Male Pattern Baldness: Causes, Identification, and Prevention
Posted: February 8, 2019 at 4:44 pm
Male pattern baldness, also called androgenic alopecia, is the most common type of hair loss in men. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), more than 50 percent of all men over the age of 50 will be affected by male pattern baldness to some extent.
One cause of male pattern baldness is genetics, or having a family history of baldness. Research has found that male pattern baldness is associated with male sex hormones called androgens. The androgens have many functions, including regulating hair growth.
Each hair on your head has a growth cycle. With male pattern baldness, this growth cycle begins to weaken and the hair follicle shrinks, producing shorter and finer strands of hair. Eventually, the growth cycle for each hair ends and no new hair grows in its place.
Inherited male pattern baldness usually has no side effects. However, sometimes baldness has more serious causes, such as certain cancers, medications, thyroid conditions, and anabolic steroids. See your doctor if hair loss occurs after taking new medications or when its accompanied by other health complaints.
Doctors use the pattern of hair loss to diagnose male pattern baldness. They may perform a medical history and exam to rule out certain health conditions as the cause, such as fungal conditions of the scalp or nutritional disorders.
Health conditions may be a cause of baldness when a rash, redness, pain, peeling of the scalp, hair breakage, patchy hair loss, or an unusual pattern of hair loss accompanies the hair loss. A skin biopsy and blood tests also may be necessary to diagnose disorders responsible for the hair loss.
Male pattern baldness can begin in your teenage years, but it more commonly occurs in adult men, with the likelihood increasing with age. Genetics plays a big role. Men who have close relatives with male pattern baldness are at a higher risk. This is particularly true when their relatives are on the maternal side of the family.
If your hair loss begins at the temples or the crown of the head, you may have male pattern baldness. Some men will get a single bald spot. Others experience their hairlines receding to form an M shape. In some men, the hairline will continue to recede until all or most of the hair is gone.
Medical treatment isnt necessary if other health conditions arent a cause. However, treatments are available for men who are unhappy with the way they look and would like the appearance of a fuller head of hair.
Men with limited hair loss can sometimes hide hair loss with the right haircut or hairstyle. Ask your hairstylist for a creative cut that will make thinning hair look fuller.
Wigs can cover thinning hair, receding hairlines, and complete baldness. They come in a variety of styles, colors, and textures. For a natural look, choose wig colors, styles, and textures that look similar to your original hair. Professional wig stylists can help style and fit wigs for an even more natural look.
Hair weaves are wigs that are sewn into your natural hair. You must have enough hair to sew the weave into. The advantage to weaves is they always stay on, even during activities such as swimming, showering, and sleeping. The disadvantages are they must be sewn again whenever new hair growth occurs, and the sewing process can damage your natural hair.
Minoxidil (Rogaine) is a topical medication applied to the scalp. Minoxidil slows hair loss for some men and stimulates the hair follicles to grow new hair. Minoxidil takes four months to one year to produce visible results. Hair loss often happens again when you stop taking the medication.
Possible side effects associated with minoxidil include dryness, irritation, burning, and scaling of the scalp. You should visit the doctor immediately if you have any of these serious side effects:
Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) is an oral medication that slows hair loss in some men. It works by blocking the production of the male hormone responsible for hair loss. Finasteride has a higher success rate than minoxidil. When you stop taking finasteride, your hair loss returns.
You must take finasteride for three months to one year before you see results. If no hair growth occurs after one year, your doctor will likely recommend that you stop taking the medication. The side effects of finasteride include:
Although its rare, finasteride can cause breast cancer. You should have any breast pain or lumps evaluated by a doctor immediately.
Finasteride may affect prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests used to screen for prostate cancer. The medication lowers PSA levels, which causes lower-than-normal readings. Any rise in PSA levels when taking finasteride should be evaluated for prostate cancer.
A hair transplant is the most invasive and expensive treatment for hair loss. Hair transplants work by removing hair from areas of the scalp that have active hair growth and transplanting them to thinning or balding areas of your scalp.
Multiple treatments are often necessary, and the procedure carries the risk of scarring and infection. The advantages of a hair transplant are that it looks more natural and its permanent.
Going bald can be a big change. You may have trouble accepting your appearance. You should seek counseling if you experience anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, or other emotional problems because of male pattern baldness.
Theres no known way to prevent male pattern baldness. A theory is that stress may cause hair loss by increasing the production levels of sex hormones in the body. You can reduce stress by participating in relaxing activities, such as walking, listening to calming music, and enjoying more quiet time.
More here:
Male Pattern Baldness: Causes, Identification, and Prevention
- Male roundworms are picky when choosing a mate, new research finds - Phys.org - March 12th, 2024
- Male fertility is declining. Here's what the latest research shows as to why - Yahoo Eurosport UK - March 12th, 2024
- Protein integral to sperm development and male fertility identified - EurekAlert - February 23rd, 2024
- The Y Chromosome Is Vanishing. A New Sex Gene May Be The Future of Men. - ScienceAlert - February 23rd, 2024
- Embracing the Bald: The Journey of Acceptance and the Battle Against Male Pattern Baldness - BNN Breaking - February 23rd, 2024
- Fruit flies give further insight into evolution of male genitalia driven by sexual selection - EurekAlert - February 5th, 2024
- Massive genetic study estimates the chance of dying from prostate cancer - Medical Xpress - January 28th, 2024
- Lean Gene Reviews (USA) Does This Weight Loss Supplement Work? LeanGene Ingredients, Price, Where to Buy? - Outlook India - April 8th, 2023
- The biggest shock was not having a uterus the film about intersex beauty queen Sharon-Rose Khumalo - The Guardian - March 23rd, 2023
- Male Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com - January 25th, 2023
- Male Genitalia Pictures, Anatomy & Diagram | Body Maps - Healthline - January 25th, 2023
- 15 Alpha Male Traits Characteristics of Real Alpha Males - January 25th, 2023
- The 15 Best Sex Toys for Men, According to Experts - SELF - January 25th, 2023
- Diabetes is increasing in younger population, finds study: Doctors share early signs that might help in early medical intervention - Times of India - January 25th, 2023
- Sexual dimorphism - Wikipedia - December 28th, 2022
- Why Do Men Go Bald: Male Baldness Causes, Treatment, Prevention - December 28th, 2022
- African Americans - Wikipedia - December 28th, 2022
- Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms | NHGRI - Genome - December 12th, 2022
- Risk Factors for Breast Cancer in Men - American Cancer Society - December 12th, 2022
- We have the killers DNA, we just need a name: Genetic game changer offers hope for near-unsolvable Ontario cold cases - Toronto Star - December 12th, 2022
- Hair loss - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic - November 26th, 2022
- Cell Size and Scale - University of Utah - November 26th, 2022
- We created the world's first donkey embryo using IVF in a bid to save species from extinction - The Conversation - November 18th, 2022
- Male infertility - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic - October 16th, 2022
- Dangerous Male Sex Pills - CBS News - October 16th, 2022
- Drone (bee) - Wikipedia - October 16th, 2022
- Prestigious award advances OHSU research on impact of drug use over generations - OHSU News - October 16th, 2022
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month: The importance of getting to know your lemons - Bothell-Kenmore Reporter - October 16th, 2022
- Identification of hub genes and candidate herbal treatment in obesity through integrated bioinformatic analysis and reverse network pharmacology |... - October 16th, 2022
- Behind this Nobel prize is a very human story: theres a bit of Neanderthal in all of us - The Guardian - October 16th, 2022
- Column One: Why this UCLA professor is studying female animals to gain insights into women's health - Los Angeles Times - October 16th, 2022
- Books wrap: Simone Kaho on her new poetry collection and PTSD; a conversation with Richard Wolfe; and more - New Zealand Herald - October 16th, 2022
- The 2016 WHO Classification of Tumours of the Urinary System and Male ... - October 8th, 2022
- How to Tell If a Squirrel Is Male or Female | Sciencing - October 8th, 2022
- The Genetic Drivers Of Longevity In Mice, Humans And Worms - Science 2.0 - October 8th, 2022
- A Guide To The Best Fertility Supplements And Vitamins For Men - Forbes - October 8th, 2022
- Early Signs Of Male Plant And Female Plant-How To Identify The Difference? - The Island Now - October 8th, 2022
- Why Not All 'House of the Dragon' Mixed Race Targaryens Are Blonde - Newsweek - October 8th, 2022
- Study on the interaction preference between CYCD subclass and CDK family members at the poplar genome level | Scientific Reports - Nature.com - October 8th, 2022
- Calcium-Channel Blocker and Adenosine Modulator Use and Risk of Hospitalization in Bipolar Disorder - Psychiatric Times - October 8th, 2022
- Israel, A Pioneer In Agriculture Of The Future - I24NEWS - i24NEWS - October 8th, 2022
- Results: Limousin society's 50th anniversary show and sale - Agriland - October 8th, 2022
- Drug resistance and population structure of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in the Peruvian Amazon | Scientific Reports - Nature.com - October 8th, 2022
- Do Supplements Help Hair Growth? We Asked An Expert - SheFinds - October 8th, 2022
- Genomic imprinting - Wikipedia - September 30th, 2022
- BRCA beyond breast cancer: links to prostate, pancreatic, other tumors - The Columbus Dispatch - September 30th, 2022
- Severe COVID-19Related Outcomes Found Worse in Men With RA - Medscape - September 30th, 2022
- Let the Bees Tell You. On the Holy Bible (For Beekeepers) of Buckfast Abbey - Literary Hub - September 30th, 2022
- Genetics | Ohio State Medical Center - September 5th, 2022
- Regular exercise may help women live longer, regardless of their genes - Medical News Today - September 5th, 2022
- Habsburg Jaw: The Horrific Consequences of 'Royal Inbreeding' in Europe - TheTealMango - September 5th, 2022
- Alpha Beast XL Reviews (USA & Canada): Is It Legitimate Or Scammer? Shocking Ingredients Alert! - Deccan Herald - September 5th, 2022
- Men More Prone to Cancer Than Women, But Why? - HealthDay News - August 11th, 2022
- For Some Dolphins, the Key to Mating is Rolling with a Tight, Noisy Crew - Scientific American - August 11th, 2022
- Sister's Liver, Mother's Kidney Helps Save Uttarakhand Man's Life - NDTV - August 11th, 2022
- Role of genetic testing in in-vitro fertilization - Express Healthcare - August 11th, 2022
- Protective effect of apolipoprotein E epsilon 3 on sporadic Alzheimer's disease in the Chinese population: a meta-analysis | Scientific Reports -... - August 11th, 2022
- PRC1-mediated epigenetic programming is required to generate the ovarian reserve - Nature.com - August 11th, 2022
- Ashton Kutcher and Autoimmune Disease Vasculitis - Healthline - August 11th, 2022
- ROCKET PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (form 10-Q) - Marketscreener.com - August 11th, 2022
- Meet the Algae That Went from Male/Female to Hermaphroditic - The Scientist - August 3rd, 2022
- The Sex Appeal of Symmetric Songs | TS Digest | The Scientist - The Scientist - August 3rd, 2022
- Asexual Reproduction: Species Reproducing on Their Own are Susceptible to Dangerous Genetic Mutations - Nature World News - August 3rd, 2022
- Viewpoint: Why genetic engineering of livestock is compatible with the sustainable and human treatment of animals - Genetic Literacy Project - August 3rd, 2022
- Why Do We Get Old, and Can Aging Be Reversed? - Quanta Magazine - August 3rd, 2022
- New Feminist Considerations of Masculinity, Reviewed - The New Yorker - August 3rd, 2022
- Family at 'breaking point' amid difficulties caring for son with rare genetic disorder - The Mirror - August 3rd, 2022
- There are valid reasons so many Nebraska kids have spent their summers detasseling corn - Scottsbluff Star Herald - August 3rd, 2022
- Prehistoric roots of 'cold sore' virus traced through ancient herpes DNA - EurekAlert - August 3rd, 2022
- Funny Papers Again Column | Idiotologies vs The Review and Research Posse - King City Rustler - August 3rd, 2022
- 10 US Parks Where You Can Watch Wildlife In Its Natural Habitat - TheTravel - August 3rd, 2022
- Men Missing Y Chromosome Have High Heart Disease Risk Best Life - Best Life - July 26th, 2022
- Going to the Beach? Planning a Hike? Be Prepared: Men Will Be Much Hungrier! - Neuroscience News - July 26th, 2022
- THE BALANCED LIFE | Use common sense when digesting wellness advice | - The Voice of Pelham - July 26th, 2022
- Ecostani | Despite concerns, the Cheetah project is worth pursuing - Hindustan Times - July 26th, 2022
- To what extent human beings are morally responsible for the actions they take as a result of their innate and acquired influences - Teen Ink - July 26th, 2022
- How Fast Does Hair Grow? Know These Easy-Peasy Tips to Grow your Tresses - TheTealMango - July 26th, 2022
- BETTER KNOW A PREY-GO-NEESH: Up Close and Personal With Your New Condor Neighbors - Lost Coast Outpost - July 26th, 2022
- From the 'Burgh to the Gulf: Lions relocated in zoo breeding program - TribLIVE - July 26th, 2022
- Long Non-Coding RNAs ANRIL and HOTAIR Upregulation is Associated with | IJGM - Dove Medical Press - July 26th, 2022