It’s something that is dreaded by most men. It can happen as early as your late teens. It’s called male-pattern baldness and it can change the way you look at yourself in the mirror, as well as the way others look at you. Searching for a cure to male-pattern baldness has led to some pretty silly solutions, including spray-on “hair”. However, if you suffer from this malady, don’t lose hope. There are promising results coming from the biotechnology sector that may just be able to do something revolutionary for men everywhere. More on what the future holds for male balding after the break.
Currently the most promising technology that relates to male-pattern baldness is genetic testing. While this will not help those who are already experiencing hair loss, it can be used to determine who is most likely to develop baldness. A company from Iceland called deCODE Genetics has developed a personal genotyping service and plans to offer screening for male-pattern baldness by 2011. This will allow those who know in advance that they are a prime candidate to begin preventative treatments such as Rogaine.
Next on the timeline is a process called follicular cell implantation, or basically a type of hair cloning. This process is being developed by a group of researchers at Intercytex in Great Britain. Instead of the currrent method of transplanting hair from one spot and implanting it in another, this process will create new hair that can be implanted. This will allow for a thicker head of hair, rather than spreading out whatever remains. While successful tests have been completed, the company doesn’t plan to have a marketable service available until 2013.
Finally, out there on the horizon is an ultra-modern technological marvel just waiting to help out men’s hair loss. A company colled Follica Inc. has submitted a patent for a process it calles follicle neogenesis. This process allows scientists do manipulate protein elements in skin cells that determine how much hair is present. This regenerative type treatment was first discovered on laboratory rats and also has implications for other types of body hair loss such as alopecia. Pre-clinical trials are currently underway, and a best-guess estimate is that this type of treatment might be available by 2015. Then again, knowing the FDA and clinical trials, it could still be decades.
For now, the bottom line if your suffering from male-pattern baldness is acceptance. Realize that bald can be attractive as well as macho (just think of guys like Bruce Willis). Don’t let a receding hairline slow you down, and if it’s disappearing too fast consider the bald look. It can have lots of appeal.
(Photo CC by Brian Solis on Flickr.com)
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