The Stages of Male Pattern Baldness

Knowing the stages of Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) will help to determine the proper treatment

Male Pattern baldness –  It is a type of androgenetic alopecia that happen commonly in men, it is hormonal and genetics condition that causes hair follicle to shrink and fall.

DHT

The male hormone “dihydrotestosterone” (DHT) is important for the normal male sexual development. In some people, the hair follicles are genetically sensitive to DHT, any exposure to DHT results in shrinkage of the follicles.

DHT shortens the lifespan of the follicles and prevents them from producing hair normally. Hair follicles in the temples and crown of the scalp are more sensitive to DHT and hence hair loss affects these areas more prominently.

IDENTIFYING MPB

There are some easily recognizeable signs to identify MPB, for example excessive of hair falling out (more than 100 hair fall/day), hairline recedes from the front or from temples, sign of thinning hair on the crown, bald patches etc.

There are several different patterns of hair loss signs. The most common are a receding hairline beginning at the temples, thinning at the crown of the head (vertex), and general thinning of the hair across large areas of the scalp without much direct change to the hairline.

THE STAGES

In order to determine the best course of treatment for hair loss, it is important to understand the progression. The Norwood-Hamilton scale is the generally accepted standard to measure the male pattern baldness.

THE NORWOOD STAGE

STAGE 1 

It shows an adolescent hairline, generally located on the upper brow crease. There is no hair loss at the hairline or crown of the head. It represents a normal head of hair with no visible hair loss.

STAGE 2 

It represents the progression to an adult hairline. Hair loss at this stage is very mild and usually concentrated at the frontal hairline. It is characterized by the beginning of a receding hairline and a "widow's peak" on the forehead.

STAGE 3 

It is the earliest stage of hair loss considered cosmetically significant enough to be called “baldness” according to this scale. At this stage, most men show a recession at the temples.

The vertex figure here shows the additional thinning of the hair at the crown of the head.  Significant decline in hair also showed above the temples as well as receding from the forehead. Hair loss is starting to become significant on the crown.

STAGE 4 

It shows  recession at the front of the head in the temple areas. The sides of the head are typically well-covered with hair.

Hair loss may become more noticeable on the crown.

STAGE 5

It represent the beginning of severe hair loss. There remains a small separation between the loss of hair at the hairline and the loss of hair at the crown. Hair loss at both the crown and the temporal regions are larger and more distinct.

Hair loss approaches significant levels with most hair loss occurring on the top of the vertex and crown.

STAGE 6

The crown is now almost fully lost. The remaining hair now concentrated in the sides of the scalp. Hair loss on the sides of the head will also extend further at this stage.

STAGE 7

The most advanced stage of hair loss, only a wreath of thin hair remains on the sides and back of the scalp.

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Reference :

http://www.completeimage.org/2013/01/04/stages-of-male-pattern-hair-loss/

http://www.drbatras.com/en/hair-loss/male-pattern-baldness.aspx

http://www.healthline.com/health/male-pattern-baldness#AddressingHairLoss5

http://www.bosley.com/about_hair_loss/hair_loss_in_men.php

                                                                                                                                              

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