Male pattern hair loss usually begins around
the temple regions. Once strong, thick hairs begin
to shrink to very fine, vellous-like hairs. The
hairline across the temples and perhaps the front
begin to recede and create a widow's peak. See
illustration at right. Left untreated, the widow's
peak or hairline will recede further.
Although most researchers
agree that family history (heriditary)
does play a role in male pattern hair
loss, there is some disagreement and
confusion on whether it's inherited from
the mother's or the father's side of the
family. According to one recent 2005
study conducted in Germany, heriditary
hair loss was narrowed down
"...to a series of areas on various
chromosomes. In an area where the largest
contribution was suspected lay the gene
for the androgen receptor. "
(1)
The study goes on to
point out that the gene for the androgen
receptor lays with the X chromosome,
which men inherit from their mothers.
Therefore, a man's hairline tends to take
on the characteristics of his maternal
grandfather. However, the study is quick
to point out that the hereditary genes of
male pattern hair loss are not that
simple and clear cut with only one usual
suspect (gene).
"We have
indications that other genes are involved
which are independent of the parents'
sex," Prof. Nöthen stresses..
The hereditary defect can therefore
sometimes also be passed on directly from
father to son. (1)
As the debate and
research continues for a genetic trail
continues, men are left to deal with
their fading youth and searching for
treatment options.
Frontal Hair Transplants
for Receding Hairlines
According to many hair transplant
doctors we've spoken to, the majority of male patients they
treat are looking to turn back the clock on their
receding hairlines. "The first thing you see
when looking at a person is their frontal hairline,"
one doctor said. "When the hairline is
receding, it make you look older."
One
Hair Transplant Doctor reports that by establishing
a new hairline with 1 and 2 follicular unit hair
grafts, they can make many of their patients look
younger again with a natural looking hair transplant..
"That's what shows a youthful
appearance," he said. "Establishing
a new hairline gives them the ability to look
younger and takes 5 to 10 years off their appearance."
To rebuild a natural looking hairline
with hair transplants, Hair Transplant Doctors
said patients need the smallest, most natural
looking hair grafts as possible. "They
don't get any smaller then 1 or 2 hairs,"
one said. When implanting the grafts, hair
transplant doctors stagger them so they are implanted
like: - . - . - . - . - . and
not in a straight line like: . . . . .
. . .
"By staggering
those 1 hair follicular units,"
he explained, "we can give
patients a new hairline that is natural
looking and undetectable."
Finasteride and
Minoxidil
For the longest time,
minoxidil and finasteride (brand names =
Rogaine and Propecia) were thought to be
ineffective for frontal hair loss but
recent studies have shown they have had
some success in treating FRONTAL
hair loss. 
However, it
should be quickly pointed out this does
not include hair loss in the temple
regions. Dermatologists, hair
transplant doctors and scientists do not
necessarily include the temple regions in
the frontal hair loss classification.
Hair loss along the temples is not the
same as frontal hair loss. Refer to the
baldness map for clarification:
According to the official
Propecia website: "There is not
sufficient evidence that PROPECIA works
for receding hairlines at the
temples."
When it comes to stopping
a receding hairline, most experts agree
that a finasteride user's main goal
should be to maintain his hair count, ie:
to not lose any additional hair.
Finasteride has proven to be most
effective in this regard. If any new hair
growth is achieved, it should be viewed
as a bonus to one's hair loss treatment.
Unfortunately, both medications require
a lifetime committment if new hair growth or stopped
hair loss is to be maintained. If you stop using
either product, any new hair growth will eventually
be lost over 3 to 6 months. The manufacturers
of both products do not recommend using both at
the same time. Further drawbacks to these products
include sexual side-effects for finasteride users
and itchy, scratchy scalps for minoxidil users.
When factored over 20, 30 and 40 years of continual
use, the costs of each can far exceed those of
1 or 2 permanent hair transplant procedures.
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