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- Male pattern hair loss may be seen as an expression of masculine sexual dimorphism rather than a disorder. Because of this, it is hypothesized that men with male pattern hair loss may be favored by heterosexual women as mates, because their hair loss is associated with seniority and higher social ranking, giving them increased sexual capital.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_hair_loss
People also ask
Is male pattern baldness a masculine attribute?
What is male pattern baldness?
Does male pattern baldness follow a pattern of autosomal dominant inheritance?
- Wearing hats leads to baldness. You don't need to offload your favorite fedora just yet. There's zero evidence to suggest that wearing hats — even on a daily basis — leads to hair loss or hair follicle damage.
- Baldness is your mother's father's fault. Moms' lineage has long been blamed for male pattern baldness, but the reality is, hair loss is a genetic trait you can inherit from either parent.
- "Natural" supplements can promote hair regrowth. "No amount of vitamins or minerals can help regrow hair," Dr. Friedman says. That rule applies to herbs like stinging nettle and saw palmetto, too.
- Hair loss means you're carrying around too much testosterone. The amount of hair on your head has very little to do with the testosterone circulating in your bloodstream.
- Overview
- What causes male pattern baldness?
- Who’s at risk?
- Am I losing my hair?
- Techniques to address hair loss
- Can hair loss be prevented?
- Article sources
What is male pattern baldness?
Male pattern baldness, also called androgenic alopecia, is the most common type of hair loss in men. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), more than 50 percent of all men over the age of 50 will be affected by male pattern baldness to some extent.
One cause of male pattern baldness is genetics, or having a family history of baldness. Research has found that male pattern baldness is associated with male sex hormones called androgens. The androgens have many functions, including regulating hair growth.
Each hair on your head has a growth cycle. With male pattern baldness, this growth cycle begins to weaken and the hair follicle shrinks, producing shorter and finer strands of hair. Eventually, the growth cycle for each hair ends and no new hair grows in its place.
Inherited male pattern baldness usually has no side effects. However, sometimes baldness has more serious causes, such as certain cancers, medications, thyroid conditions, and anabolic steroids. See your doctor if hair loss occurs after taking new medications or when it’s accompanied by other health complaints.
Doctors use the pattern of hair loss to diagnose male pattern baldness. 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.
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. Others experience their hairlines receding to form an “M” shape. In some men, the hairline will continue to recede until all or most of the hair is gone.
Hairstyles
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 or hairpieces
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.
Weaves
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.
There’s no known way to prevent male pattern baldness. A theory is that stress may cause hair loss by increasing the production levels of sex hormones in the body. You can reduce stress by participating in relaxing activities, such as walking, listening to calming music, and enjoying more quiet time.
•Anabolic steroid abuse: What are the health consequences of steroid abuse? (2006). https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/anabolic-steroid-abuse/what-are-health-consequences-steroid-abuse
•Androgenetic alopecia. (2017). https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/androgenetic-alopecia
•Hair loss: Male pattern baldness. (n.d.). http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/multimedia/male-pattern-baldness/img-20005838
•Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016). Hair loss: Causes. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/basics/causes/con-20027666
•Minoxidil topical. (2010). http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a689003.html
•Patient information: PROPECIA. (2013). http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/p/propecia/propecia_ppi.pdf
- Rose Kivi
Feb 11, 2024 · Male pattern baldness shows up in a telltale shape: a receding hairline with thinning strands around the crown of your head. Over time, that area will go bald, but you’ll still have a...
- Jarrod Breeze
Genetic research has identified alleles associated with male pattern hair loss. [4] These alleles appear to be undergoing positive sexual selection in European and East Asian populations, as male pattern baldness may be seen as a masculine attribute associated with seniority and higher social status.
Male pattern baldness causes the small depressions in your scalp at the base of your hairs (hair follicles) to gradually shrink, often in a specific pattern. As your hair follicles shrink, your individual hairs get thinner and shorter. Over time, those hairs stop growing at all.
Feb 6, 2024 · Male pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia, is a common phenomenon that can occur as a person ages. It typically begins with thinning around the hairline or on top of the hair.
Jun 11, 2023 · Male pattern baldness is the common type of hair loss that develops in most men at some stage. The medical term for this is androgenetic alopecia. It usually takes 15-25 years to go bald, but can be quicker. Typically, at first the hair begins to thin (recede) at the sides (temples).
