Realising that you are losing your hair can be one of the scariest moments in a mans life since hair plays a large role in defining your image, and with around 50% of us thinning out before were 50 years old, thats certainly quite a lot of men who will be affected.

Androgenic alopecia (male pattern hair loss) is a genetic affliction which is passed down through either your mothers or fathers genes and affects men who are sensitive to a hormone produced by the body called Dihydrotestosterone. This hormone gradually shrinks the hair follicles over the top of the scalp leading to the classic hair loss patterns known as Male Pattern Hair Loss.

Whilst you may be feeling uneasy at the prospect of losing some hair, bear in mind that it can often be a very long, drawn out process and you might not lose as much hair as you think. In fact, for many men, its not until their older years that the hair loss accelerates and becomes noticeable to others.

With half of the male population experiencing some hair loss, you will also find that other people will not notice it in the same way that you do. What seems like huge hair loss to you will not even be noticed by others.

What can you do?

The most important thing you can do is keep your hair short and neat. This will make your hair appear much thicker and healthier and will disguise your hair loss. Dont try to keep your hair longer in the thinning areas as this will only draw attention to the problem.

While most men are entirely satisfied by the result of a good haircut, there are also a number of treatments available although some of the clinically proven hair loss treatments are fairly expensive, and range from topical ointments (Minoxidil) to daily tablets (Propecia) through to hair transplants. At the time of writing, there are only a handful of drugs on the market which can effectively stop hair loss and in some cases bring back lost hair. Due to possible side effects, some treatments should only be used following a consultation with a GP, Trichologist or Dermatologist.

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