London, June 25: Scientists have created a
pioneering computer programme that promises to predict men's
hair loss, a development that will bring some cheers to those
anxious about their receding hairline.
Devised by German scientists, the baldness calculator
promises to predict the exact age at which a person will go
bald or have lost most of their hair or provides reassurance
by predicting that they will still have a full head of hair in
old age.
The male baldness calculator will come as a relief for
those with recedingz hairline, particularly young men at the
peak of their social lives, said Dr Adolf Klenk, head of
research and development at hair care firm Dr Kurt Wolff.
Male pattern is characterized by hair receding from
the lateral sides of the forehead, known as "receding
hairline". Receding hairlines are usually seen in males above
the ages of 20 but can be seen as early as late teens as well.
"We have developed the male baldness calculator to
raise awareness among men," he was quoted as saying by a
newspaper.
According to the report in the British daily, the
programme asks users about their age, marital status,
occupation, where they live, what their current hairline is,
hair loss in their family and their stress levels.
"Genetic predisposition is by far the most common
cause of baldness. But other factors include severe, long-term
emotional stress, perhaps associated with a divorce or the
loss of a close relative," said Dr Klenk. However, some
scientists advice caution, saying it preys on the nearly
universal fear among men that they'll go bald.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, June 25, 2009, 12:58