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"Common baldness" also known as "male-pattern
baldness" is the most common form of hair loss in men. The cause of common baldness has been
researched for centuries. It has been proved that heredity is a factor in common baldness in
man. Generally inherited from father to son.
Common baldness accounts for 90% of hair loss in both men and
women. Its causes are unknown, although experts consider contributing factors are due to heredity, hormonal or just
down to the age of the person. Unlike other types of hair loss which can be due to disease, medication or other
non-hereditary reasons, common baldness hair loss is permanent. Women can develop female-pattern baldness where the
hair becomes very thin over their whole scalp.
Hair is considered to be a conspicuous element across many
cultures with regards to cultural definitions, youth, fashion and sexuality. It is therefore not surprising that
most people prefer not to lose their hair and can be quite devastated when it happens.
Those men who begin losing their hair at an early stage will usually develop a more extensive
baldness whilst they are quite young. Hair loss in male-pattern baldness
frequently results in the man's hair line receding before baldness appears at crown of the head.
Another factor that is related to male pattern baldness is hormones. This is especially
apparent from the changes in testosterone as one gets older. This will begin to react with the scalp area and the
nutrients that are in the hair, especially the enzymes that are produced. These enzymes are known to help the hair
grow; however when these interact with the testosterone and hormones, they cancel each other out and cause a
reaction from the hair follicle. This will then lead to thinning and loss of the hair as the enzymes and hormones
produce a chemical that is not healthy for the hair.
The typical male pattern is not a widespread thinning of the hair but baldness of particular
areas of the scalp. In its most excessive form hair remains around the back of the
head, from ear to ear. See the image Hippocrates which illustrates this pattern.
Men can begin suffering hair loss as early as their teens or early twenties from the sides
of the upper foehead in front of the temples. It is common to develop a bald spot on the crown of the head
and it is possible that balding areas will begin to merge until only a side boder of hair remains.
People lose approximately 50 to 100 strands of hair every day,
which has a negative effect generally because new hairs replace those that have been shed. However, as a person
gets older, the process of natural re-growth slows down and often stops completely. This is when thinning and
baldness starts to show. Sometimes though it can be due to medical reasons and if you suspect this is the case, you
should consult your physician.

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