Male pattern baldness can be a frustrating and embarrassing problem for many men. As a result, they tend to spend a lot of time reading everything they can about the condition and a lot of money on products that promise to reduce or replace hair loss.
However, much of the information out there is contradictory, confusing, or completely wrong. In order to treat the condition, it is important to first understand the myths about it and the truth behind them.
There are many causes of hair loss. The first myth about male pattern baldness is that this type of hair loss can be triggered by medication, stress, or wearing the hair in a ponytail. However, although these things can lead to losing some hair, the loss associated with it is temporary. Once the person’s stress level is reduced, they stop taking the medication, or they style their hair differently, their hair will return to normal.
Pattern loss, on the other hand, is caused by hormones and genetics. Men who are predisposed to it have hair follicles which, over time, become overly sensitive to the androgens in their body, thus causing the body to reject them. This hair loss is much more serious than other kinds and not nearly as easy to treat.
The second thing that many people tell victims of male pattern baldness is that their product will regrow hair in areas where it is completely non-existent. Many men accept this myth easily, because they want to believe that it is possible to reverse their hair loss. Unfortunately, however, it is not completely true. Hair, for the most part, can only be thickened in areas where it is still growing. Bald patches on the scalp, where the skin is completely smooth and hairless, usually cannot be helped. However, since most men suffering from baldness have a combination of slick skin and bald patches, they can still benefit from getting on a hair loss treatment plan.
Lastly, men are led to believe that any hair loss product will work for male pattern baldness. This, also, is a myth. Because these men are losing their hair due to hormones, there are only two kinds of products that can treat their hair loss problem. These include hormone blockers, which keep the hormones from reaching those sensitive hair follicles, and growth stimulants, which help the hair to continue growing in spite of the hormone sensitivity. Anything else may work for people suffering from other types of baldness, but it will not be effective for male pattern baldness.
Now that you understand these myths, you can be sure not to fall victim to them. It can be tempting to purchase every product that sounds like it would work, but do not waste your money on anything that claims any of these myths to be true.