November 15, 2022
Will The Near Future Bring A Cure For Male Pattern Baldness?
Baldness is a problem that has been plaguing humanity since the beginning, and so far, there has been little progress in curing it. The research indicates that even today, up to fifty percent of men start showing signs of androgenic alopecia by the time they hit age fifty. Androgenic alopecia, is, of course, male pattern baldness. Now, there is no cure for this affliction as of yet. However, there is some interesting research to indicate that we may be on the brink of discovery, as well as a variety of treatment options to help reduce the damage.
What Exactly Causes Hair Loss?
Before we delve into the studies, we should first understand why hair loss, as well as male pattern baldness, occurs. Now in general, hair loss can be a symptom of stress or underlying illness. For many people, if these illnesses are treated and the stress is reduced, the symptoms of hair loss can be reversed. With male pattern baldness, however, there is more of a genetic cause. This, plus a little hormone is known as DHT is the primary cause of this biological matter.
DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, is a known byproduct of the male hormone testosterone. And when a man is sensitive to the effects of this hormone, it can bind to receptors in his scalp, and thus be the direct cause of hair loss. This does not mean that every man will experience this baldness as they age, though, as not every man will be sensitive to its effects. It is purely case by case, based on genetic makeup.
Looking Into The Research
Now that we understand how baldness occurs, we can begin to look at hair loss studies. Using stem cells, researchers have been able to stimulate the growth of new hair cells in animals. There are also studies done to suggest that gene editing may one day be a potential cure for baldness as well. In these studies, genetic editing in living organisms, namely mice, has proven to be a potential way of reversing the genetic aspect of hair loss due to age. However, these potential solutions are still fairly new, and need more testing and research before they can be performed as a service.
Hair Loss Treatments That Are Currently Available
While research for a permanent cure for hair loss may still have a long way to go before being available to the public, there are still options for people experiencing it to reduce the effects, and give the illusion of hair, given it is such a widespread issue. There are PRP treatments, which are done by using your own platelet-rich plasma and injecting it at the site of treatment. It is believed that this therapy can help restore hair and reverse the effects of genetic baldness. The effects of this therapy are still being researched when it comes to hair loss of course, but it is frequently used to promote healing in joints that have suffered an injury.
Another option is laser therapy or low-level light therapy. The belief with this is that exposure to these rays can stimulate dormant hair cells and encourage growth to restart. This is through the use of medical lasers that can promote blood flow and the nutrient supply being sent to your hair cells. Of course, research is still underway with this treatment as well, so reading up on the results and effects found so far could prove interesting, as there are some promising studies on the matter.
Research has shown many ways to block DHT from being able to cause hair loss as well. The medication Finasteride, when prescribed, can greatly reduce the body’s production of the hormone. Japanese studies suggest that almost all the men who took this medication stopped losing hair, and 91.5% even had significant improvement. There are also shampoos designed to help block DHT, and while it is less effective than the medication, they can potentially help reduce the severity of male pattern baldness over time.
There are also options like minoxidil, an over-the-counter medication that promotes blood flow and the nutrient supply sent to hair cells, and hair transplants that you can utilize if you are dying to have your hair back to its youthful state.
If you have begun to notice signs of hair loss, act now! The best way to prevent it from getting worse is to treat it as soon as possible. You can schedule a private consultation at the Hair Restoration Institute for a subtle and private assessment where your health and hair goals can be discussed. Call us at 612-588-HAIR (4247) for your complimentary consultation. You can find us at 8030 Old Cedar Ave S Ste 202 in Bloomington, MN.
