Male pattern baldness, medically known as androgenetic alopecia (AGA), is one of the most common causes of hair loss among men. It is characterized by a progressive thinning of hair, especially over the crown and frontotemporal areas, eventually possibly ...
Male Pattern Baldness in India: An Overview
Male pattern baldness, medically known as androgenetic alopecia (AGA), is one of the most common causes of hair loss among men. It is characterized by a progressive thinning of hair, especially over the crown and frontotemporal areas, eventually possibly leading to significant baldness in advanced cases.
Epidemiology & Impact
Prevalence in India: Studies suggest that about 58% of Indian males between 30-50 years are affected by some degree of AGA.
PMC
Incidence increases with age; younger men are increasingly reporting hair thinning.
Psychological effects: Loss of self-esteem, social anxiety, and sometimes negative impact on career prospects and personal relationships.
Causes & Pathophysiology
Genetics: AGA is hereditary. The sensitivity of hair follicles to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) plays a key role. Even with normal testosterone levels, if follicles are highly sensitive, hair miniaturization occurs.
Hormonal: The enzyme 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone to DHT. DHT binds to receptors in susceptible follicles, causing them to shrink gradually (miniaturization), producing thinner, shorter, less pigmented hairs (vellus hairs).
Additional factors: Nutrition, stress, lifestyle, metabolic health (obesity, insulin resistance), smoking, and environmental factors can aggravate or accelerate hair loss.
Clinical Features & Classification
Pattern: In men, hair loss normally begins at the temples and the crown. Over time, these areas expand and may join, leaving only hair on the sides (horseshoe pattern).
Norwood-Hamilton Classification: The standard grading system used to define the stages of male pattern baldness in men, from minimal recession (Type I) to severe baldness (Type VII).
PMC
Diagnosis
Primarily clinical: History (age of onset, family history, rate of progression) and physical examination (pattern, thinning).
Tools: Dermoscopy / trichoscopy to see miniaturization of hairs, variation in hair shaft diameter; hair-pull test to see active shedding; possibly measurement of terminal-to-vellus hair ratio.
PMC
Investigations: Usually minimal in male AGA. Hormonal tests or nutritional tests are more often considered in women or in cases with suspicion of other contributing conditions. Scalp biopsy only if diagnosis is unclear.
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Treatment Modalities
Treatments aim to halt progression, regrow hair where possible, and improve quality of life. They come under medical, procedural (e.g. transplantation), and adjunct/supportive therapies.
Medical / Topical Treatments
Minoxidil: A topical agent that helps stimulate hair growth and prolong the growth phase of hair follicles. Daily or twice-daily use is typical.
5-alpha reductase inhibitors: Drugs like finasteride reduce DHT levels locally in scalp, slowing or partially reversing hair loss. Long-term use is required (6-12 months or more) to see effects. Must be used under supervision due to possible side effects.
PMC
Procedural / Surg
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Slide Content
Male Pattern Baldness in India: An Overview
Male pattern baldness, medically known as androgenetic alopecia (AGA), is one of the most
common causes of hair loss among men. It is characterized by a progressive thinning of
hair, especially over the crown and frontotemporal areas, eventually possibly leading to
signiEcant baldness in advanced cases.
&pidemiology S Impact
Prevalence in India: 5tudies suggest that about 8%3 of Indian males between 0-C8-
years are a;ected by some degree of AGA. PML
Incidence increases with agex younger men are increasingly reporting hair thinning.
Psychological e;ects: Toss of selfCesteem, social anDiety, and sometimes negative
impact on career prospects and personal relationships.
Lauses S Pathophysiology
Genetics: AGA is hereditary. Hhe sensitivity of hair follicles to dihydrotestosterone (NFH)
plays a key role. &ven with normal testosterone levels, if follicles are highly sensitive,
hair miniaturization occurs.
Formonal: Hhe enzyme 8Calpha reductase converts testosterone to NFH. NFH binds to
receptors in susceptible follicles, causing them to shrink gradually (miniaturization),
producing thinner, shorter, less pigmented hairs (vellus hairs).
Additional factors: jutrition, stress, lifestyle, metabolic health (obesity, insulin
resistance), smoking, and environmental factors can aggravate or accelerate hair loss.
Llinical Veatures S LlassiEcation
Pattern: In men, hair loss normally begins at the temples and the crown. Over time,
these areas eDpand and may /oin, leaving only hair on the sides (horseshoe pattern).
jorwoodCFamilton LlassiEcation: Hhe standard grading system used to deEne the
stages of male pattern baldness in men, from minimal recession (Hype I) to severe
baldness (Hype UII). PML
Niagnosis
Primarily clinical: Fistory (age of onset, family history, rate of progression) and physical
eDamination (pattern, thinning).
Hools: Nermoscopy q trichoscopy to see miniaturization of hairs, variation in hair shaft
diameterx hairCpull test to see active sheddingx possibly measurement of terminalCtoC
vellus hair ratio. PML
Investigations: 6sually minimal in male AGA. Formonal tests or nutritional tests are
more often considered in women or in cases with suspicion of other contributing
conditions. 5calp biopsy only if diagnosis is unclear. PML
Hreatment Modalities
Hreatments aim to halt progression, regrow hair where possible, and improve 1uality of life.
Hhey come under medical, procedural (e.g. transplantation), and ad/unctqsupportive
therapies.
Medical q Hopical Hreatments
MinoDidil: A topical agent that helps stimulate hair growth and prolong the growth
phase of hair follicles. Naily or twiceCdaily use is typical.
8Calpha reductase inhibitors: Nrugs like Enasteride reduce NFH levels locally in scalp,
slowing or partially reversing hair loss. TongCterm use is re1uired (2CR+ months or more)
to see e;ects. Must be used under supervision due to possible side e;ects. PML
Procedural q 5urgical Hreatments
Fair transplantation: In suitable patients (stable donor area, realistic eDpectations), the
transplantation of follicular units by V6H (strip method) or V6& (follicular unit eDtraction)
can give permanent results for the transplanted area. PML
Other procedures: PlateletC—ich Plasma (P—P) is used as an ad/unct, rather than
standalone therapy. It may improve results when combined with medical treatment.
PML
Tifestyle S Ad/unctive Measures
jutritional support: &nsuring ade1uate protein, iron, vitamins (e.g. vitamin N, B
compleD) can help, especially in patients with nutritional deEciencies.
—educing stress, avoiding tight hairstyles and harsh chemical treatments, protecting
scalp from sun damage.
Lounseling is often necessary to deal with psychological impact.
&Dpert Lonsensus S Indian Guidelines
A panel of Indian dermatology eDperts has developed consensus guidelines for
management of AGA, which include:
5tart therapy early: earlier intervention tends to give better results. PML
6se of minoDidil as the mainstay for menx Enasteride as second pillar.
Lombining treatments (topical W oral W procedural) when needed.
5urgical options (V6H q V6&) to be considered when medical treatment plateau or
insuZcient, with care regarding donor area, stage of baldness.
—ealistic eDpectations: jot all patients will regain full hairx the goal is improvement,
slowing further loss, and natural appearance.
Male Pattern Baldness in the Indian LonteDt
By virtue of darker, thicker hair, and higher contrast between scalp and hair, baldness
may appear more noticeable.
Lultural, social dimensions: In many parts of India, appearance and grooming hold
signiEcant importancex hair loss may be stigmatized.
Access and awareness: 6rban centres have more clinics o;ering advanced treatmentsx
rural areas may rely more on traditional or home remedies.
Losts: Fair transplant surgeries, longCterm medication, followCups7all contribute to
Enancial and time burden.
Ayurveda S naturalqtraditional medicine: Many in India seek treatments derived from
Ayurveda or herbal medicine, either alone or in combination with modern (allopathic)
methods.
Nr. Bansal Fair —ebirth Lentre: ProEle S Approach
jame S Tocation
Nr. Bansal Fair —ebirth Lentre
Address: 56M&NFA HOK&—, M9, -Jq-%, —NL, BTOL4CR, P S H Lolony, —a/ jagar,
Ghaziabad, 6ttar Pradesh, India. Lontact: W’RC’’80+8-’R-. Kebsite:
drbansalhairrebirthcenter.com drbansalhairrebirthcenter.comWR
5pecializations
Hhey o;er specialized Ayurvedic treatment for hair lossqalopecia, targeting root causes
to naturally promote regrowth and improve scalp health. drbansalhairrebirthcenter.com
Vor advanced hair loss, they employ surgical techni1ues such as Vollicular 6nit
&Dtraction (V6&) and Vollicular 6nit Hransplantation (V6H). drbansalhairrebirthcenter.com
Hreatment Philosophy
Lombining traditional (Ayurvedic q natural) with modern surgical methods, depending
on severity q stage of baldness.
jatural treatments for earlyCstage or moderate decline, possibly to maintain eDisting
hair, reduce hair fall, nourish scalp.
Vor more advanced cases, transplantation to restore density and appearance.
Khat Hhey Might O;er q Fow Hhey Lompare
Vor men who are in early jorwood grades (ICIII), nonCsurgical methods (topical,
Ayurvedic, lifestyle) could be primary recommendation at their centre.
Khere hair loss is more progressed (grade IUCUII), surgical restoration likely becomes
more central.
Hheir approach seems to align with eDpert consensus in India, which supports use of
both medical (or natural) and surgical options depending on case.
Nr. BansalLs centre being located in Ghaziabad makes it accessible for Nelhi jL—
population.
Lhallenges S Timitations
&arly treatment yields better resultsx very advanced baldness may have limited regrowth
even with surgery (though transplant can restore hair in donorCprotected areas).
Losts and time: transplantation and ongoing therapy are eDpensive and re1uire
commitment.
jaturalqAyurvedic treatments may take longer, may not be well studied in large
randomized trials, may have variable outcomes across individuals.
Possible sideCe;ects from medications (e.g. Enasteride), surgery risks, and transplant
donor area limitations.
Lonclusion
Male pattern baldness is a widespread issue in India, a;ecting a large percentage of men
by their 0-s to 8-s. It carries not only physical but signiEcant psychological burdens.
Vortunately, advances in both medical science and surgical techni1ues, along with
traditional systems (Ayurveda), o;er multiple avenues for treatment.
Nr. Bansal Fair —ebirth Lentre represents one such centre which seeks to integrate the
traditional and modern: providing Ayurvedic treatments for earlyqmoderate alopecia and
employing surgical transplantation (V6& q V6H) in advanced cases. Vor someone su;ering
male pattern baldness, an early assessment to gauge where one stands (which jorwood
stage, rate of progression, donor area health) is key. Vrom there, a personalized plan
combining what works best7natural therapies, medications, surgery, lifestyle7can give
the best chance of improvement.