Hair Loss in Men
Most men experience at least some degree of hair loss in their lifetime, with the numbers increasing continuously with age. By their late 20′s, approximately 12% of men experience some hair loss. By the time a man is in his 50′s, he has a greater than 50% chance of displaying some genetic baldness.
The psychological effects of male hair loss vary greatly, with some people barely paying attention to their thinning hair and others being affected so severely that even a small amount of hair loss can limit their ability to feel comfortable in social situations and prevent their normal functioning at work. It is important that those who are having unusual difficulty dealing with their hair loss receive psychological support or counseling as well as medical treatment.
Fortunately, there are a number of medical treatments that can prevent shedding or postpone male hair loss in its early stages, and there are hair restoration treatments for men which can restore a completely natural look, even if the hair loss has advanced. Over the past 10 years, treatments have improved dramatically, particularly with the introduction of the oral medication finasteride (Propecia) and the development of the surgical hair transplant procedures Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). Over the next decade we look forward for further progress towards the goal of cloning one’s own hair for the purposes of hair restoration, a technology in which significant progress has been made, but that is not yet available.
For a more in-depth analysis of hair loss in men, read about the causes of hair loss in men, how it is classified, and how the physician makes a diagnosis of a patient’s hair loss.
Medical treatment of hair loss and surgical hair transplant and restoration procedures are covered in detail in other parts of this site.
