Detection of male pattern baldness

American experts claim to have discovered what they believe is the deepest cause of male pattern baldness.

Statistics show that half of men are bald
different levels when turning 50. ( Photo: BBC )

Until now, it is unclear what is the exact cause of male pattern baldness. However, many experts believe that male testosterone is related to this phenomenon and baldness tends to be inherited in the family.

According to scientists at the University of Pennsylvania, USA, baldness in men is not simply a lack of hair, but rather a problem with growing new hair. A defect in the "production stage " has caused new hair to grow so small that it is invisible to the naked eye, creating areas of baldness as we see it.

The BBC reported that the team has compared hair follicles in bald portions with areas of hair on the scalp of men undergoing hair transplants. They found that, although bald areas have the same number of stem cells that produce hair as normal scalp, there are fewer mature forms known as progenitor cells.

The difference is that hair follicles in bald areas are smaller than disappearing and new hairs are made very small compared to normal hairs.

Dr. George Cotsarelis, lead researcher, said: " This indicates that there has been a problem in activating stem cells to transform into the original cells in the bald scalp. bald heads still have normal stem cells that give us hope for re-activating these stem cells . "

The team reported in the Journal of Clinical Investigation that the defect is located in new hair-producing stem cells. They hope to " cure " baldness in men by restoring the normal function of these cells.

In addition, scientists also want to be able to create a scalp cream to help stem cells grow normal hair.