Hair loss (alopecia or baldness)
There are approximately 100,000 hair follicles on the scalp. Hair is the second fastest growing tissue in the human body, the first being bone marrow. The rate of hair growth is about 1.25 cm (0.5 inches) per month. With age the speed of hair growth significantly slows down, and may turn out to be only 0.25 cm (0.1 inch) a month. Baldness becomes visible only when the amount of lost hair approaches to 50%. Hereditary hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) is the most common form of hair loss in men, and is responsible for more than 95% of all cases of baldness. Hair are a protein product of follicles and so are sensitive to changes within the body, and hair loss is often the result of an internal disorder. What is hair loss? Hair loss (alopecia) is a tendency of follicles to stop producing hair growth, leading to a decrease in the amount of hair. Although alopecia can occur anywhere on the body, it is especially distressing when it affects the scalp. It usually develops gradually and may be patchy or diffuse.
Other
One cause of male pattern baldness is genetics, or having a family history of baldness. Research has found that male pattern baldness is associated with male sex hormones called androgens. The androgens have many functions including regulating hair growth. Each hair on your head has a growth cycle. With male pattern baldness, this growth cycle begins to weaken and the hair follicle shrinks, producing shorter and finer strands of hair. Eventually, the growth cycle for each hair ends and no new hair grows in its place. Inherited male pattern baldness usually has no medical ill effects. However, sometimes baldness has more serious causes, such as certain cancers, medications, thyroid conditions, and anabolic steroids. See your doctor if hair loss occurs after taking new medications or when it’s accompanied by other health complaints
