Male pattern baldness is hereditary (genetic), so it can't be prevented. However, looking after your diet and lifestyle can help maximise your general health, including the health of your hair. Some treatments for male pattern baldness work better when hair loss is still mild.
Hereditary hair loss cannot be prevented, but there are medical treatments that can maintain, improve, and optimize hair growth, such as minoxidil, finasteride, and spironolactone. Topical minoxidil is FDA-approved for hair loss in men and women.
Medications are available to treat pattern (hereditary) baldness. The most common options include: Minoxidil (Rogaine). Over-the-counter (nonprescription) minoxidil comes in liquid, foam and shampoo forms.
Genetic hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is caused by a combination of genetics and hormones and cannot be reversed.
Preventing hereditary-patterned baldness
Minoxidil is a solution, now available over the counter. It is applied to the scalp twice daily. It can help to slow further hair loss in some people, and within four to eight months there may be some hair regrowth. In men a higher strength (5%) works best.
While it is not uncommon for males to begin experiencing hair loss in their 20s, it is not considered normal for hair loss to occur at such a young age. If you are experiencing hair loss at age 25, you must speak with a healthcare professional to determine the cause and discuss treatment options.
By stage 4, a lot of frontal hair has been lost, and this can be difficult to reverse. However, Finasteride and Minoxidil may still be effective methods for restoring and thickening hair at this level of balding, depending on the amount of hair that you have lost.
It is highly unlikely that baldness will be cured by 2030, as there is presently no such cure in the process of being approved for large-scale commercial use. It normally takes several years to pass through multiple phases of clinical trials before receiving this approval.
If your dad is bald, you may be at a slightly higher risk of experiencing male-pattern baldness than someone without a family history of the condition. However, it is not the end-all-be-all of discovering your future head of hair.
Some people who don't lose their hair have low levels of the enzyme that converts testosterone, and so more recently researchers have been seeking ways of blocking the enzyme in others.
For people experiencing stage 3 of the Norwood scale, a follicular unit excision (FUE) hair transplant is usually the preferred solution to help restore hair and combat pattern baldness. FUE hair transplants involved extracting individual hairs from the sides and back of the head.
If you have a close relative, such as a father or brother, who has experienced significant hair loss at a young age, it increases the likelihood that you may also develop it. In addition to family history, another important sign to look out for is the pattern of hair loss on your scalp.
Hair loss is a common and progressive condition in men that stems from genetic, hormonal, and lifestyle factors. It often stops or slows between the ages of 30 and 50. Although male pattern baldness is inevitable for most individuals, lifestyle changes and medical treatments provide potential ways to stop hair loss.
Can you reverse balding? You may be able to reverse mild to moderate balding with certain proven treatments, but there are a few catches. Namely: No baldness treatments are guaranteed — a small proportion of men don't see any improvements despite using evidence-based treatments.
An “m shaped” hairline is a common feature in men's hair. Although it is sometimes indicative of a condition called male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), this is not only the case. For around half of all men, the m shaped hairline is a sign of a fully mature hairline.
The hair loss mainly affects your scalp but can also occur in other parts of your body. There's no cure for normal hereditary hair loss, but treatment may help slow it down or stop it from getting worse. Some medicines and some health conditions may lead to hair loss.
Unfortunately, male and female pattern baldness is not reversible without surgical intervention. However, if detected early enough, certain medications, such as minoxidil, finasteride, and Dutasteride can help halt the progression of thinning hair.
Hair loss (alopecia) can affect just your scalp or your entire body, and it can be temporary or permanent. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their head, but it's more common in men.
East Asian men (such as those of Chinese and Japanese ancestry) are next on the list of those least likely to experience hair loss. For example, while around half of Caucasian men will experience some degree of androgenetic alopecia, a 2010 study of Chinese men found only about 13% did.
Why does testosterone therapy sometimes cause hair loss? Testosterone can convert to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can shrink hair follicles and lead to hair thinning and loss, especially in individuals genetically predisposed to androgenetic alopecia.
Male pattern baldness doesn't hurt. Many start to notice the early stages of male pattern baldness by their 30s, but they may begin as early as your late teenage years or early 20s. Hair loss on your crown usually appears in a circular shape. A receding hairline often occurs in an “M” shape.