As a man I have always found the balding process to be uncomfortable at best, and I am sure most people feel the same way. For me at least accepting the balding process as an inevitable part of aging has never really been something I was willing to do, and probably explains why over 15 years after starting to lose my hair as a result of male pattern baldness I still consider myself to have a relatively full head of hair with no bald spots.

In this article we will walk through the basics of what is thought to cause male pattern baldness along with a simple three step treatment plan that has helped me to hang on to my hair all these years. It is my hope that anyone reading this article who has a real desire to keep their hair for many years to come will be able to benefit from the advice given.

What is male pattern baldness?

In a nutshell male pattern baldness is nothing more than thousands of scalp follicles shrinking to a point where they are not longer able to replace lost hair. It's beginnings normally go unnoticed for years simply due to the large numbers of scalp hairs hiding the ongoing problem (100,000 or more). In order for balding to become noticeable around 10,000 scalp hairs will need to impacted.

The bottom line cause is a hormone known as dihydrotestosterone or DHT which is a supercharged form of testosterone that attaches itself to receptors deep within the hair follicle. Scalp receptor patterns vary slightly from person to person and are dramatically different in the genders, with men's male pattern baldness presenting in a M shaped pattern with a receding hair line and women often simply seeing a general thinning which becomes more severe over time.

Knowing the enemy has allowed me to formulate a plan to combat this foe straight on by through a combination of DHT blocking, scalp stimulation, and specific vitamins  that have been shown to promote healthy hair growth.

If you have a few minutes why don't we walk through each one of these.

*DHT blocking: If you can keep dihydrotestosterone from binding to your follicle receptors you will at least be able to stop the rapid progression of male pattern baldness. For men the answer can be found in the herb saw  palmetto, for women nettle root will produce similar results. I take two saw palmetto tablets with my evening meal. You should be able to notice a difference in the texture of your hair in a 7 to 10 days if the saw palmetto is having the desired effect.

*Scalp stimulation: For me the answer for reopening closed, or rapidly closing, follicles was found in the 5% minoxidil topical solution sold under the brand name Rogaine. Once applied you will feel a fresh sensation on your scalp that lasts a few seconds as you massage the topical into the scalp. Minoxidil must be used twice a day to be effective and if it is producing the intended results you should see some hair re-growth in 4 to 6 weeks.

*Vitamins: Certain B vitamins have been shown to promote healthy hair and circulation. Biotin, vitamin B6, vitamin 12, and folic acid all seem to have a positive effect. They also neutralize homocysteine amino acid which have been linked to circulatory problems and even heart disease. My rational is to nourish the hair and improve scalp circulation by talking a B vitamin complex supplement each morning with breakfast.

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