The cells beneath the skin form a protein called keratin and once the hair reaches the surface these cells die. Since hair starts to grow from underneath the surface of the skin, this means the hair that we see contains dead cells. While the part of the hair underneath the skin is called the follicle, the one we see outside is the shaft or “hair”– which is a huge part of our physical appearance. When the hair produced by the follicles starts to become thinner, shorter and lighter and eventually stops growing, the process is called balding.

What is male pattern balding?

Specific and progressive thinning of hair in men affecting the front and the back of the head is called male pattern baldness. Medically, it is known as androgenetic alopecia. The balding begins at the temples and the hairline begins to recede. Over a period, the hair at the back of the head too starts to thin. When balding is severe, the hair at the back of the head starts reducing and only the sides still have some growth.

Causes of male pattern balding

• Testosterone: This hormone in men is responsible for the physical changes that happen in males starting with puberty. Testosterone is responsible for the development of the penis, testes, facial and body hair. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is another hormone in men linked to hair loss. An enzyme called 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone into DHT. The latter acts on many organs of a man’s body and, in particular, on the hair follicles. With increased DHT, hair follicles start becoming thinner and shorter. This process is called follicle miniaturization and consistent thinning leads to male pattern baldness.
• Age: In most cases, balding starts when a man is between the ages of 30 and 40. Research shows that 30% of Caucasian males show signs of balding as early as 30 and 50% of men start showing signs of balding by the age of 50. By the time they reach 70 years, about 80% have lost their hair. Caucasian men are at higher risk of male pattern baldness when compared with Asian or African males.
• Genetics: Male pattern baldness can be passed on through genes from both the mother and the father’s side. Men with such genes are likely to be more sensitive to DHT than others. There is a popular thought that balding genes are inherited from the mother. Scientists have no conclusive proof for this as mothers have two X chromosomes. If you have relatives on both your mother and father’s sides who are balding, there is a possibility that you are at risk of hair loss too. Heredity also determines the age and the speed with which the balding progresses.

When the rate of new hair growth does not match the rate at which you lose hair, you can assume that you are beginning to bald. There are a few definitive symptoms of male pattern baldness, on the basis of which you can seek out adequate treatments.