About Hair Loss
As all hairs are shed at the end of their growth cycle, some degree of hair loss is accepted as normal in every individual. During the resting stage of the hair growth cycle the hair relaxes its hold on the hair root and the bulb of the hair shaft moves closer to the surface of the skin.
Over time, usual hair movements, shampooing and brushing causes the hair root to loosen further. Eventually, the hair is shed. The shedding of around 50 to 150 hairs per day by this way is normal. On following days, the hair follicle grows a new hair to replace the one, which is shed.
For further information on this cycle of hair growth you may refer to the previous section. Actual quantity of the hair shed each day depends upon several factors, including the total number of full sized terminal hairs a person has, average duration of his or her hair growth cycle and the extent of physical activity that the hair is subjected to; such as vigorous shampooing etc.
The number of damaged and broken hair shafts must also be considered; because these increase the apparent number of shed hairs. In fact many of the hairs that are suggested to be shed are in fact, broken hair shafts due to several reasons.
Androgenetic Alopecia
The most common hair loss condition in men is known as Androgenetic Alopecia or Male Pattern Baldness. Over 98% of men who suffer hair loss fall into this category. MPB gets its name from the look that most men acquire due to the condition.
Research has shown that MPB is genetically influenced and that outside factors do not seem have any influence at all. The characteristic receding hairline associated with MPB is usually seen in men over the age of 25 but cases in older teenagers are not uncommon.
The hair loss follows a definite pattern which, over time, leads to a horseshoe shaped hairstyle with hair on the back and sides of the scalp but none whatsoever on the top of the head. The loss can start at the hairline or the crown but the outcome is the same.
Androgenetic hair loss has affected mankind throughout history as we deduce from the oldest historical records. Moreover, evolutionary evidence suggests that the history of androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) is longer than the history of the human race. Because, the closest non-human primate relatives, namely orangutans and gorillas, can also experience this kind of hair loss, in other words, develop androgenetic alopecia.
Ancient scientists realized that male pattern baldness is seen only after puberty. They have also found that the hair loss could be stopped by castration before puberty and that after puberty, it is impossible to stop the hair loss. This is because once the hair follicles are exposed to androgens, they are fated to become androgen-sensitive and androgenetic alopecia cannot be prevented after that time.
It has been believed for a long time that androgenetic alopecia (or male pattern baldness) was an inherited systemic disease associated with sexual development. However, this belief of "modern" medicine was conflicting with the results of observations made hundreds of years ago, by Ancient scientists who believed that anyone who reached puberty could experience hair loss and become bald irrespective of their family history. But today, with the help of greater knowledge on genetics and on the chemistry of male hormones, we know very well that the pathological basis of androgenetic alopecia is formed by the effects of male hormones on genetically susceptible individuals.
Although it is called "male pattern hair loss" or "male baldness", androgenetic alopecia can also affect women and androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss in female patients.
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