If your hairline is receding or your crown is thinning, you may wonder why this is happening and what exactly is causing your thinning hair. You may also be wondering what, if anything, you can do to reverse this trend.

Read on to learn more about the reasons why men lose their hair and the treatments that may help slow down the balding process.

The vast majority of men who go bald do so because of a hereditary condition known as androgenetic alopecia, more commonly known as male pattern baldness.

According to the American Hair Loss Association, 95 percent of hair loss in men is caused by androgenetic alopecia.

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 youre used to.

With male pattern baldness, hair loss typically follows a predictable pattern. The two most common patterns of hair loss include the following:

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.

If you find that your hair is thinner than it used to be, you can draw some comfort from the fact that youre not alone. Male pattern baldness affects the majority of men at some stage in their lives.

According to the American Hair Loss Association:

Although male pattern baldness is the leading cause of balding, it isnt the only condition that can trigger hair loss.

With male pattern baldness, you typically dont 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 isnt 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:

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.

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.

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. Minoxidil is a topical treatment thats available over the counter.

It can take at least 6 months for either treatment to start showing results.

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.

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 isnt growing.

With FUE, the surgeon takes individual healthy hair follicles out of the scalp and then makes small holes, where hair isnt growing, and puts the healthy follicles into these holes.

Male pattern baldness is commonly an inherited condition. Its very difficult to nonsurgically reverse any of the hair loss thats seen with this condition.

However, preventing further hair loss at the first sign of thinning is possible. Finasteride and Rogaine are two known treatments that might prevent further hair loss seen with androgenetic alopecia.

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.

To keep your hair healthy and to prevent hair loss from other causes, try the following:

If you have a bald spot or a receding hairline, its likely due to your genes.

In 95 percent of cases, balding is due to androgenetic alopecia, more commonly known as male pattern baldness, which is a hereditary condition. It can affect men of all ages, and may even start before the age of 21.

Although you cant prevent male pattern baldness, there are ways to slow down hair loss. Some options include medications such as Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) and minoxidil (Rogaine, Ioniten), laser therapy, and hair transplant surgery.

If youre concerned about going bald, be sure to speak to your doctor or dermatologist. They can work with you to figure out the treatment options that are right for you.

Read more from the original source:
Why Do Men Go Bald: Male Baldness Causes, Treatment, Prevention

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