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Is
pattern baldness a steady progressive form of hair loss
No. The rate of hair loss from androgenetic alopecia varies over
time. It is even possible to have some spontaneous, but temporary,
hair regrowth. The overall rate of loss can also be different for
different people. While some may take 25 years from first onset
to reach significant baldness. Other may take just five years to
go extensively bald. Most of us with androgenetic alopecia take
10 to 15 years to develop extensive patterned loss. The rate of
hair loss is dependent on several factors.
Hormone production in men and women varies with the seasons. Like
most animals, our bodies take notice of the seasons and adjust activity
accordingly. Testosterone production is low during the spring and
reaches a peak in the fall. The fall is "the rutting season"
for many mammals such as deer. It is not much different for humans!
Hormone production in women also changes in tune with the season,
but in addition there is the added monthly hormone cycle and a profound
change in hormone production during menopause.
One must also consider changes in production of androgen antagonists.
For example, insulin levels have a significant effect on the production
of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). SHBG binds to free testosterone
and blocks its use or conversion to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The
more SHBG in the body, the lower the free testosterone in the blood.
These and many other factors promoting and prohibiting mechanisms
of androgenetic alopecia may change over time. In turn the rate
of hair loss due to androgenetic alopecia also changes.
Is
pattern baldness a steady progressive form of hair loss references
- Asher
GW, Berg DK, Beaumont S, Morrow CJ, O'Neill KT, Fisher MW. Comparison
of seasonal changes in reproductive parameters of adult male
European fallow deer (Dama dama dama) and hybrid Mesopotamian
x European fallow deer (D. d. mesopotamica x D. d. dama). Anim
Reprod Sci. 1996 Dec 16;45(3):201-15.
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