Baldness: Can it be cured?

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Heredity, often the cause

Most family traditions are cherished throughout the years, reproduced by each succeeding generation. Usually customs bring back found memories, reminiscent of the "good old days". But there is one thing that most men would not like to be passed from generation to generation--that is baldness.

The average man dreads baldness. It signifies a time of loss to him: loss of his virile looks, loss of his youth, loss of his ability to impress his co-workers and the opposite sex. In addition, to make his predicament seem an even greater injustice, baldness often strikes his appearance before he inwardly feels the effects of his age. The vim and vigor of a young man are often trapped inside what appears to be an aging man's body.

While baldness id definitely not a deliberate age-old custom, the fact remains that its occurrence follows a steady pattern, sooner or later affecting the majority of men. In fact, it is believed that this repetitive quality-- the heredity factor-- is the number one cause of baldness, responsible for 90% of this nation's thinning scalps.

If your family tree shows a history of baldness, you're likely to inherit the tendency. Of course, there are exceptions, but many believe that if the heredity comes down through your mother's side of the family, chances of you being affected by it are greatly increased.

This heredity baldness begins to take effect at a very early age, usually around the time of puberty. The increased influence of male hormones starts off a chain reaction in the papillae, so that instead of contributing to produce strong and healthy hairs, one after the other begins turning out weaker and less durable fibers. The process is almost undetectable at this early age, but the stage is set. The hairs produced will continue to weaken with maturity, until they no longer have enough strength to remain on the scalp. Finally, a shiny, bald patch is all that remains where hair ounce grew, shiny because the hair is now dead and no longer can perform its functions of absorbing and controlling scalp secretions and oils.

Can anything be done?

For centuries men have searched in vain for the key to baldness, a means whereby it could be stopped or reversed. Modern medicine has not been able to be of much help in this matter. Currently there are no commercially-available drugs which will correct this problem. Hair replacement methods, therefore, are either surgical or mechanical.

However, researchers tell us that an answer may be close at hand. they are aware that androgen are the hormones that affect male growth. The androgens are responsible for nurturing the growth of beard, chest, pubic, and underarm hair. On the other hand, they tend to stop hair growth on the upper scalp of men who have a family tradition of hair loss. Even more puzzling is the fact that they have absolutely no effect upon the fringe hair on the side and the back of a man's scalp. The key to stopping baldness lies in controlling these androgens--preventing them from inhibiting hair growth on the upper scalp, while allowing them to continue their growth stimulation in other areas.

perhaps the solution is close at hand, as scientists claim, but for the present, there is no real "cure" none that can help the man who is balding today. The only solutions available are temporary.

It is believed by some that skin and scalp treatments deter the balding process if administered before thinning becomes excessive. To a certain extent these widely-advertised products are beneficial. They stimulate circulation, stabilize activity on the scalp, and consequently increase the health of the hair. But this is not a permanent answer to the problem. Since most hair loss is due to heredity, this only prolongs the inevitable and in the majority of cases is not even capable of that.

Scalp massage is another avenue recommended by some barbers for patrons who have started to lose their hair. The results are somewhat similar to treatments: the skin and hair are nourished; fat cells are reduced; circulation and glandular activity is increased; and the nerves are soothed and rested. As a result, this can be quite effective in slowing down hair loss. But ounce again, if the tendency to grow bald has been predetermined by one's genes, it is not a permanent solution, no matter how much hope is put into the endeavor.

The fact remains, then, that baldness is a common nuisance that will affect a substantial number of this nation's males. You have only two choices available if you are one of the victims:
(1) Accept your fate and try to make the most of baldness
(2) Fight back by choosing the most appropriate means of hair replacement.

If you are among the fighters, then this blog is dedicated to you.

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