The American Hair Loss Council (AHLC) hopes that by educating the public about androgenetic alopecia they can help people understand why a cure is simply not possible, at least not now, and lessen the intensity of the feeling that we need to find one. Male pattern baldness is, after all, not a disease; it's just a fact of life. If individuals and society would simply accept baldness as a natural occurrence, and if losing their hair didn't make some men feel less attractive or virile, then it wouldn't seem like such an embarrassing problem (or so the logic goes).

Definitions and Mechanisms

Androgenetic, comprised of the terms androgen and genetic, refers to the the combination of genetic and hormonal factors that control the development and appearance of "masculine" characteristics. Alopecia simply refers to hair loss of any type. If it's in your genes, it means you have a sort of timer in your body that, at some point, will signal your hair follicles to produce the enzyme 5 alpha reductase. When the enzyme interacts with the hormone androgen present in the hair follicles, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is produced, which causes the pattern of hair loss to begin.

The AHLC explains that because hair loss is in no way life threatening, and because the condition involves genetics, hormones, and aging (which makes for a daunting set of factors to counter), there's little reason to dedicate substantial resources into researching a cure for hair loss; in the face of far more life-threatening and debilitating diseases still awaiting cures, it's just not a priority.

However, medicine in the United States is often driven by the promise of financial return, not social priorities or ethics. The fact that any pharmaceutical company with a cure for hair loss would make millions of dollars in sales has initiated some significant research in the scientific community. According to the FDA, Americans alone spend about one billion dollars a year on hair loss treatments. However, the AHCL is skeptical that we will see a cure for pattern baldness anytime soon, despite recent advances in research.

What can you do?

If you are experiencing any kind of scalp hair loss, see a dermatologist first. Androgenetic alopecia is only one form of hair loss. You could have a different condition, such as alopecia areata, which may be temporary or subject to other treatments.

After you receive a proper diagnosis, the AHLC has several treatment recommendations:

• Learn to live with it. This may involve counseling, but it is your best bet to happiness. Plus, it's cheap. Being bald doesn't make you unattractive.

• The FDA has only approved one drug to counter hair loss. Minoxidil (brand name Rogaine) is a topical treatment that stimulates hair growth. According to the FDA, Rogaine treatment works better if you are younger and have only recently begun to experience hair loss. About 26 percent of men between 18 and 49 reported "moderate to dense" hair re-growth after four months of Rogaine treatment. Rogaine is relatively expensive, and is (for obvious reasons) not covered by many insurance plans.

• Hair pieces. Wigs and toupees can be a cost-effective way to cover up the bald part of your head. But, you definitely get what you pay for. And, of course, most people can spot a toupee (or at least the really awful ones). Think about what's worse--having a naturally exposed genetic condition, or trying to cover it up with a mask. Particularly if you're a younger man, a toupee may not be the best strategy. If you want to cover things up, you may want to try a hat instead.

• Hair replacement surgery. According to the FDA, there have been many advances in hair replacement surgery, and you could wind up with some fairly "eye pleasing" results. Keep in mind, though, that such treatments greatly depend on the skill of the surgeon and the type of procedure undertaken. The surgery is expensive and the recovery time-consuming.

• Hair styling. Yes, the infamous "comb-over." Sometimes it'll draw laughs; sometimes it'll work. Whatever the case, it seems to be an enduring (if not always successful) strategy. If it makes you feel better, go ahead. Better yet: get a short haircut for your remaining hair (yes, that means embracing the baldness). There is probably more social stigma for a painfully obvious "comb-over" than for baldness.

Your adjustment to losing your hair will determine how much emotional pain and embarrassment you feel. Your baldness will bother everybody else a lot less than it bothers you. Hopefully, in time, society (and all of us) will come to accept things like hair loss (along with acne, big bones, small breasts, gray hair, and wrinkled skin) as part of life. Still, you should know that help is available if you need it; don't be afraid to talk to a counselor or therapist if your hair loss starts getting in the way of your happiness.

References:
American Hair Loss Council. "Male Pattern Hair Loss." 2000. Accessed January 8, 2001. http://www.ahlc.org/male.htm