Though both men and women can suffer significant hair loss, over 50% of men will suffer with Male Pattern Baldness (MPB), also known as androgenetic alopecia, at some period in their lives. The reason for hair loss is a genetically inherited touchiness to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and 5-alpha-reductase. The enzyme 5-alpha-reductase converts testosterone, a male hormone, to DHT, the substance identified as the end-cause for hair loss.

Hair loss has been noticed and studied all through the ages, and some intriguing discoveries were made in ancient times. For one it was noticed that eunuchs: those males lacking genitals-never went bald. Men who were castrated as a effect of accidents in battle also never went bald. This was the first inkling that testosterone had something to do with hair loss.

It has also been found that the more recessive the hair gene, the more inclination for baldness one has. Blond-haired people possess a larger propensity for hair loss than darker-haired individuals, and thus Caucasian persons have a greater propensity for hair loss than non-Caucasian individuals. Read more on Basics of Male Pattern Baldness…