Male Hair Loss: Causes, Conditions and Treatments

Hair loss affects millions of men and can begin as early as the late teens or twenties. Understanding the causes of male hair loss and recognising the symptoms early can make a significant difference to treatment success.

Worried About Hair Loss? We Can Help

If hair loss affects you, you are not alone, as a simple walk down the street will show you. About 25 per cent of men begin losing hair before they reach 30, and two-thirds before the age of 60. Sometimes, men can start losing hair in their teens and get into their early twenties with very little hair left on the crowns of their heads. Usually, however, the hair loss is gradual, developing over twenty to thirty years.

Common Male Hair Loss Issues

• Male Pattern Baldness
• Alopecia Areata

Male Pattern Baldness

The Most Common Cause of Hair Loss in Men Is Genetic

Male pattern baldness, also known as Androgenetic Alopecia, follows a distinct pattern of hair loss. It typically begins with a slight recession at the front hairline, followed by thinning on the crown of the head. Interestingly, the hair above the ears and at the nape of the neck remains unaffected. This type of hair loss is a result of a complex chemical reaction in the body. An enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase converts testosterone into DHT, which the hair follicles are genetically sensitive to. Over time, these follicles shrink, leading to hair loss.

Andrew’s Hair Loss Transformation

We helped Andrew recover from Male Pattern Balding. Learn how we helped.

Alopecia Areata

If you are suffering from patchy hair loss, you may be suffering from another form of alopecia:

Alopecia Areata is a widespread condition that affects 1% to 2% of the population at some point in their lives. Most sufferers are children and young adults (below 40 years old), though it can affect people of all ages. The hair loss is sudden and manifests in small, smooth-skinned patches likely to widen with time gradually. It can also affect the sufferer’s nails, giving them a pitted, ridged or brittle appearance. The exact cause is still unknown, although current theories include an auto-immune disease, stress or suggest a genetic basis. If the hair loss progresses until all the scalp hair is lost, this is known as Alopecia Totalis or Alopecia Universalis if all the body hair is lost.

Hair loss can also result from a scalp problem. Inflammation of the scalp produces superoxide, which causes hair shedding and will lead to diffuse hair loss.

Giovanni's Hair Loss Transformation

We helped 70-year-old Giovanni recover from Alopecia Areata. Learn how we helped.