Dr. David Samadi – Fox News – Male hair loss
Dr. Samadi discusses how hair loss affects 60 million men and women. Male pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia is caused primarily by genetics - up to 95%. The same goes for women. Five percent is caused by stress, illness, disease or chemotherapy. Polygenic alopecia means that the trait is inherited from both parents, though it can skip a generation. Thirty percent of men by 30 have hair loss, 50% of men get it by age 50. Androgenic alopecia starts in men as a receding hairline, towards the temples. The most severe kind results in a horseshoe pattern whereby the whole top area of the hair disappears. Alopecia Areata is where the hair falls out in patches. It is temporary, reversible and easy to treat. It's usually a result of poor nutrition, illness, stress or medications like anti-hypertension, beta blockers, cholesterol, coumadin or zantac. The male hormone testosterone DHT actively affects the follicle and can shrink base of hair, resulting in hair loss. Proscar prevents DHT formation and allows hair growth. An ingredient of proscar is propecia which can affect PSA screening results so it's important to disclose this medication to your doctor.