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What is Frontal Baldness?

Deborah Woehr
Deborah Woehr

Frontal baldness is hair loss that occurs at the forehead or temples of the scalp. Typically, this affects mostly men, but women can experience it, too. Male frontal baldness can begin very early into adulthood. The most common age bracket for men who experience frontal baldness is 20-45 years.

Hormonal imbalances, such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, can cause frontal baldness. Other conditions include diabetes, thyroid disease, cancer, stress, medication side effects and exposure to toxic substances. The most common cause of frontal baldness is genetics. Genetic hair loss occurs when the male hormone called dihydrotesterone (DHT) attacks the hair follicles and shrinks them until they all fall out.

A man with frontal baldness.
A man with frontal baldness.

Baldness can be prevented, or at least lessened, if the onset of the condition has already occurred. Eating a healthy diet is one way for someone to prevent frontal baldness. Hair loss supplements that contain DHT blockers will help impede the hormone and stop any hair loss that has already begun.

There are several types of hair loss treatments on the market. The most popular are shampoos, lotions and creams. These products not only prevent hair loss, they also help spur new hair growth in the affected areas. The creams are applied and left on, and the shampoo is washed out of the hair.

Hormonal imbalances can cause frontal baldness.
Hormonal imbalances can cause frontal baldness.

Minoxidil products block DHT hormones and reduces hair follicle inflammation. The results of using minoxidil varies from person to person. Some people notice a change right away, but others have to wait one to three months before they see any change. The downside to using minoxidil is that people have to keep using it consistently in order for it to work.

Biotin prevents hair loss and increases hair growth properties. Certain types of shampoo will help treat frontal baldness in the beginning of the thinning cycle. These shampoos can help prevent additional hair loss from occurring.

Other treatments include hair transplants and flap surgery. Hair transplants offer a permanent solution to baldness, but the process will take some time to complete. The donor hair is taken from a DHT-resistant portion of the scalp and placed in a zig-zag pattern across the frontal hairline. Although the flap surgery technique has improved, it is the most undesirable way to replace lost hair for some people. The biggest reason is that the the newly placed hair can grow in a different direction than the hair in the surrounding area, making it very difficult to style.

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    • A man with frontal baldness.
      A man with frontal baldness.
    • Hormonal imbalances can cause frontal baldness.
      By: diego cervo
      Hormonal imbalances can cause frontal baldness.