Studies Seek to Solve the Mystery of Male Hair Loss

For many men, there are few thoughts more distressing than the prospect of hair loss. Despite the fact that millions of men face this problem every year, the prevalence and seeming inevitability of male pattern balding doesn't soften the blow.

As a result, the problem of hair loss -- and treatments designed to reverse it -- has grown into a cottage industry that reaps billions of dollars in profits annually. Although the market is flooded with companies looking to make a quick buck off of men's fears, the problem has also drawn the attention of reputable researchers.

At institutions around the world, scientists are attacking the age-old problem of male hair loss from many different angles and approaches. This week, we'll survey a few of the most significant recent findings in this field.

Some Types of Male Baldness May be Linked to Dental Health

It's often assumed that virtually all instances of male hair loss are caused by the genetic syndrome known as male pattern baldness. However, the results of one recent study seem to indicate that other health issues can also result in hair loss.

The study, conducted by the University of Granada, uncovered one potential cause of male hair loss that was somewhat unexpected -- namely, dental infections. According to the results of the study, the type of hair loss known as alopecia areata is strongly linked to an infected tooth.

This type of hair loss manifests itself as the development of circular bald patches in the eyebrows, scalp, and beard. In most cases, treatment of the underlying tooth infection appeared to cure the disorder, and many men experienced full regrowth of all lost hair within several months. According to the scientists, a new challenge will be developing a laboratory test that can easily distinguish between dental-related cases of alopecia areata and other types of hair loss.

Groundbreaking Treatment May Cure Male Pattern Baldness

For decades, drugstore shelves have been stocked with treatments promising miracle cures for baldness. Though these over-the-counter treatments have ranged from the benignly ineffective to the downright dangerous, none have proven to have much effect.

With the advent of rigorously-tested prescription treatments such as Rogaine, scientists entered into a new era of hair loss reversal. The results of a recent study seem to indicate that an even more effective treatment for male pattern baldness may be just around the corner.

Using pairs of older male identical twins as test subjects, the researchers sought to assess the effectiveness of the enzyme inhibitor dutasteride as a treatment for male pattern baldness. According to the authors, the twins who used the dutasteride treatment displayed astounding results. Not only was hair loss completely halted in the sample, but many in the test group experienced significant hair regrowth.

The scientists caution that more research is necessary before a dutasteride-based treatment can be brought safely to market, but they do suggest that this finding may hail a new breakthrough in the treatment of a condition once thought to be irreversible.

Mother's Genes Influence the Inheritance of Male Pattern Baldness

It was long believed that men should look to their father to get a glimpse into the future state of their own pates. However, one recent study seems to indicate that it is the genes of the mother, not the father, that play the most influential part in determining whether a son will inherit male pattern baldness.

The study, which was conducted by researchers at the Life & Brain Centre of the Bonn University Clinic in Germany, focused on pinpointing the genes and inheritance pathways associated with male pattern baldness. In a wide-ranging study that drew on the genetic samples of families in which several male members had experienced significant hair loss, the researchers were able to zero in on the genetic factors linked with hair loss with a great deal of precision.

They found that the variable that played the most significant part in male pattern baldness lay on the X chromosome, which men always inherit from their mothers. This gene determines the number of androgen receptors that develop in the skin of the scalp. As such, the hair loss patterns seen on the maternal side are more likely to determine whether a man will eventually begin balding than the hair loss pattern shown by his own father.

Now that scientists have successfully identified the genes associated with male pattern baldness, the groundwork for more effective treatments has been laid. However, the researchers cautioned that genetic therapies for this condition may still be decades into the future.

If you're concerned about hair loss, talk to your doctor to devise a prevention strategy or treatment plan that will address your unique health profile. Check back each week for more of the health science news you need to achieve optimal health.