Hair loss is a concern that affects millions of men worldwide. If your hairline is receding or your crown is thinning, you may wonder why this is happening and what, if anything, you can do to reverse this trend. While hair loss can be distressing, understanding the timeline and contributing factors empowers men to take proactive steps. This article delves into the typical age when men start losing their hair, the common causes behind it, and the available treatments to help slow down or manage the balding process.
Male pattern baldness (MPB), also known as androgenetic alopecia, hereditary hair loss, or male pattern hair loss, is the most common form of hair loss in men. In 95 percent of cases, balding is due to androgenetic alopecia, which is a hereditary condition. It typically starts with a receding hairline at the temples and thinning at the crown, eventually leading to partial or complete baldness.
Male pattern baldness is often genetic. Genetics play a significant role in male pattern baldness. The condition is linked to certain genes inherited from either parent, which influence the hair follicles’ sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a derivative of testosterone. 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. Men with a family history of baldness are more likely to experience hair loss themselves, often starting at a similar age as their relatives.
This inherited trait that tends to give guys a receding hairline and a thinning crown is caused by genetic sensitivity to a byproduct of testosterone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). So, how exactly does this hormonal byproduct cause hair loss?
Well, hair follicles that are sensitive to DHT have a tendency to shrink over time. As the affected hair follicles get smaller, the life span of each hair becomes shorter. Eventually, the affected follicles stop producing hair, or at least the type of hair you’re used to.
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The degree and progression of balding in men is assessed by the Norwood classification system. It has seven stages that measure the severity and pattern of hair loss and balding. There are seven stages of male pattern baldness according to the Hamilton-Norwood scale:
Men can begin to notice hair loss as early as their late teens to early 20s, although the most common age range for the onset of male pattern baldness is in their 30s. One in four men may start losing their hair before age 21, and this proportion increases with age. Approximately 25 percent of men who have hereditary male pattern baldness start losing their hair before the age of 21. By the age of 30, about 25% of men will experience some degree of balding. By the age of 35, approximately 66 percent of men will have experienced some degree of hair loss. By the age of 50, 50% of men have at least some noticeable hair loss. By the age of 50, approximately 85 percent of men will have significantly thinner hair. By age 60, about two-thirds are either bald or have a balding pattern. On average it takes 15-25 years for men to go completely bald. For some men, the process goes from start to complete baldness in five years.
Although male pattern baldness is the leading cause of balding, it isn’t the only condition that can trigger hair loss. With male pattern baldness, you typically don’t have other symptoms aside from thinning hair. But with other hair loss causes, you may notice you have other symptoms, too. Also, with most other causes, there isn’t always a predictable hair loss pattern like there is with male pattern baldness. Instead, hair loss is more likely to happen all over, or in a few spots. The following conditions can cause varying degrees of hair loss. Some types of hair loss may be permanent, while others may be reversible:
Recognizing the early signs of balding can help men take timely action to manage and treat hair loss.
Recognizing these early signs allows men to seek professional advice and explore treatment options before hair loss becomes more advanced.
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While you can’t prevent male pattern baldness, there are ways to slow down hair loss. Here are some general tips for keeping your hair healthy:
Here are some additional strategies for preventing hair loss:
Hair loss treatments, for male pattern baldness in particular, range from products you rub into your scalp to more invasive treatments aimed at restoring hair growth or replacing lost hair. Preventing further hair loss at the first sign of thinning is possible. Here are some of the more popular and effective treatment options for balding.
There are both prescription and over-the-counter drugs approved for the treatment of male pattern baldness. Finasteride and minoxidil are the main medications available in the UK for male pattern baldness. However, they won't work for everyone, and they won't regrow all of your hair. The two medications proven to treat or stave off further male pattern hair loss are finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) and minoxidil (Rogaine, Ioniten). Finasteride is a treatment for male pattern baldness that you take once a day in tablet form. It works by preventing testosterone from being converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes hair follicles to shrink, which is what causes the hair loss. It can take up to six months before the results of finasteride become visible, and the balding process starts again within a year if you stop taking it. Finasteride comes in a pill form and is only available by prescription. By reducing DHT levels, Finasteride can slow hair loss and even promote regrowth in some cases. Minoxidil is used to treat both male and female pattern baldness. It comes as a lotion which you rub into your scalp once a day, and it's available without a prescription. It's not clear how it works, but it has been shown to stop or slow hair loss in some people and promote hair regrowth in others. As with finasteride, it takes several months of using minoxidil to see any effect. Any new hair will fall out if you stop using it, and the balding process will resume. Minoxidil is a topical treatment that’s available over the counter. It can take at least 6 months for either treatment to start showing results. There are two strengths available: 2% and 5%. Minoxidil is an over-the-counter topical treatment applied directly to the scalp. It works by stimulating hair follicles and increasing blood flow to the area, promoting hair growth. Minoxidil is effective for many men, particularly when used at the early stages of hair loss. Once you discontinue use of these medications, the hair loss may resume. Talk to your doctor about if these medications may be right for you.
Low-level laser therapy can be used to help invigorate circulation in the scalp and to stimulate hair follicles. Although this is a fairly new treatment option, it has been deemed safe and tolerable. It is also a less invasive option compared to hair transplant surgery. Although research is limited for laser therapy and hair growth, some studies have shown encouraging results. For instance, a 2013 study that included 41 men between the ages of 18 and 48 found a 39 percent increase in hair growth for participants who had laser hair surgery.
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Hair transplant surgery involves moving hair follicles from a donor area (typically the back or sides of the head) to the balding areas. The two most common hair transplant procedures are follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE).
FUT involves the removal of a section of skin from the back of the scalp where hair is still growing. This section of skin is then divided into hundreds of tiny pieces called grafts. These grafts are then inserted into parts of the scalp where hair currently isn’t growing.
With FUE, the surgeon takes individual healthy hair follicles out of the scalp and then makes small holes, where hair isn’t growing, and puts the healthy follicles into these holes.
Success rates for hair transplants are generally high, with most patients experiencing significant improvement in hair density and appearance. It is a serious operation that should be considered at length.
PRP therapy involves injecting a concentration of a patient’s own platelets into the scalp to stimulate hair growth. The platelets release growth factors that enhance follicle health and promote hair regeneration.
These days it's become acceptable and even stylish to have a shaved head. If you don't want to embrace a smooth scalp, speak to your barber or hairdresser and ask for their advice on the best haircut for you.
Seeking a professional evaluation from a hair loss specialist is crucial for accurately diagnosing the cause of hair loss and developing an effective treatment plan. If your hair loss does not seem to fit the pattern of male pattern baldness, speak to your doctor.
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