Gradual thinning and receding hair at the hairline commonly points to a common condition called androgenetic alopecia, or patterned baldness. Although the condition affects men and women alike, women rarely recede or lose hair at the front hairline.
For men, the symptoms are much different. A receding hairline is common in almost all men with the condition. Another rare condition that may cause recession at the hairline is called traction alopecia. Traction alopecia occurs when extreme hairstyling temporarily damages hair follicles. Traction alopecia is normally not of concern due to its temporary nature.
Symptoms
The first sign of male-pattern baldness is a receding hairline. Hair at the temples gradually becomes fine and brittle. Eventually hair stops growing in these areas, and the hairline recedes to form an M-shaped hairline, or what is known as a widow’s peak. Next, the crown thins.
Both thinning areas expand until the entire top of the head is involved. In advanced stages, the condition causes complete baldness on top of the head and a ring of hair growing around the base of the head, notes MedlinePlus.
Causes
Disruptions in the hair-growth cycle shorten the duration and strength of new hair growth, causing the hair to become weaker and more likely to fall out, according to the Mayo Clinic.
This occurs as a direct result of follicle shrinkage and the presence of male sex hormones in the scalp, according to MedlinePlus. Genetics plays a role in determining who will lose their hair and at what rate.
DHT
Dihydrotestosterone or DHT, a by-product of the male hormone testosterone, builds up in the scalps of men with a genetic predisposition toward balding. DHT shortens the growth phase, or anagen phase, of hair and shrinks follicles, according to DermNet NZ.
Treatment
Treatment options for male-pattern baldness include topical minoxidil and finasteride, an oral medication. Both of these treatments slow, halt and reverse hair loss in some cases by controlling levels of DHT in the scalp, notes DermNet NZ. Other treatment options include surgical hair restoration, hairpieces and cosmetic camouflage.
Outlook
Male-pattern baldness is a permanent condition. Although some treatments may halt or slow the progression of hair loss, all progress is lost once treatments are discontinued. The only option available to restore hair permanently to men with this condition is to surgically implant new hairs in balding areas or reduce the area of balding scalp. No other treatments are considered permanent as of 2010.
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