Radio Shows | Balding | mp3 … wma … wav

If you've seen our picture on this show's web site, you know both Dave and I are folicularly challenged.

That means we're losing our hair. Of course I have more hair than Norbert.

That may be true Dave, but I'm still better looking.

Yea, right. The most common type of hairloss is male pattern baldness. It starts with a receding hairline and thinning on the crown. Eventually the remaining hair recedes and forms an "M"-pattern on top of the head. That eventually gives way to a horseshoe pattern with hair around the sides but none on top. So, why do so many men go bald?

We know it's the result of a problem with your follicles. Each hair originates from a follicle and grows for 2 to 6 years. It falls out and another hair grows in its place.

But for a lot of men, their follicles begin to shrink. As they get smaller, the hair becomes finer and shorter until the follicle is so small it stops producing hair. We blame this problem on hormones and genes.

The best publicized cause is an over-responsiveness to DHT, or dihydrotestosterone. DHT is made from testosterone, the male sex hormone and promotes hair loss in three ways:

First - it shortens hair growth time. Second - DHT causes the follicle to shrink prematurely. And lastly DHT may restrict blood flow - and nutrients - to the follicles.

Treatment options include hair weaves, toupees and of course, the classic comb over, which really fools no one. For some men, Minoxidil and Finasteride may slow hair loss and induce regrowth but once you stop, hair loss returns.

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