Balding is known in the medical field as alopecia. In men, male pattern balding is the most common form of hair loss. In 95% of hair loss sufferers, the cause is DHT.
Testosterone, a male hormone (or androgen) combines with the enzyme 5 alpha reductase to produce DHT (Dihydrotestosterone). In many men, there is a greater than normal production of DHT in the body, causing these men to suffer from hair loss in the form of male pattern balding.
DHT makes a waxy substance at the base of the hair follicle, which weakens, slows, and eventually ends hair growth. The hair loss associated with DHT is typically permanent hair loss.
Male pattern baldness, as a result of the way DHT functions, tends to follow a few basic patterns. Generally, male pattern balding begins with a receding hairline, followed by a bald spot in the back slowly growing to meet the still receding hair line at the front.
This leaves a man with hair just surrounding the bottom of the head, though some men lose part of this as well. While it is a common condition, male pattern balding does lead to self-esteem issues, anxiety, and depression in some men. Treatment for male pattern balding can be DHT blockers to stop further loss and/or hair restoration.
