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Photo Credit man image by anna karwowska from Fotolia.com A few extra hairs in the sink or on your comb may be a sign of hair loss known as male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia. This condition involves a receding hairline and thinning around the crown that eventually leads to bald spots, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Each strand of hair sits in an opening in the skin known as a follicle. Male pattern baldness causes the follicle to slowly shrivel. It also shortens the growth phase of the normal hair cycle and causes hair to become more delicate. Various solutions exist to treat receding hairlines in men. The good news about male pattern baldness is the fact that even though hair follicles shrink, they do not die. This implies that new growth is possible, according to the NIH. Minoxidil (Rogaine) is an over-the-counter liquid or foam medication for the treatment of male-pattern baldness. Minoxidil is rubbed into the scalp twice a day to help stimulate new hair and stop additional loss. You may need to use Minoxidil for at least three months before new hair starts to appear. New hair may be shorter and thinner, but it may adequately cover bald spots and blend with your existing hair. Finasteride (Propecia) is an oral prescription medication taken once a day to treat male pattern baldness. Finasteride may slow the rate of hair loss and cause new hair growth in some patients. It may take a number of months to see any improvements in a receding hairline. Hair transplant surgery involves taking hair from a healthy section of the scalp and inserting it in locations where hair is receding, according the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). This hair-growing technique presumes the transplanted hairs will take root and grow normally. Minor scarring may occur in the area where the hair was removed. It can take six months for the transplanted hairs to take on a natural appearance. Injections of steroids directly into hairless patches on the scalp stimulate hair growth in the majority of cases, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Injections send small doses of cortisone to affected areas. It usually takes about four weeks for new hair growth to become visible. Hair pieces may help cover a receding hairline if you'd rather not use medications or if they have failed to work for you. Wearing a toupee can conceal hair loss and is generally the safest, most immediate and cost-effective remedy for a receding hairline, according to the NIH.
