Since male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men, it is
definitely worth exploring more and learning about the ways to notice and treat this
condition specifically.
The Facts
As you know, male pattern baldness is also called androgenetic alopecia, which is a
type of alopecia you are born with.
Approximately 95% of men who experience hair loss have signs of male pattern
baldness.
It is easier to treat when caught early, but there are no guarantees you can slow down
the loss or grow your hair back. There is no cure, but it is always worth exploring the
different treatments.
While there is no specific cause for male pattern baldness, scientists believe it is genetic
based on a specific gene. They think this gene makes you more sensitive to DHT, which
is a hormone that can negatively affect your hair follicles. It can lead to hair loss at a
more rapid pace, and keep new hair growth from occurring.
Signs of Male Pattern Baldness
How do you know your hair loss is caused by male pattern baldness? Typically, this is
due to how you lose your hair. If the hair loss is all over with no actual patterns or bald
spots, it is probably not male pattern baldness. In those cases, it is typically caused by a
crash diet, stress, or nutrient deficiencies.
With male pattern baldness, there is a very distinct pattern of the loss. Typically, you
have thinning on the crown of your head, and a receding hairline. It can be subtle at
first, then you will begin to notice more and more thinning at the crown. Eventually, this
area that is thinning will become completely bald, creating a circular bald spot on your
head.
There is no predicting how long it will take to get the bald spot, but if you start
experiencing this type of hair loss early on, then you are more likely to end up with a
bigger bald spot.
What Can Be Done About it
As far as treating male pattern baldness, all you can do is use topical treatments that
will help you stimulate your hair follicles, in the hope that some hair will grow back in.
These will be discussed in a later section, but include some treatments you have
probably heard of, like using Rogaine.