Androgenetic Alopecia: Modern Concepts of Pathogenesis and Treatment

Until now, the general belief has been that premature baldness (male pattern bald ness: M.P.B., or androgenetie alopeeia) is a hereditary eondition that progresses with age and for which there is no eure. If the father is bald, it is assumed that the ehild may also be destined to be bald sometime in the future. The existing theory throughout the world is that the eentral portion of the hair follicle is the hair root, and hair ean never regrow if the hair root has been removed. Dr. Inaba has introdueed a new theory that the eentral portion of the hair folliele is not only the hair root but the upper isthmal portion elose to the duet opening of the sebaeeous gland. This is a totaUy new understanding of the hair growth mechanism and the hair eyele. In his experienee in the surgieal removal of the sweat glands, whieh also removes the hair root, Dr. Inaba has found inereasing evidenee that hair regrows if the sebaeeous gland is left intaet.