What is male pattern baldness?
Male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia) is a type of hair loss that affects people assigned male at birth (AMAB). It causes you to lose hair on the skin covering your head (scalp), and your hair doesn’t grow back. Other signs of male-pattern baldness include thinning hair and a hairline that moves farther back on your head (receding hairline).
There are seven stages of male pattern baldness according to the Hamilton-Norwood scale:
- Stage 1: There’s little or no hair loss or hairline recession.
- Stage 2: There’s slight hair loss near the skin between your ears and forehead (temples).
- Stage 3: You have deep hairline recession around your temples, and your hairline may have an “M” or “U” shape.
- Stage 4: You have very deep hairline recession and a loss of hair at the top of your head (crown).
- Stage 5: Your hairline recession connects to the bald spot on your crown.
- Stage 6: The hair between your temples and crown is thinning or gone.
- Stage 7: You have no hair on the top of your head and a thin band of hair around the side of your head.
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Who does male pattern baldness affect?
Male pattern baldness can affect anyone assigned male at birth.
However, male pattern baldness affects people differently based on their ethnic heritage. You’re more likely to have male pattern baldness if you’re white, followed by Afro-Caribbean. You’re less likely to experience male pattern baldness if you’re of Chinese or Japanese descent. Male pattern baldness doesn’t typically affect Native American, First Nations and Alaska Native peoples.
You’re more likely to have male pattern baldness if you have a family history of it. If your grandfather, father or brothers have male pattern baldness, your odds of having it are higher.
Does male pattern baldness run on my mother’s side of the family?
If your mother’s father (maternal grandfather) has male pattern baldness, there’s a good chance that you’ll have male pattern baldness as well. However, there may be a link between male pattern baldness and your father. If your father is bald, you’re twice as likely to have male pattern baldness.
How common is male pattern baldness?
Male pattern baldness affects two-thirds of all people assigned male at birth, and your odds of experiencing some hair loss increase with age.
How does male pattern baldness affect my body?
Male pattern baldness causes the small depressions in your scalp at the base of your hairs (hair follicles) to gradually shrink, often in a specific pattern. As your hair follicles shrink, your individual hairs get thinner and shorter. Over time, those hairs stop growing at all.
Male pattern baldness doesn’t affect your physical health. However, it can affect you psychosocially (how society and social groups affect your thoughts and emotions) and psychologically (how you think about yourself and your behavior). You may experience emotional stress, anxiety and depression.
FAQs
The early stages usually start in your 30s, but some people have signs as early as their late teens. Treatments include medications, a hair transplant, platelet-rich plasma and styling techniques.
What is the best treatment for androgenic alopecia? ›
Finasteride has been shown to diminish the progression of androgenetic alopecia in males who are treated, and, in many patients, it has stimulated new regrowth. Although it affects vertex balding more than frontal hair loss, the medication has been shown to increase regrowth in the frontal area as well.
How do men treat androgenic alopecia? ›
Topical minoxidil and oral finasteride are the only two treatments currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (USA) for androgenetic alopecia in men. Both of these medications prevent further hair loss but are only able to partially reverse the baldness. Both require continuous use to maintain the effect.
What is the best treatment for male pattern baldness? ›
Minoxidil (Rogaine), a solution that is applied directly to the scalp to stimulate the hair follicles. It slows hair loss for many men, and some men grow new hair.
Can hair loss from androgenic alopecia grow back? ›
If you're living with androgenetic alopecia, you may experience regrowth of hair, but the rate of regrowth is different from individual to individual. Although androgenetic alopecia cannot be prevented, there are many hair loss treatments available to slow down the process of hair loss or to restore hair permanently.
How I reversed my androgenetic alopecia? ›
Currently, the two most common and effective medications to combat pattern hair loss are Minoxidil (best known as Rogaine) and Finasteride (Propecia). Neither of these drugs represents a complete hair loss cure, of course, but they've been shown to stop hair loss in its tracks and even regrow hair in some cases.
How to remove DHT from scalp permanently? ›
You can start by incorporating foods like green tea, saw palmetto, and pumpkin seeds into your diet, as they are believed to have properties that reduce DHT production. Additionally, managing stress and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can contribute to natural DHT reduction over time.
When is it too late to use minoxidil? ›
If you are 50 years old, you can use Rogaine, as it is FDA-approved for ages 18 – 65. The efficacy of the treatment for your hair will depend on the type of hair loss you have and what the current state of your hair is.
How to stop DHT from attacking hair follicles? ›
A diet rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly zinc, biotin, and omega-3 fatty acids, can support hair health and potentially reduce DHT levels. Foods such as nuts, seeds, leafy greens, and lean proteins are beneficial.
What triggers androgenic alopecia? ›
The main risk factors for androgenetic alopecia are genetics and age. Other factors such as race, stress, and certain health conditions can also contribute.
Oral finasteride is a prescription medication for men who have male pattern hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia. Finasteride slows the rate of hair loss and stimulates new hair growth by inhibiting the body's production of a hormone that destroys hair follicles.
How can I permanently stop male pattern baldness? ›
Hair transplant: If you're looking for a permanent solution, you may want to consider a hair transplant. This procedure no longer involves moving plugs of hair from one part of your scalp to another. Today, a hair transplant can give you permanent, natural-looking results.
Has anyone successfully reversed male pattern baldness? ›
Although some treatments have good success rates, no treatment will completely reverse the process, and not all treatments will work for everyone.
Will I go completely bald with androgenetic alopecia? ›
Some men experience periods of increased and noticeable shedding. Hair loss usually does not start until after puberty, and the rate of progression is extremely variable. Some men go completely bald in less than 5 years but most take 15-25 years.
How did I cured my androgenetic alopecia? ›
Minoxidil must be applied once or twice daily for full effect. If used properly, patients can expect to see hair growth within 4–8 months which stabilizes after 12–18 months. If a patient terminates treatment, progressive hair loss can be expected within 12–24 weeks.
How to slow down androgenetic alopecia? ›
Medications: Over-the-counter (OTC) medications you apply to your scalp, such as minoxidil (Rogaine®), are usually the first course of treatment for male pattern baldness. Some side effects of minoxidil may include headache, scalp irritation and unusual hair growth.
What is the latest treatment for androgenetic alopecia? ›
New treatments such as Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), microneedling, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and others have been extensively studied in the literature, and the purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive discussion of the latest treatment methods and their efficacy in treating AGA.
What is the first line treatment for androgenic alopecia? ›
Topical minoxidil and oral finasteride are the first-line treatments for male pattern hair loss, and topical minoxidil is the first-line treatment for female pattern hair loss. However, there are a number of alternatives.
Does anything work for androgenic alopecia? ›
Anti-androgens.
Androgens include testosterone and other "male" hormones, which can accelerate hair loss in women. Some women who don't respond to minoxidil may benefit from the addition of the diuretic drug spironolactone (Aldactone) for treatment of androgenic alopecia because this drug has anti-androgen properties.
What is the best product for androgenetic alopecia? ›
Finasteride is a FDA-approved hair growth treatment for androgenic alopecia in men. This oral medication works as a dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blocker. DHT is one of the major reasons people with pattern hair loss experience hair thinning and balding.
