Hair loss in men

While there are many possible reasons people lose their hair, including medical illnesses, reaction to certain medications, and response to extremely stressful events, the vast majority of hair loss in men is a genetic condition. This form of hair loss is known as Androgenic Alopecia, or Male Pattern Baldness.

There are two sources of testosterone in our body, the testis and the adrenal gland. Testosterone is produce by specialized cells in the testis called leydig cells. Leydig cells produce testosterone which is responsible for the development of internal male reproductive structures. Testosterone is converted into dihydrotestosterone popularly known as DHT by an enzyme called 5 alpha reductase in the peripheral tissues. It is the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that is responsible for the development of male external genital structures and secondary male characteristics such as growing beard, chest hairs, and is also the major cause of male pattern baldness.

People inherit the male pattern baldness trait from both maternal and fraternal sides. The baldness trait is attributed to ultra-sensitivity of the hair follicles on the top of the head to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The mode of inheritance can skip through generations, for example, you and your grandfather may be bald, but your father is not. But the baldness trait is a pretty good predictor that somebody in the family can become bald. Also, the degree of baldness varies within family members. The onset of baldness varies too. However, if you start losing hair at an early age, (early 20’s), you are very likely to go balder than people who start losing their hair at a latter age. Thus, it is recommended that hair treatment specifically hair transplant, be initiated early as soon as you start manifesting signs of hair loss.

Hair loss in women

Hair loss in women generally begins at middle age. It usually happens during the onset of menopause. Women do have testosterone just like men. It is produced by a specialized cells called theca cells in the ovary. However, testosterone in women to a large extent are converted into estrogen by an enzyme known as aromatase which is produced by another specialized cells called granulosa cells. The aromatase enzyme is active until the time of menopause when women stop producing estrogen which then initiates hormonal changes that affect the granulosa cells to stop producing aromatase enzyme. The high level of testosterone at this time would have the same fate as men’s where it is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which could eventually cause hair loss. At this stage, hair transplant would be the best option to treat hair loss.

More detailed articles on Women’s Hair Loss: Female Hair Loss & Pattern Baldness in Women,,