Male Pattern Baldness Explained – Symptoms and Causes
Maybe you’ve noticed hair on your pillow or in the drain after a shower. If so, you might be worried that it’s a sign of male pattern baldness. You’d probably be right.
Male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, affects 80% of American men over 501 years old, usually starting in their 30s. Don’t worry. Understanding androgenetic alopecia is key to deciding how and if you should treat it.
Understanding Male Pattern Baldness
Male pattern baldness is just one type of hair loss, and it’s treated differently.
To determine what’s causing your hair loss, your doctor will consider:5
Medical history
Age when hair loss began
How long it lasted
Severity and distribution
Other symptoms, such as burning, itching, or scalp sensitivity
Hair loss can be caused by causes such as infection, scalp psoriasis, alopecia areata (which causes patchy hair loss on the scalp or beard), or traction alopecia (which can be caused by wearing a tight hairstyle). 2
Male pattern baldness doesn’t require treatment, but there are several ways to treat it, hide it, or live happily with it.
Symptoms of Male Pattern Baldness
How do you know if you have male pattern baldness?
Early signs of hair loss include thinning hair, bald spots, a receding hairline, a widening hairline, or a thinning ponytail2.
These changes are gradual. There are seven stages of male pattern baldness:3
Little or no hair loss.
Mild hair loss at the temples.
A receding hairline deepens, often in an “M” or “U” shape.
A receding hairline and hair loss on the top of the head increase.
A receding hairline is combined with hair loss on the top of the head.
Thinning or loss of hair between the temples and the top of the head.
No hair on the head, but a thin strip of hair on the sides of the head.
You should see a doctor if you notice hair loss that doesn’t fit the stages:1
Rapid, widespread hair loss, patchy hair loss, or hair breakage.
Itchy scalp, skin irritation, redness, flaking, or pain.
Sudden hair loss after taking a new medication.
Common causes of male pattern baldness
Your first question might be, “Why me?”
Researchers have been asking this question for years. The cause of male pattern baldness depends on a variety of factors.
Ethnicity: If you are of European or Afro-Caribbean descent, you are more likely to have androgenetic alopecia. 3
Family history: If your father, grandfather, brother, or your mother’s father is bald, you are more likely to be bald, too. 3
Hormones: Research suggests that male pattern baldness is caused by sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that plays a key role in sexual development. High levels of DHT shrink hair follicles and shorten the hair growth cycle. 3
Genetics: One of the 63 genes identified as contributing to hair loss4 tells your body how to produce sex hormones, and the gene’s sensitivity to DHT helps determine male pattern baldness. 3
Myths and misconceptions about hair loss
We’ve all heard them—the theories about baldness—but should you believe any of them? Maybe. A closer look reveals some hidden truths.
Hair loss is inherited from your mother. As mentioned above, a history of hair loss in both parents can affect your risk of hair loss. However, if your father is bald, you are twice as likely to be bald as well. 3
Male pattern baldness only affects older men. 53% of men in their 40s have already experienced moderate to severe hair loss. 6 Some people experience hair loss in their teens.
Wearing a hat can suffocate your hair. This is false, but if you already have hair loss, you may see a few strands of hair in your hat. 7
Stress can cause hair loss. Some people experience sudden hair loss within a few months of experiencing physical or emotional stress, such as childbirth, drastic weight loss, or divorce. Hair usually grows back without treatment. 8
Sun exposure can promote hair loss. UV rays dry out the hair, weaken the hair shaft, and cause it to break. This stops once your hair is healthier. 9
Smoking is bad for your hair. In addition to the many reasons to quit, smoking reduces blood flow, which can cause blood loss to hair follicle cells and inflammation of the scalp. The opposite happens when you stop smoking. 7
All hair loss is permanent. Since androgenetic alopecia doesn’t leave scars, hair regrowth in men is possible, but that doesn’t guarantee that existing treatments will work for everyone. 10
More Ways to Treat Hair Loss
Successful treatment of male pattern baldness involves two parts. First: starting treatment early. Second, making sure your scalp and hair are healthy.
There are several treatments for male pattern baldness. Let’s start with the FDA-approved treatments that slow hair loss and promote regrowth.
Minoxidil is an over-the-counter topical lotion or foam that’s applied directly to the scalp to stimulate hair follicles. It can cause an itchy, dry scalp. 11
Finasteride is a prescription oral medication that generally works better than minoxidil, but can cause serious side effects, such as impotence and depression. As with minoxidil, hair loss will return if you stop taking it. 11
Platelet-rich plasma is filtered from your blood at a doctor’s office and then injected into your scalp to stimulate hair growth. Multiple sessions are required. 11
Low-energy laser treatments are available over the counter and can stimulate hair follicles, increase blood flow, and promote cell vitality. 11
Hair transplants involve removing hair clusters from growing areas and transplanting them to bald areas. It may take a year to see full results, and follow-up treatments may be needed. 3
Some treatments are FDA-approved for other conditions, but are often prescribed off-label to treat hair loss.
Dutasteride is a prescription oral prostate medication that works similarly to finasteride. Early studies suggest it is three times more effective. 12
Latanoprost is a prescription topical glaucoma medication that increases hair density. 11
If you’re concerned about the side effects, cost, or other issues of these treatments, Foundation Skincare Untangled Hair Growth Supplement topical can reduce hair loss and stimulate hair stem cells without irritating the scalp and is safe for long-term use.
Deficiencies in vitamins important for hair growth, such as zinc, biotin, or protein, can accelerate hair loss. 13 Foundation Skincare Untangled Hair Growth Supplement ensures you get what you need for fuller, shinier hair. It also works great in combination with the hair serum on the outside and the carefully designed, scientifically formulated vitamins and minerals on the inside.
A healthy lifestyle can promote healthy hair and scalp. Experts recommend keeping hair clean and using conditioners. Some studies show that ketoconazole, an antifungal found in anti-dandruff shampoos, can reduce scalp inflammation in men with hair loss. 11
Non-drug methods of masking hair loss include wigs, hairpieces, extensions, and hairstyles. While these methods are effective, they can be expensive and limit your activities, such as swimming or exercising.
Coping with Hair Loss
Male hair loss can be ignored because it is common and not life-threatening. 14
However, studies show that men with hair loss often suffer from depression and anxiety. They may feel that hair loss makes them look old or unattractive, which can lower their self-esteem and increase feelings of social rejection. 15
Men are often embarrassed to seek treatment early. Research suggests that learning more about hair loss and treatment options may help. 16
If you are struggling emotionally with hair loss, contact your doctor or consider counseling. There are several online resources, including chat rooms and YouTube channels, that can help you deal with hair loss. 17
A positive baldness movement is encouraging men to cope with hair loss by shaving their heads. Many men find it a relief to be able to say that hair loss no longer dominates their thoughts. 17
Don’t hide your hair loss. It’s a reality for most men and doesn’t need to change your life. Whether you choose treatment to slow progression or turn baldness into a sexy statement if you choose, understand your options so you can feel good about how you look and feel.
