Androgenic Alopecia Facts

Androgenic alopecia is a form of hair loss that is common in both men and women. Androgenic hair loss is usually defined by a pattern that begins above the temples and then it will slowly recede to form the shape of an M. The hair begins thinning at the crown and will quite often progress to either partial or complete baldness.

Female pattern hair loss is different than pattern hair loss in men. The woman will usually experience hair loss over the entire head but will not have a receding hairline. Androgenic alopecia and women will usually have a common denominator in that the hormones that regulate hair growth and the sex drive is usually at a decreased level.

Many researchers believe that androgenic alopecia is genetic and if both parents have the condition it is likely that the children will also develop the condition at some point in life. The hormones that are abundant during puberty start to diminish as one ages and often this will lead to androgenic alopecia. It is unclear why genes seem to contribute to the condition but close relatives, especially males, seem to have the same hair loss pattern.

Studies have also shown that increased levels of insulin will also contribute to balding. Insulin levels that are high seem to also correlate with baldness. Women who are pregnant will often experience high insulin levels and suffer from temporary balding. After birth, the hormones will usually fall back to a more normal level within a few weeks and the hair loss disappears.

It is also believed that diet can play a role in androgenic alopecia. People who eat a higher calorie and higher fat diet will often experience balding or thinning hair. This is further exaggerated with those who live a more sedentary lifestyle.

Daily exercise can decrease the risk of androgenic alopecia because the exercise reduces the levels of insulin in the bloodstream. Since often androgenic hair loss is the result in high insulin, increasing your daily activity could help you better deal with your hair loss problem. It is recommended that you do some type of aerobic activity instead of the weight lifting that builds large muscle groups. Aerobic exercise increases the blood flow and the oxygen level of body and makes it easier to grow new hair.