Have you noticed thinning hair, hair loss and/or a receding hairline? If you are a healthy male over thirty, then you are probably already aware that the problem is androgenic alopecia, otherwise known as male pattern baldness. About twenty five percent of men in their thirties experience a receding hair line, and by age sixty more than half of men are affected by hair loss due to male pattern baldness.

Although it is a possibility you may have tried to prepare for based on family history it still comes as a shocking experience to most men. The first question which comes to mind when we see a receding hairline is "Why?" The answer to this question is hormonal, and as you are probably aware lies with your genetics as well. The problem lies with a specific hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone). When you were a child it was important for development, especially during puberty. As some men age, they do not slow down on production of enzyme 5a, which converts idol testosterone into DHT. The DHT starts to build up, and one of the places it binds to is the hair follicles in the scalp. This cuts off blood flow, which in turn cuts off the supply of nutrients to the hair. Beginning with a receding hairline and a growing bald spot on the top of the head, hair first thins and then falls out and does no regrow. This process will envelop the entire scalp if left untreated.

You can of course wait out the process once you notice a receding hairline and receive a hair transplant once you are completely bald. This is no longer necessary with the development of drugs and supplements which can block the balding process. Admittedly, they will work much better for hair loss prevention; stopping DHT from binding to the hair follicles in the first place. Once a significant amount of hair has been lost you can still recover it by this method.

The pharmaceutical drugs for dealing with a receding hairline have negative side effects and health risks, as well as a substantial risk of drug interaction. These risks are not present with herbal supplements however, and I would say these are your best option. The problem with choosing a herbal supplement over a pharmaceutical is that you don't know how well it works; this is especially true with hair loss products. The answer to this is more research. Blogs, forums, review sites and even magazines examine the effectiveness of these supplements and rate them based on results, side effects and price. You can also rely, or at least partially rely, on information directly from other consumers regarding the effectiveness of herbal hair loss products. Again, I would just repeat that it is best to start this process when you first notice a receding hairline and not wait until you have suffered substantial hair loss.