How does hair grow? Hair grows from follicles under the scalp and each follicle has a specific growth cycle: the anagen phase when hair grows vigorously, the regression phase when hair stops growing and follicles begin to degenerate, the resting phase, also known as the terminal phase of growth, when hair is shed and new hair grows from the follicles, and so on and so forth. Human hair is often in different stages of the growth cycle and does not grow or fall out at the same time. In other words, hair loss and hair growth are in a dynamic balance, with a certain amount of hair shed and the same amount of new hair grown, so if you lose more than 100 hairs per day, you should consider whether it is pathological hair loss. What factors can cause hair loss? There are many factors in the development of hair loss, including congenital and acquired factors, systemic and local causes, and some causes of hair loss are still unclear. For example, abnormal hormone levels, poor nutrition, severe infections, high levels of stress, drug stimulation, radiation and other factors may cause hair loss. What is “male pattern baldness”? Male pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss, accounting for 95% of all hair loss, and is also known as androgenetic alopecia (AGA), seborrheic alopecia and early baldness. It is a characteristic type of hair loss with genetic involvement and is dependent on androgen action, and can occur in both men and women. In Chinese men, the prevalence of male pattern baldness is nearly 20%, i.e. 1 in 5 people suffer from male pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness mostly occurs in men between 20 and 30 years old, and the prevalence increases with age. How can I tell if I have male pattern baldness? Generally speaking, this kind of hair loss mainly has the following manifestations: Most of them start from the sideburns on both sides of the forehead and gradually extend in an M-shape to the top of the head, with the hairline moving back. Finally, most or all of the hair on the top of the head is lost, while the hair at the back and sides of the head remains, often in a horseshoe or U-shaped appearance. The skin of the hair loss area is shiny and the pores are reduced or a few fine hairs remain. What causes male pattern hair loss? Genetic factors: Domestic studies have shown that 51.8% of patients with male pattern baldness have a family history. Foreign studies have confirmed that the prevalence of male pattern baldness with a family history is about 2.5 times higher than that of men without a family history of hair loss. Dihydrotestosterone: A substance called “dihydrotestosterone (DHT)” is a major factor in male pattern baldness. In patients with male pattern baldness, the level of DHT in the scalp increases or the sensitivity of the scalp hair follicles to DHT increases. What should I do if male pattern baldness occurs? How is it treated? Male pattern baldness is a progressive aggravation process, and if left untreated, hair loss will become increasingly serious. Therefore, treatment should be done before it is too late, and the earlier the treatment, the better the results. At present, the common clinical treatments for male pattern baldness include oral finasteride (Bofarzil), topical minoxidil solution (Mandy) and surgical hair transplant. For mild to moderate male pattern baldness, oral finasteride and topical minoxidil solution are recommended for treatment, and hair loss is usually reduced in 3 months, new hair growth can be seen in 6 months, and efficacy is known at 12 months. If the drug is discontinued, the efficacy may be reversed within 12 months. Therefore, patients should set reasonable treatment expectations and adhere to the medication. For severe male pattern baldness, hair transplantation can be performed on top of medication. How does finasteride (Bovastrol) and minoxidil solution (Mandy) work as a treatment? Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) plays an important role in the development of male pattern baldness, which causes shrinkage of hair follicles in the area of hair loss and shortens the growth period of hair. Also in male pattern baldness, the hair follicles in the area of scalp hair loss are more sensitive to dihydrotestosterone than normal people due to genetic factors. In human body, dihydrotestosterone is converted from testosterone under the action of 5α-reductase, and finasteride is a 5α-reductase inhibitor, which can block the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, thus reversing the shrinking hair follicles due to dihydrotestosterone, achieving the purpose of inhibiting hair loss and promoting hair growth. Topical drug “Minoxidil solution” can promote hair growth by stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of hair epithelial cells, promoting angiogenesis, increasing local blood circulation, and transforming hair follicles from resting stage to differentiation stage. For severe male pattern baldness, hair transplantation can be performed on the basis of drug treatment. So what is the majority of female hair loss related to? Female hair loss is more complicated than male hair loss. Women with diffuse hair loss that manifests as thinning at the top of the head should consider female pattern androgenetic alopecia, which manifests as gradually thinning hair at the top of the head with diffuse hair loss, the hairline at the forehead does not move back, and temporal hair rarely falls out. If a woman is suspected of having androgenic baldness, she should first check whether her hormone levels are normal and whether she has polycystic ovary syndrome, etc. In addition, high mental stress and poor sleep quality may cause hair loss. Does taking finasteride tablets (Bofarzil) affect my libido? There is a lot of clinical data on the safety of finasteride. According to a 5-year clinical study, there was no difference in the side effects on sexual function between patients taking finasteride and those not taking the drug for male pattern baldness (also known as AGA), so finasteride is safe and reliable. And studies have shown that the side effects are temporary and will disappear after stopping the medication, some people will also disappear on their own after continuing to use the medication for a period of time, and there will be no adverse effects after stopping the medication. Do I still need to take the medication regularly if I have satisfactory hair growth after treatment? The duration of hair loss treatment varies depending on the severity of the hair loss and the expected value of the treatment, but long-term treatment is necessary if you want to obtain long-term results. After stopping the medication, the newly grown hair may fall out again within 12 months of stopping the medication, so it is recommended that you continue to take the medication. Guidelines for the use of Minoxidil Tincture (Mandy)? The effectiveness of Mandy for male pattern baldness starts in 1 to 3 months and increases steadily with the duration of use. To use Mandy, apply to the scalp and massage 1ml twice a day onto the affected area of the head and massage with your hands for 3 to 5 minutes. If you want to take a shower or swim, it must be 4 hours after the application. Hair loss may occur briefly within 2-4 weeks after using Mandy, which is the process of “new hair” pushing “old hair” and no need to stop the medicine. Is there anything I need to pay attention to in terms of diet besides the regular treatment? There is no requirement, many patients are looking for what kind of diet is good for their hair, in fact, it is not a single diet that is good for hair, it is a balanced diet, nutritionally balanced, all the necessary nutrients are there, in order to have a healthy body, in order to have healthy hair, not something can make him grow good hair. Can hair transplant treat the root cause of hair loss? Hair transplant does not increase the number of hair follicles, it is transplanting hair follicles from the back of the occipital area that are not prone to hair loss to the location of hair loss and it does not stop hair loss. After the transplantation procedure, medication is needed to assist in the treatment. Do I need to stop taking the medication if I plan to have a baby while I am taking Bupropion? There is no data to suggest that imported finasteride affects fertility or has any effect on sperm. However, based on the one-child policy in China, it is recommended that men stop taking the drug for 3 months before the woman conceives.