Why Men Go Bald and What You Can Do About It

Men are more likely than women to experience baldness, with approximately two-thirds of American men experiencing noticeable hair loss by age 50. What causes men to go bald? More important, what can be done about it? As with all physical conditions and propensities, it’s important to understand the underlying cause of hair loss before receiving men’s hair restoration procedures

Hair Growth Patterns

Hair grows fairly slowly in general and usually takes a couple of months to grow about an inch. Each hair has its own follicle, which is a sheath of connective tissue and cells encompassing the root of the hair. Most hair grows in the following stages:

• Anagen: Growth stage (typically two to six years)
• Catagen: Regression phase (about 10 days) when the hair follicle shrinks and breaks off the dermal papilla
• Telogen: Resting phase (approximately three months) when the hair waits for exogen and the new hair begins to grow beneath it
• Exogen: Shedding phase when the resting hair finally detaches and falls away from the scalp

On average, the lifespan of a hair is anywhere from two to six years, after which it falls out. Within a short while, a new hair starts to grow in place of the old hair. Unfortunately, this process can be disrupted in some people, and new hairs may not grow in to replace the old hairs. When this happens, baldness occurs.

Male pattern baldness (or androgenetic alopecia/AGA) is typically identified by the transformation of thick hairs into thin and short hairs. It’s the most common cause of hair loss and increases the transparency of the scalp. As the thin, short hairs (also known as vellus hairs) fall out, they reveal a bald scalp. Approximately 25 percent of men with male pattern baldness notice thinning by the time they reach age 21.

What You Can Do About Baldness

At Dermatology Specialists, we specialize in non-invasive men’s hair restoration procedures. NeoGraft® is a safe and effective men’s hair transplant system that leaves no scars behind. To schedule your NeoGraft® consultation, call our office today.