The Resistance of Hair in the Back to Balding
Why are hairs in the back of the scalp so resistant to balding?
Males with balding (androgenetic alopecia) frequently maintain a thick density at the back of the scalp whereas the front or top of the scalp may experience thinning. There are many reasons for these differences. Hair follicles in the back of the scalp have different androgen metabolism. There are fewer androgen receptors in these hairs. There is a reduced level of 5 alpha reductase activity. Furthermore, there are reduced DHT levels in the scalp.
On account of these differences between the back and front, a hair transplant becomes possible. Hairs moved from the back of the scalp to the front of the scalp maintain their characteristics and continue to be resistant to balding.
This article was written by Dr. Jeff Donovan, a Canadian and US board certified dermatologist specializing exclusively in hair loss.