New cause for male pattern baldness discovered: Is cure next?

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(CBS News) Men who lament the fact that they no longer have hair on their head may have some good news. Researchers have discovered a new potential cause that may help them get to the root of male pattern baldness.

A study published in the March 21 issue of  Science Translational Medicine, found men who had a high level of a protein called prostaglandin D2 on their scalps were more likely to be bald. This protein and others like it have been known to block hair growth.

Male pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss for men, the National Institute of Health said. According to WebMD, male pattern baldness occurs in 80 percent of men under 70. Symptoms include a thinning of hair at the hairline, eventually creating a U-shaped or horseshoe pattern of hair on both sides of the head. While treatment is not necessary, side effects including psychological stress and loss of self-esteem due to change in appearance can be experienced.

BBC News reports that the next step for the researchers is to find a treatment that targets the gene that triggers prostaglandin D2 protein.

Study author Dr. George Cotsarelis, a hair and scalp researcher at the University of Pennsylvania told BBC News, "The next step would be to screen for compounds that affect this receptor and to also find out whether blocking that receptor would reverse balding or just prevent balding - a question that would take a while to figure out."

Cotsarelis told The Daily Mail the treatment could possibly  be available within five years.

"The nice thing about dermatology and hair loss in general is that you can take compounds that maybe are being used as a pill and put them in a topical formulation. When you apply this to the scalp... you would allow hair to grow," he said. "We could imagine using this compound topically would be a great treatment."

Right now, the only treatments for male pattern baldness are minoxidil, commonly known as Rogaine, and Propecia, a prescription pill originally developed to treat enlarged prostate glands, WebMD reported. Other ways to hide baldness, include hair pieces or hair transplants.

Any news about what causes male pattern baldness is good news for people with this affliction. While hereditary factors and sex hormones have been linked, no direct cause has been determined. Often times the "cures" have been discovered by chance. For example, Rogaine was initially a treatment for high blood pressure, according to WebMD.

11 Photos

Hey, Baldy: 10 Things You Need to Know about Hair Loss

[SMPClinic]

Scalp Micropigmentation is one cost effective, healthy, and immediate solution for male pattern baldness. It is basically a hair tattoo, which replaces lost follicles. Take a look at some of the before and after photos on this website: http://smpclinic.com.au

[KPNewsLiaison]

New discoveries are always exciting, as they get us closer and closer to a cure. A PGD2 inhibitor sounds promising, but we can't deny the DHT association. A true cure for hair loss will probably require a drug or treatment method that takes multiple causes into consideration. This article gives an interesting perspecitve: http://www.dermhairclinic.com/dr-umar-discusses-potential-for-new-drug-to-stop-hair-loss/

[Nelice7859]

This could be good news for men who are so conscious about their hair. I believe hair loss can be linked to many other factors, and it depends on every individual. I personally have experienced hair loss 5 years ago, and glad that finasteride worked well for me. Although the effects were not immediate, I was able to appreciate the results after a few weeks. You can also check out this link:

http://www.tipfortheday.info/FitnessArticles/want-to-solve-your-baldness-problem-buy-finasteride-1mg-online.html

[Rogaine-user]

Rogaine do not work for me but bring me ton of side effects. I found a same story that is similar to me here: http://www.iusedtobebald.com/Hair-Loss-Reviews/rogaine-minoxidil-review/

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[inbethlehem]

I have a bald spot. And contrary to this moron's opinion, I do not consider it an "affliction" Thank you very much.

[DMKenyon]

It is bad enough that the manufacturers of hair care products and pharmaceuticals would turn common male pattern baldness into a disease. I personally have thought that anything that makes you look less like an ape was a sign of higher evolution. But whether you would prefer to have a full head of hair or not, the demonization of baldness is purely an affliction of a neurotic consumer culture that has been programmed to accept fashion standards so they they will buy more stuff.

To be sure, the patent holder of a pill, ointment or voo-doo doll that can be clinically proven to reverse baldness will make as much money as the makers of Viagra as insecure men flock to fit a beauty standard carefully fabricated for them by marketeers whose only interest is to herd them like goats.

The truth is, however, that by falling for the advertising pressure that marketing fascism has brought to bear on him, a man fleeing from bladness would simply reaffirm the stereotype that a bare-headed man is an impotent tool. Better to shave your head and be free. Real men do not allow marketing departments to tell them who they are. And they certainly do not allow themselves to be manipulated by vanity to the point that they alter their bodies because some chemical company wants to sell more shampoo.

D. M. Kenyon
Author, The Lotus Blossom

[dudeboy1]

I knew my hairline was receding on my forehead. but I had not realised the big bald patch in the back, until I recently saw a video of a meeting I attended. The camera was behind me and mounted on the ceiling, pointed down at the audience. It took me a while to figure out where I was in the audience, until realising I was the guy with the big bald patch on the back of his head!
I would shave my head, but it's so big I think it would frighten people.

[inbethlehem]

Happened to me too. Was out on the boat one day. Took a shower and "Ouch!" I had sunburn on my head! We guys tend not to use the rear view mirror, except if we have a pimple on our butts!

[RTurnbullmipplesjd]

You could still shave your head; are you actually responsible for people allowing themselves to `fear' the result?!?
Cf. Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, among many other examples --- the
Telly Savalas/Kojak character...
I suggest you add tatoos and mirror shades occasionally to test my
theory even further...

[venusvegasvada]

Huh, I always thought it was because of wearing baseball caps too much.

[dudeboy1]

That is a common myth.

[hayseedbears]

Wow! Glad to see we are working on the important stuff!