Think you have Male Pattern Baldness?
Lets make sure.

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Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) also known as Androgenic Alopecia is one of the most common hair loss problems faced by many men today. To some people, getting MPB at an early age is almost like a death sentence.

I know, because I was one of them. For 20 years MPB has given me all sorts of discomfort and embarrassment. It's a total self confidence meltdown for me. However, I believe in solutions and I would like to share it with you.

First and Foremost

Before you try any hair loss products, you have to make sure it's MPB and the stage you are in. Let us start by understanding the basics of MPB. Male Pattern Baldness is very common; it's so common in fact you see it everywhere! You might notice that lots of men have some sort of hair thinning.

In MPB, you will have the following conditions You have a receding hairline in the front temple and side of your scalp. Thinning area in your crown (top) of your head. Gradual thinning of the front part of your hair.

Remember, MPB is a progressive process. It does not happen in 1-2 weeks or in a few months! It take years to happen.

If you have a sudden loss of hair or weird bald patches, it could be another problem besides MPB.

You might want to check out my Diseases and Hair Loss section to look further for more information.

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Firstly, Know How Your Hair Grows.

Are you noticing that you are losing quite a lot of hair? Trust me, if it's been happening for quite a while now it's pretty normal.

We lose more than 50 - 100 hairs a day. It's part of the hair growth cycle. Everyone loses hair. So the hair that you find in your brush and your toilet is not the cause of Male Pattern Baldness. It's your psychological reaction towards your thinning hair.

The 3 Phases of a Hair Cycle

ANAGEN

Phase

• This is the phase your hair grows.
• It lasts between 2 to 8 years.
• Your hair looks thick and nourished.
• Your hair will grow up to half an inch a month.

CATAGEN

Phase

• This period last for 2 to 4 weeks.
• At this stage your hair slowly degrades but does not fall out.
• Your hair will normally shrink to 1/6 of its length.
• The bulb will be disconnected from the blood supply and then moves upwards.

TELOGEN

Phase

• This is the final and resting phase of the hair cycle.
• About 10-15 percent of your hair will be in the resting phase at any time.
• The new hair shaft will form and the old hair shaft will be pushed out.
• On average you will lose 50-100 hairs a day during this phase. SO IT'S NORMAL!
• New hair will grow back into place.

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How MPB Affects the Cycle

1. Our body produces a hormone known as Testosterone. This hormone is the basis of male masculinity and is dominant in males when we reach puberty.
2. Some of these hormones are then converted to DHT by our body enzymes.
3. Excess DHT in our head makes our hair follicles to thin out.
4. The hair becomes thinner and thinner till its falls out or becomes unnoticeable to you.

DHT is the main cause of Male Pattern Baldness. So now you know where the problem is!

If you want to know more about DHT and Testosterone, look in the DHT and hair loss page here.

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Diagnosing Your Male Pattern Baldness.

Now, what you need to do is to grade the severity of your problem. The Hamilton-Norwood Scale classifies the stages of Male Pattern Baldness from I to VII. I recommend you to see what stage you belong so that you can understand your condition better. From there we can search for the right treatment for you. Click on the Hamilton-Norwood Scale here to diagnose your condition.

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I must have gotten it from my uncle.. Or is it?

Has it anything to do with genetics? If someone in your family has it will you get it too? The answer is probably yes, you might get it too.

Read here further if you want to know more about genetics and hair loss.

Or could it be my baseball cap or shampoo?

There are so many urban legends and myths regarding hair loss. Take a quick visit to find out the truth of it!

The Hair Loss Myths page gives you all the answers you need!

So what is the truth?

Now you know what is all these myths are about and it's time to get the facts right.
Check out the Hair Facts page for the information that you need to know

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Okay, I hope you have now you understand the basics of Male Pattern Hair Loss. If you are suffering from this condition, don't panic. It's not the end of the world (yet). There are a lot of proven solutions and alternative treatments out there for you.

Remember, make sure you have pinpointed your problem. If you are still not sure that whether you are suffering from MPB or another condition, do check out the Diseases and Conditions page to confirm further before progressing. If it's MPB, then head to this page for solutions.

Hair Loss Treatment for Men will recommend a treatment regime for your condition.

Return to Top of Male Pattern Baldness
Return to Surviving-Hairloss.com

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