Why does male pattern baldness start

Before you commit to anything, get a few opinions from different places. Preferably try to get the opinion of an impartial doctor in a state-funded health system, like the NHS.

To become gradually bald is a normal part of the ageing process for most men. No treatment is wanted or needed by most affected men. Normal washing and combing of hair will not make it fall out any quicker, so continue with your normal hair routine. It helps to find a style that suits you: many people opt for a short cropped style.

Finding a good hairdresser or barber can make you look and feel a lot better. For some men, baldness can be distressing, particularly if it is excessive or occurs early in life. Treatment may then help. Currently there are two medicines that help - finasteride and minoxidil.

Neither is available on state-funded systems like the NHS, so you need to pay the full price for them. It works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.

The hair follicles are then not affected by this hormone and can enlarge back to normal. In around 1 in 3 to 6 men taking finasteride, enough hair regrowth occurs for them to consider treatment helpful. Minoxidil lotion is a rub-on treatment that you can buy at pharmacies, without a prescription.

It is not clear how it works. There is debate as to how effective it is. It is most effective when used early on, rather than when a lot of hair has already been lost. It seems that it is best used to prevent further hair loss but some hair regrowth occurs in some users.

A wig is the traditional option for baldness. Some people find them useful; others find them uncomfortable and not very convincing. For male pattern baldness, they cannot be prescribed on the NHS, so they may be expensive. Techniques such as hair transplantation, scalp flaps and other procedures have been used for a number of years. Newer techniques are giving better results. Success rates vary. It is expensive and not available on the NHS. Blume-Peytavi U, Blumeyer A, Tosti A, et al ; S1 guideline for diagnostic evaluation in androgenetic alopecia in men, women and adolescents.

British Association of Dermatologists , pp5— Expert Opin Investig Drugs. Epub Apr 4. Male pattern baldness affects the majority of men at some stage in their lives. According to the American Hair Loss Association :. But with other hair loss causes, you may notice you have other symptoms, too.

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:.

Hair loss from certain medications is usually temporary and once you stop taking the medication, hair growth will likely resume. Some of the known drugs associated with hair loss include:. 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.

There are both prescription and over-the-counter drugs approved for the treatment of male pattern baldness. The two medications proven to treat or stave off further male pattern hair loss are finasteride Propecia, Proscar and minoxidil Rogaine , Ioniten. Finasteride comes in a pill form and is only available by prescription.

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 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. 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. 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. In some men, the hairline will continue to recede until all or most of the hair is gone. 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.