How do I know if it’s androgenetic alopecia? This question hounds many a man and even woman who are suddenly confronted with a large number of hairs in the drain. The urgency behind this question is aggravated by the fact that hair loss is sometimes also a symptom of an illness or a side effect of a prescription drug that you might be taking. Generally speaking, androgenetic alopecia is what is colloquially referred to as male pattern baldness.
Pictures of androgenetic alopecia showcase that in men this form of hairless takes on the shape of the letter M, thus denoting the receding of the hairline on the corners of the face, while leaving the middle of the forehead covered with at least some hair. Eventually, the odds are good that all of the hair will fall out. In women, androgenetic alopecia is not expressed by the telltale letter M, but instead in an overall thinning of the hair. While women may go entirely bald, it is a rare occurrence indeed.
Understanding Androgenetic Alopecia
To completely understand androgenetic alopecia, it is important to realize that there is more to it than simply a question of whether hair will be lost. Instead, androgenetic alopecia has been found to be a condition that often goes hand in hand with specific health issues. In men, androgenetic alopecia has been seen in those individuals who also suffer from an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer, diabetes, and hypertension, while in women diagnosing androgenetic alopecia oftentimes was done in conjunction with a diagnosis of problems that may be linked back to hormonal imbalances, such as acne or ovarian cysts.
Much as been said about inheriting androgenetic alopecia from mom or dad and there is some merit to the notion. While a blood test for androgenetic alopecia has not conclusively proven whether it is inherited primarily from mom or dad, the androgenetic alopecia health concerns that sometimes accompany it do show that either could be the case. Side effects of androgenetic alopecia – when not accompanied by any illnesses – are usually simply a cosmetic sense of self consciousness.
Sufferers have resorted to purchasing a number of creams, sprays, and caps that were supposed to coax some hair from the reluctant follicles. Unfortunately, usually these remedies do not work and rather than relying on the information found on a slick looking website it is advisable to go ahead and speak to a physician about your concerns.