Hall of Fame. To contact this or other such groups, search the Internet using the keywords "bald men organizations."

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