Male Pattern Baldness

[thedude110]

Embrace it! Skip the 'solutions' and just deal with the cards you've been dealt, or at least that's the way that I went.

Amen.

I started going bald at 22 and now, at 29, my hairline has pushed well up my head -- and the back middle is starting to aggressively disappear.

And you know what -- so what? Not only is it good for self deprecating humor, but it's also just another way to come to terms with yourself (and that's psychologically and physically).

This has nothing to do with confidence, or being happy with yourself, or whatever. It has everything to do with enjoying having hair and the feeling that I'd rather NOT be bald if I can help it. It is worth it to fight for my hair, even if it is probably hopeless.

Ok. If that's true for you, then bully for you. But if I had made this decision, I'd be trying to think through the source of my desire for hair -- whether it's mine, or whether I'm after a body image I've been conditioned to desire.

Or:

Are you sure you're not stuck in denial, working your way toward acceptance?

 

[Queso]

My forehead has been steadily increasing in height since my late 20s, so the day's coming. To be honest I can't say I'm that bothered. It's what hats were invented for

Besides, you technically still have the same amount of hair. It's just as you get older it grows out your back instead

 

[gekko513]

I believe since the completion of the Human Genome Project, genetic research has indeed identified the gene for baldness as being on the mother's side, specifically the father. It's scientific fact.

How is that possible? The only genes a boy has that is guaranteed to inherit from the mother's side are in the x-chromosome, that I know of. The mother has two x-chromosomes, one from her father and one from her mother.

If there's a gene for baldness in the x-chromosome, a grandfather would only have 50% chance of bringing that gene on to his grandson via a daughter. Now, if the daughter also carried the baldness gene from her mother, then the grandson will have the baldness gene for sure.

 

[wordmunger]

Okay, so my earlier general statement was probably too strong. Here's the best summary of the research I could find in a brief search:

The inheritance of common baldness: two B or not two B?

So far, it is a widely accepted opinion that androgenetic alopecia is caused by an autosomal dominant gene with reduced penetrance in women. This view is essentially based on a family study performed by Osborn in 1916. She believed that balding men would be either heterozygous (Bb) or homozygous (BB), whereas balding women would be homozygous (BB). By contrast, we here present five arguments favoring a polygenic inheritance of the trait: (1) the high prevalence of the trait, (2) the distribution of balding patterns in the general population along a gaussian curve of variation, (3) the fact that the risk increases with the number of relatives already affected, (4) the slightly increased risk of relatives of severely affected women as compared to the relatives of mildly affected women, and (5) the fact that a predisposition inherited from an affected mother is of greater importance than that inherited from an affected father. In conclusion, the simple mendelian model of Bb and BB can no longer be upheld. [emphasis mine]

So the mother's side is more important, but there are a variety of other factors.

 

[someguy]

That said, OP don't worry about it. Let it go. When it gets to the point of looking bad, just get rid of all you hair. That's what I did, and trust me I have no problem getting dates. I love being bald and wouldn't go back to having hair for anything. It's cheaper and a lot less maintenance. And we all know us guys love things that are cheap and easy.

That's basically my plan if all else fails. I'm at a #4 with the clippers on top and #1 on the sides. Pretty short, and getting shorter as time goes on. It doesn't look bad at all, IMO, but I just hate that it's not up to me.

Ok. If that's true for you, then bully for you. But if I had made this decision, I'd be trying to think through the source of my desire for hair -- whether it's mine, or whether I'm after a body image I've been conditioned to desire.

Or:

Are you sure you're not stuck in denial, working your way toward acceptance?

Definitely not in denial. I'm going bald and regardless of how it sounds, I've accepted that fact. As I said above, I just hate that it's decided for me. I'd probably shave my head eventually anyways, but I'd rather choose to as opposed to having no say in the matter. Does that make sense to anyone?

 

[cyberddot]

...You are welcome to discuss this with us, but I feel like rather than be a helpful contributor to the thread, you'd rather stir up an argument about little things that aren't helpful to the cause...

Hey now, you asked for experiences and I offered mine. My advice was to go with it, and you proceeded to quote that to "embrace it" would be tantamount to letting one's self go. My second reply was in defense of my own attempt at being logical in my approach to things I can and can't do anything about, and that it has nothing at all to do with how I would react to something I could change. As the photo might suggest, it's not like I haven't walked many miles in the shoes you're just trying on.

I would like to think that someone might actually appreciate the fact that there are some of us out here on the other side of going bald that can tell them it's OK.

Castration: one cure for certain.

Too true!

 

[someguy]

Hey now, you asked for experiences and I offered mine. My advice was to go with it, and you proceeded to quote that to "embrace it" would be tantamount to letting one's self go. My second reply was in defense of my own attempt at being logical in my approach to things I can and can't do anything about, and that it has nothing at all to do with how I would react to something I could change. As the photo might suggest, it's not like I haven't walked many miles in the shoes you're just trying on.

I apologize if I mistook your tone earlier for something it wasn't. The "go with it" advice has been offered several times in this thread, and I'm looking for alternative advice at this point. Thank you, however, for your input.

I would like to think that someone might actually appreciate the fact that there are some of us out here on the other side of going bald that can tell them it's OK.

I understand, but no one is saying that it's not OK. I'm saying that is there is anyway to fight back, I'd like to do so because I don't wish to be bald at this time if I can help it. If I can't, hand me a razor! Let's do this right!

 

[leekohler]

Definitely not in denial. I'm going bald and regardless of how it sounds, I've accepted that fact. As I said above, I just hate that it's decided for me. I'd probably shave my head eventually anyways, but I'd rather choose to as opposed to having no say in the matter. Does that make sense to anyone?

Yes it does make sense. But there are a lot of things that aren't up to you. Your height, for one is not something you choose. And while we may wish things like that were different, it makes more sense to accept those things than try to fight them. As for your question, no- I don't think it's worth the fight to keep it. I tried Rogaine in my 20's and it worked, but my wallet suffered a lot at the time. And if you missed any amount of time with that stuff, the amount of hair that would suddenly fall out was alarming. I say don't bother.

Here's your razor.

 

[someguy]

Yes it does make sense. But there are a lot of things that aren't up to you. Your height, for one is not something you choose. And while we may wish things like that were different, it makes more sense to accept those things than try to fight them. As for your question, no- I don't think it's worth the fight to keep it. I tried Rogaine in my 20's and it worked, but my wallet suffered a lot at the time. And if you missed any amount of time with that stuff, the amount of hair that would suddenly fall out was alarming. I say don't bother.

Yeah, I wouldn't bother with Rogaine. And I definitely wouldn't waste a bunch of money trying to stop the apparently inevitable.

But, I've heard so many testimonials about eating certain foods (certain vitamins, nutrients, and whatnot) that help the hair grow thicker, or at all. Proteins, I imagine, as well as other things I'm sure. Also, on the flipside, certain items are said to make it worse, no?

If it comes from the mother's father's side, then I should have a THICK head of hair. Obviously, (like many have said in this thread) there are many other things that can contribute to the hair loss. But, like what? Are any of these other things capable of being stopped?

I always figured because my dad was bald, and my grandpa (my father's father) was bald, that I'd be bald. Just trying to get the facts straight.

Here's your razor.

 

[leekohler]

Yeah, I wouldn't bother with Rogaine. And I definitely wouldn't waste a bunch of money trying to stop the apparently inevitable.

But, I've heard so many testimonials about eating certain foods (certain vitamins, nutrients, and whatnot) that help the hair grow thicker, or at all. Proteins, I imagine, as well as other things I'm sure. Also, on the flipside, certain items are said to make it worse, no?

If it comes from the mother's father's side, then I should have a THICK head of hair. Obviously, (like many have said in this thread) there are many other things that can contribute to the hair loss. But, like what? Are any of these other things capable of being stopped?

I always figured because my dad was bald, and my grandpa (my father's father) was bald, that I'd be bald. Just trying to get the facts straight.

My mother's father also had tons of hair. That didn't help me. Also, out of my other two brothers, one went bald and one didn't. As far as the rest of that goes, I tried vitamins and polysorbate 80 as well. Polysorbate 80 helped my hair grow in stronger, but I don't know how much it did to stop it from falling out.

 

[thewhitehart]

Get a good night's sleep. It sounds like pathetic advice, but it's been said that people who have regular schedules and healthy diets tend to have better volume to their hair.

I've lost so much hair from working at night and having a crappy sleep schedule.

 

[~Shard~]

Now ~Shard~, you know what I look like. And I'm hair-challenged. Exercise may play a tiny role, but it's by far a small one. That said, OP don't worry about it. Let it go. When it gets to the point of looking bad, just get rid of all you hair. That's what I did, and trust me I have no problem getting dates. I love being bald and wouldn't go back to having hair for anything. It's cheaper and a lot less maintenance. And we all know us guys love things that are cheap and easy.

I never meant to say it was a major part, just that it couldn't hurt. And conversely men who perhaps don't take the best care of themselves won't go bald because of it.

And lastly, yes I know what you look like and I never said that bald guys can't look stylish and good without hair - you're a good example of that, after all...

How is that possible? The only genes a boy has that is guaranteed to inherit from the mother's side are in the x-chromosome, that I know of. The mother has two x-chromosomes, one from her father and one from her mother.

If there's a gene for baldness in the x-chromosome, a grandfather would only have 50% chance of bringing that gene on to his grandson via a daughter. Now, if the daughter also carried the baldness gene from her mother, then the grandson will have the baldness gene for sure.

Hey, I don't know, I'm not a "science-tician". I'm just going off of what I have heard and read. I'm by no means an expert.

 

[thedude110]

As I said above, I just hate that it's decided for me. I'd probably shave my head eventually anyways, but I'd rather choose to as opposed to having no say in the matter. Does that make sense to anyone?

I understand where you're coming from, but biology beats existentialism every time.

Death is in us.

 

[leekohler]

And lastly, yes I know what you look like and I never said that bald guys can't look stylish and good without hair - you're a good example of that, after all...

Well, I wasn't actually referring to my looks, more the physical condition/nutrition thing you mentioned. But I'll take that anyway.

 

[~Shard~]

Well, I wasn't actually referring to my looks, more the physical condition/nutrition thing you mentioned. But I'll take that anyway.

Haha, sounds good. Well, for the record I was in no means implying that you were out of shape because you're bald (or vice versa).

You're health-conscious, healthy and attractive and so am I - let's just leave it at that.

 

[Doctor Q]

I was in no means implying that you were out of shape because you're bald

Men need that vigorous hair-brushing action to keep their arm muscles in shape, so balding men should brush their teeth twice as long to make up for it. And I'm a doctor so my advice on health is obviously authoritative.

 

[~Shard~]

Men need that vigorous hair-brushing action to keep their arm muscles in shape, so balding men should brush their teeth twice as long to make up for it. And I'm a doctor so my advice on health is obviously authoritative.

I brush my teeth twice a day in addition to brushing my hair and my arms are huge so I can definitely back up the Doctor's theory.

 

[dllavaneras]

What about us that are bald, already brush their teeth a lot and are still scrawny? How do we keep our arm muscles in shape?

 

[Doctor Q]

What about us that are bald, already brush their teeth a lot and are still scrawny? How do we keep our arm muscles in shape?

Rapid (and maybe rabid) typing.

 

[sushi]

Rapid (and maybe rabid) typing.

But then you would have no life!

 

[~Shard~]

But then you would have no life!

We all make choices...

 

[skd]

BV - have you seen 'the cildren of men'?

 

[leekohler]

You're health-conscious, healthy and attractive and so am I - let's just leave it at that.

Why thanks! We most certainly can leave it at that.

 

[Fiveos22]

I believe since the completion of the Human Genome Project, genetic research has indeed identified the gene for baldness as being on the mother's side, specifically the father. It's scientific fact.

I would just like to slay this statement right now...because its is a very common misconception. The completion of the Human Genome Project means that all the genes in the human genome have been mapped. That means we know the location of every gene on the genome. Don't get me wrong, that is a phenomenal achievement...however, that does not mean that we know the purpose/product/action/interaction of every one of those genes.

In fact, a great many of these mapped genes were discovered by computation using motif recognition algorithims...thus they are hypothetical genes, or genes of unknown function.

The research that is going on currently is the mindboggling task to annotate (explain the purpose of) every one of those genes. The annotation of the Human Genome is where the paydirt is, however, the task is so incredibly massive that we must respect the amount of time and effort that it is going to take. When you think that each gene may 5 - 150 different alleles (such as Huntingtin, or microsatellites), and each gene also is split into many exons which can have a myriad of alternate splicing (such as the 148 exons of the SNURF-SNRPN complex for Prader-Willi disease), not to mention the fact that almost all traits involve multiple genes acting in concert, it is plain to see that the annotation of the Human Genome is going to be an epic if not infinite endeavor.

How does this affect the genetics of baldness?

Well, I am no expert in baldness genetics, but due to the fact that there is so much debate among the experts I would guess that baldness is a multifactorial condition. It has a genetic component, which is probably multifactorial as well, plus an environmental component (stress, perhaps diet, sun exposure, various assault to the hair follicles, etc.). These factors contribute to the problem of using simple pedigree analysis genetics to elucidate the cause of this condition.

I know this probably didn't push the current conversation further, however, I had to clear up the confusion about the Human Genome Project.

 

[Fiveos22]

How is that possible? The only genes a boy has that is guaranteed to inherit from the mother's side are in the x-chromosome, that I know of. The mother has two x-chromosomes, one from her father and one from her mother.

If there's a gene for baldness in the x-chromosome, a grandfather would only have 50% chance of bringing that gene on to his grandson via a daughter. Now, if the daughter also carried the baldness gene from her mother, then the grandson will have the baldness gene for sure.

First off, half of your genes are guaranteed to be from your mother and half from your father. You are correct to say that a boy's Y chromosome is certainly from his father and his X is certainly from his mother, however, we can no longer say that sex-linked traits are definately on the sex chromosomes. For a large part, yes, they are...

But there are genes out there that "imprinted" meaning that they bear some sort of epigenetic marking that the body to recognize whether an autosomal gene came from your father or mother and thus treat those genes (which are ostensibly equal, in-terms of DNA) differently. Its a fascinating field of discovery that, once more, muddies the clarity of genetics and increases complexity. Its based upon the idea of gene silencing...

In every cell of your body you have every one of your genes. But what sense does it make for your body to use all of them all the time. For instance, why would an eye cell need to keep the gene for making toe nails active? It would be a waste of energy, so there are mechanisms for turning off genes that you have.

Relating back to baldness...if they ever did discover a gene for baldness, there is the possiblity that you could have that gene, but if might not be expressed, and you may never go bald. FWIW

- Fiveos22

Does it show that I really like genetics?