What Causes Male Pattern Baldness?

DHT, Testosterone, and Male Pattern Baldness

The most common form of hair loss is determined by our genes and hormones. By age 35 to 40, two thirds of Caucasian men experience some hair loss, and it is estimated that approximately 30% of Caucasian women are affected by hair loss before menopause.

Hair follicles produce hair in three phases. A growing (anagen) phase, which lasts from 2 to 6 years, a resting (catagen) phase, which lasts about three months, and a shedding (telogen) phase which allows the follicle to push a new hair to the surface.

Most modern medical research leans towards the position that a male hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a primary factor in hair loss. DHT, which is converted from testosterone, binds to sites on hair follicles. DHT appears to make hair follicles go into their “resting” phase faster, which in turns leads to thinning hair. Studies show that balding men don’t have higher than average circulating levels of testosterone, but they do have above average amounts of DHT in the scalp follicles. Some other causes of hair loss that have been identified are a low-carb diet (a study funded by Dr. Atkins himself found about 10% suffered from hair loss), systemic lupus, and hypothyroidism. In addition, mercury toxicity (amalgam illness), vitamin A toxicity, iron deficiency and manganese deficiency have been associated with hair loss. Many of these conditions can be detected with a simple blood test and effective treatments may be available.

Medical studies have also associated DHT with a prostate condition known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is a gradual enlarging of the prostate that occurs in men over time and may cause PSA test (Prostate Specific Antigen) values to increase.

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For more information, or to speak with a member of our professional Medical Staff, call LabSafe toll free at 1-888-333-LABS.