Most male individuals experience a genetic health condition known as Androgenetic Alopecia. The condition, also known as male pattern baldness, affects 95% of men, leading to permanent hair loss, especially on the top and crown of the head.
Research shows that genetic sensitivity to testosterone’s byproduct known as dihydrotestosterone causes a receding hairline. Some studies show that this byproduct can also cause a thinning crown.
Hair loss usually has a predictable pattern with Androgenetic Alopecia. Although there are several hair loss patterns in men, the most common ones are hair thinning around the temples and top of the head. Let us now discuss why men are bald on top and crown.
Genetics, Age, and Hormonal Changes
The interaction of three primary factors, genetic makeup, aging, and hormonal shifts, cause hair loss in men. Male pattern baldness occurs when hormones undergo changes in quantity with growing age.
In addition, genetic factors can increase the likelihood of balding on the top and crown of the head. These factors cause gradual shrinkage of smaller skin cavities, especially at the hair follicles, affecting the scalp, leading to balding on the crown of the head.
In addition, your hair grows shorter and finer without new development of follicles or hair. Studies show that white male individuals are more prone to pattern baldness than other ethnicities, such as Chinese, Japanese, and Latin Americans.
Male pattern baldness affects 50% of all white men above 50. Similarly, it affects 80% of men above 70. Although there is a need for more research, some studies highlight that genes increase dihydrotestosterone in the top and crown of the head, causing male pattern baldness.
Increased DHT Levels on Top of the Head
Researchers make substantial efforts to understand the mechanism of dihydrotestosterone on top of the head. Some meta-review studies have found that hair loss begins during puberty because the forehead and neck muscles increase tension in tissues over the top of the head.
Increased DHT quantities cause muscle contraction and inflammation. As a result, DHT further increases and affects the tissues surrounding the top and crown of the head. Bear in mind that dihydrotestosterone can thicken the tissue bands in this area and affect the oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood supply to hair follicles.
Because testosterone is primarily a male hormone, its byproduct DHT, can take a massive toll on men instead of women. The follicles in this area of your head get smaller and disappear over time. On the other hand, the tissue bands found in other areas of your scalp do not undergo damages due to DHT.
Final Words
Androgenetic Alopecia usually begins at the temples, crown of the head, and front of the scalp. Bald patches or areas of your scalp conjoin over time, leading to hair loss. The increased levels of male sex hormone, also known as DHT, can damage hair follicles on the top and crown of your head. It is crucial to seek treatment early, in order to slow down the progress.