This article attempts to shed light on the symptoms and treatments of male pattern baldness.

First and foremost, most men look at hair loss as a natural condition of aging. Hence, they do not see any need for treatment. However, for other men, hair loss can be the cause of negative psychological effects. It can lead to low self-esteem and in extreme cases, even depression. Thankfully, there are a host of treatments available to treat hair loss and baldness.

Medication
There are a couple of treatments approved by the FDA to treat male pattern baldness.

Minoxidil/ROGAINE
It is a contemporary treatment available as lotion or foam. It is applied to the scalp and works effectively on the crown. It may take up to 6 months to show results subject to regular usage. It may lead to some skin problems like itching, hives, and sensitivity. In extreme and very rare cases, people may experience chest pain, irregular heartbeat, headache, and lightheadedness.

Finasteride and dutasteride
It should be taken orally and is available only on prescription. The formula fights hormones that shrink the scalp hair follicles causing baldness. The duration for results to appear varies but, usually, it shows within 6 months. The effects may reverse if you stop taking the medication. In very rare cases, it can cause sexual dysfunction.

Transplantation
It is a method of grafting hair taken from somewhere else on to the scalp. The hair picked from other areas is resistant to changes in male hormones. A strip of skin is taken from the other part of the head to graft it on to the bald area.

A revolutionary method is the ability to grow new hair follicles in a lab that can produce hair when transplanted. It is a guaranteed method in the field of symptoms and treatments of male pattern baldness to produce new hairs.

Laser and light treatment
This method is the latest innovation to treat male pattern baldness. However, its ability to give effective results are not proven and is not approved by the FDA. Nevertheless, it does give some positive results when photons seep into the scalp tissues to encourage hair growth. It is a safe and tolerable procedure and is not as invasive as hair transplant.

Supplements
While exploring the symptoms and treatments of male pattern baldness, certain vitamins and supplements tend to work. These include biotin, folic acid, vitamins D, A, C, and E. However, most of your diet includes these vitamins and will not work if hair loss is due to some other reasons.

The takeaway
Obesity, diabetes, and hypertension are other major causes of hair loss. It is extremely important to follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly to reduce the effects of these diseases. Reducing or avoiding alcohol intake and smoking is also a very important factor in this regard.