Male Pattern Baldness: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
January 2020
TLDR Male pattern baldness is a common hair loss in men caused by genetics and hormones, with treatments including drugs, hair transplants, and hair loss products.
Male pattern baldness, also known as androgenic alopecia, is a common form of hair loss in men, affecting over half of all men by their 50s. It can occur at any age, with some men noticing signs in their 20s and 30s. The primary causes are genetics and androgenic hormones such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Symptoms include a receding hairline, thinning at the crown, and general thinning of hair. The condition is caused by a genetic sensitivity of hair follicles to DHT, which binds to the follicles, causing them to shrink and slow hair growth. Risk factors include genetics, age, and certain medical treatments. While there is no cure, treatments include prescription drugs, hair transplants, scalp micropigmentation, over-the-counter hair loss products, laser devices, and hairpieces. These treatments require ongoing use and are most effective when started at the first signs of hair loss.
