Male pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss a man can develop. It has been shown to affect over 85% of men at some point in their lifetime [1]. Chances of experiencing this condition increase as you get older. However, teenage boys or very young men can develop early-onset androgenetic alopecia. So when does male pattern baldness start and what can you do to prevent, curb and treat it?
Keep reading this article to find out all about the onset of androgenetic alopecia in men and how to effectively curb its effects, such as:
Research shows that 30% of men develop male pattern baldness before age 30, while 50% of men are affected by this condition by age 50 [3][4]. And research shows that over 85% of the male population experiences this condition to some extent during their lifetime [1].
However, this type of alopecia can sometimes start even sooner. Many studies define early-onset male pattern baldness as androgenetic alopecia that develops in men before the age of 30 [2]. Male pattern baldness is also the main cause of teenage hair loss among boys. One study found that 14% of young men aged 15-17 experience early-onset male pattern baldness. It also determined the mean age for early-onset androgenetic alopecia to be 14.8 years in boys [5].
That means that while most men start losing their hair sometime in their thirties or forties, in rare cases, male pattern baldness can develop as early as puberty.
Male pattern baldness is caused by a combination of genetic, hormonal and environmental factors. It normally develops when a male hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) binds to androgen receptors in your hair follicles, making them shrink. This leads to hair miniaturisation and eventually, to baldness.
Since the hair follicles on certain parts of your scalp (such as the frontal area, temples and crown) are more sensitive to DHT, hair loss primarily occurs in those areas, creating the tell-tale pattern baldness that is specific to androgenetic alopecia.
When boys reach puberty, they start producing higher levels of testosterone, some of which is converted into DHT by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. Those who produce higher levels of DHT or who are more sensitive to this androgen may experience symptoms of early-onset male pattern baldness as early as puberty (however, this is rather rare).
The first signs of hair thinning and balding can normally be seen around the hairline. An uneven or receding hairline can signal the onset of androgenetic alopecia in men. It is usually followed by temple hair loss, creating the infamous M-shaped hairline.
If left untreated, male pattern baldness normally progresses, causing a bald spot on the crown that grows over time. Eventually, the only hair left is often at the back and sides of the head, which is less sensitive to DHT.
The Norwood scale is used to measure the 7 stages of male pattern baldness
Hair loss progression in male pattern baldness can vary from one man to another. However, the average hair loss rate has been reported to be around 5% per year and most men take 15-25 years to go completely bald [3]. There are also rare cases where, if left untreated, rapidly advancing androgenetic alopecia can make most of a man’s hair fall out in as little as 5 years from onset.
Moreover, the progression of male pattern baldness is not necessarily steady. You might experience periods of severe hair loss (usually lasting 3-6 months), followed by periods of stagnation lasting between 6-18 months [3].
Getting the proper treatment as early as possible can slow down androgenetic alopecia progression, if not stop or even reverse it.
It is not inherently bad to be balding at any age, especially not at 25. Since you are still young, in most cases, your male pattern baldness is just starting. Losing your hair in your mid 20s gives you a good chance of curbing and reversing the alopecia with timely treatment. Find out how you can tell if you’re experiencing a receding hairline in your 20s.
Furthermore, many men embrace their baldness nowadays, adopting a bald with a beard look or simply opting for a clean-shaven style. This gives them a masculine, rugged vibe and they no longer need to worry about losing their hair.
However, hair loss has been associated with numerous mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, self-isolation and low self-esteem [6]. It can be especially difficult for young people, as physical appearance may feel more important in social relationships at this age. So if you are feeling down about your hair shedding, remember that many treatments can help. Support groups and therapy can also help you cope with hair loss if needed.
It is true that hair loss is most often hereditary. That means you can inherit it from close family members. However, just because your dad is bald doesn’t mean that you’ll go bald for certain. Hair loss genetics show that your mum’s genes can also influence your likelihood of developing male pattern baldness.
Moreover, your lifestyle can also contribute to the progression of this condition. For example, smoking can cause hair loss and androgenetic alopecia (especially the early-onset kind) is far more common among smokers [7].
Since it is mostly genetic and hormonal, it is unlikely that male pattern baldness can be fully prevented. However, there are some things you can do that may delay its onset or prevent it from advancing:
Yes, the good news is that if caught on time, in most cases, male pattern baldness can be curbed and often even reversed with the right treatment. However, it is important to have your hair loss diagnosed as early as possible for the best results. If it becomes too advanced, the only viable solution you may have left to treat your androgenetic alopecia may be a hair transplant.
Here are some of the best hair loss treatments for men with male pattern baldness.
Patient before and after a temple hair transplant at the Wimpole Clinic
A natural-looking hair transplant is the closest you can get to a cure for baldness with present-day technology. That is because all other treatments are only effective as long as you keep taking them, but a hair transplant is permanent [12].
While highly effective, surgical hair restoration is also simple and safe to perform in an outpatient setting. It involves harvesting healthy hair follicles from the back of your head, where they are less sensitive to DHT. The hair grafts are then implanted in tiny slits cut into your thinning areas. When doing so, the surgeon takes great care to emulate your natural hair growth patterns, so you can get a hair transplant without anyone knowing.
One of the world’s most prescribed hair loss treatments, Finasteride, works by lowering your blood DHT levels. It does so by inhibiting the activity of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, which converts some of your naturally occurring testosterone into DHT. Studies show that Finasteride can significantly improve hair count in men with male pattern baldness compared to placebo [13].
Minoxidil works by dilating the blood vessels in your scalp, allowing more blood flow to your hair follicles. The extra oxygen and nutrients help your follicles produce stronger, healthier strands and resist hair miniaturisation. Its simple but effective mechanism of action makes Minoxidil effective for several types of alopecia, including male pattern baldness [14].
PRP hair treatment relies on hair growth factors in your own platelets to help repair and regenerate damaged and shrunken hair follicles. This treatment involves extracting a small quantity of blood from your arm, separating the PRP from the rest of the blood fractions and injecting it into your thinning areas.
PRP therapy has been deemed effective against androgenetic alopecia [15], among other conditions (including alopecia areata).
This form of low-level laser therapy uses red or near-infrared light to stimulate your hair follicles for growth. This may sound like science fiction, but it is a proven and effective treatment. The light is absorbed into your scalp and it helps dilate the blood vessels to improve blood flow to your hair follicles. It also optimises cell metabolism and enhances mitochondrial efficiency.
Red light therapy for hair growth has demonstrated effectiveness in treating male pattern baldness [16] and several other types of alopecia (such as alopecia areata and telogen effluvium).
If you are experiencing male pattern baldness, don’t wait before your hair loss gets too advanced. Book a consultation today with one of our experienced trichologists. They will evaluate the stage of your alopecia and recommend effective, personalised treatments that suit your needs, preferences and lifestyle.
If you are interested in hair restoration surgery, our experts can determine if you are a good candidate for a hair transplant. If you can benefit from this treatment, they’ll walk you through the entire procedure and answer all of your questions about the surgery and aftercare. They will also help you get a realistic idea about the results you could obtain. See our before and after hair transplant photo gallery to see many of our previous hair transformations.
If you would like to know more about when male pattern baldness starts and what you can do to curb it, read the answers to these frequently asked questions.
Yes. In rare cases, early-onset male pattern baldness can start as early as childhood (usually around the onset of puberty). However, if your child shows signs of hair thinning, it is a good idea to see a trichologist. They can help rule out other hair loss conditions that can affect children, such as alopecia areata, as well as systemic illness or vitamin deficiencies that can cause hair loss.
While there is no single best age to get a hair transplant, it is usually recommended to wait until you’re about 25-30 to get hair restoration surgery. That is because if you get the procedure done too early, you risk having your male pattern baldness advance around your transplant area. So generally speaking, between 30-50 is normally the most suitable time for this surgery, as hair loss is advanced enough to allow the procedure, but not too advanced for good results.
However, only a hair transplant surgeon can answer this question for you personally. Upon examining you, they can determine whether it’s the right time to get this procedure or if waiting a few more years might be a better idea in your particular situation.
Choose the perfect style to mask your male pattern baldness with these hairstyles for men with thinning hair. If your hair loss is still in the early stages, you can take a look at the best male styles for receding hairlines. Or, you could simply embrace your baldness and shave it all off, like one of these confident bald celebrities.
Women can also develop androgenetic alopecia, but when they do, it is called female pattern baldness. Its mechanism of action is largely the same, though there are often many complicating factors when it comes to women’s hair loss.
Additionally, women experience different symptoms than men. While they are usually spared the frontal balding, they show diffuse hair thinning, accompanied by a widening of their midline parting and a Christmas tree pattern around it.
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