OH! Magazine - Australian Version December 2013 (Australian Version) | Page 23

( Men’s Health )

MALE-PATTERN BALDNESS

Find out about male-pattern baldness,
which – incidentally – can also affect women.
ale-pattern baldness is the most
common type of hair loss. For a
few men, this process starts as early as
the late teens. By the age of 60, most
men have some degree of hair loss.
Some men aren't troubled by this at all.
Others, however, suffer great emotional
distress associated with a lack of selfesteem and, in some cases, depression.
Male-pattern baldness is usually
inherited and also affects women. It's
caused by oversensitive hair follicles.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is produced
by the male hormone testosterone, and it
causes the follicles to shrink and
eventually
stop
functioning.
The
involvement of testosterone in balding
has led to the myth that going bald is a
sign of virility. But men with male-pattern
baldness don't have more male hormones

M

than other men. Their hair follicles are
simply more sensitive to the hormones.

Receding hairline
Male-pattern baldness is so called
because it tends to follow a set pat