Male Hair Thinning

One of the most common causes of thinning hair in men (about 95%) is hereditary hair loss, or Androgenetic Alopecia.  Usually, there is a slight recession of the hair at the front of the scalp along the hairline.  Later, thinning over the crown can develop.  

Male hair loss or Androgenic Alopecia is caused by the effect of the male hormones or genetically predisposed hair follicles.  This type of hair loss runs in families.  Within these genetically programmed hair follicles, testosterone, the main male hormone, is converted by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, into a much more potent hormone called, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT inhibits the growth of new hair cells, resulting in a finer hair being produced.  When hair loss occurs, they are replaced by finer hairs with an even shorter growing period.  This hair loss process can continue until the hair follicles degenerate and are unable to produce any further hair.

Scalps which may appear totally bald actually contain hair follicles which are either still producing very fine hair, or are capable of producing it.  These are fine vellus hairs, and are no longer clearly visible to the naked eye.  These hairs are no longer cosmetically useful as they are too fine to add to the person’s appearance.  

Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern hair loss is the most common form of hair loss, representing close to 95% of all cases of hair loss in men.  About half of all men experience male pattern hair loss by age 50.  Hair loss can start as early as your late teenage years.  There is no set age at which balding occurs.  The rate and amount of hair loss is also unpredictable.  The hair loss is usually permanent.

The typical pattern of male baldness begins at the hairline.  The hairline gradually recedes to form an "M" shape.  The existing hair may become finer and shorter.  The hair at the crown also begins to thin.  Eventually the top of the hairline meets the thinned crown, leaving a horseshoe pattern of hair around the sides of the head.  Occasionally, the hair loss pattern could start at the crown and spreads to the rest of the scalp.  This is the hair loss pattern mostly experienced by women.  Male pattern baldness is caused by hormones and genetic predisposition.  Men with male pattern hair loss have elevated levels of DHT in their balding scalp.

Hair loss in patches, diffuse shedding of hair, breaking of hair shafts, or hair loss associated with redness, scaling, pain, or rapid progression could be caused by other conditions.