Male pattern baldness affects most men at some stage of their life. By the age of 70, 80% of all men will have started to go bald, with many men approaching the latter stages of hair loss by this time [1]. Lots of younger men worry about the fate that's in store for their hair, especially if their dad is bald.
Male pattern baldness (MPB) is the most common form of hair loss, with more than half of all men experiencing it to some degree in their lifetime. It's thought that more than 50% of men over 50 have some degree of hair loss.
One theory put foward by researchers Muscarella and Cunningham susgests baldness may have evolved in males through sexual selection as an indicator of aging and social maturity when males become less aggressive and more nurturing.
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.
There's no way to deprogram your genetic code and completely prevent male pattern baldness, but that doesn't mean there's no hope.
You're less likely to experience male pattern baldness if you're of Chinese or Japanese descent. Male pattern baldness doesn't typically affect Native American, First Nations and Alaska Native peoples. You're more likely to have male pattern baldness if you have a family history of it.
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.
Why is there no cure for baldness? Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) and hair loss in men is caused by a complex web of genetic, hormonal, and age and lifestyle-related factors.
The science of hair restoration is always evolving. One of the most promising areas of research over the past few years is hair transplant cloning and multiplication. This technology is still in its early stages. However, the possibility of growing new hair by generating new hair follicles is very real.
AI algorithms can analyse patterns of hair loss and, in conjunction with genetic and medical data, identify the most effective treatment plans that could range from medication to advanced therapies, potentially improving success rates and patient satisfaction.
Yet, testosterone is not the reason some men go bald and others don't. Plenty of bald guys have low testosterone levels, and plenty of guys with flowing locks have high testosterone levels. Male pattern baldness comes down to how sensitive your hair follicles are to the effects of hormones, which is genetic.
Balding is really common, affecting more than 50% of men. It's also physically inconsequential (bald men live just as long as haired men).
Why is going bald such a big deal? Appearance is a significant part of our identity. For men who have all their hair, it's easy to brush off (no pun intended) the impact hair loss can have on self-confidence and mental health, but those who have suffered from it know how all-encompassing it can be.
When Thrillist polled people, a majority said they wouldn't mind dating a bald guy. 76% either don't care about hair loss or prefer a bald man. Unsurprisingly, many of the people polled said that baldness isn't an excuse for poor grooming.
By the time you turn 30, you have a 25% chance of displaying some balding. By age 50, 50% of men have at least some noticeable hair loss. By age 60, about two-thirds are either bald or have a balding pattern. While hair loss is more common as you get older, it doesn't necessarily make it any easier to accept.
Prevalence and clinical features
By the age of 30, 30% of white men have androgenetic alopecia; by the age of 50, 50% do. White men are four times more likely to than black men develop premature balding.
DHT binds to receptors in the hair follicles and shrinks them, making them progressively smaller. Over time, the follicles produce thinner hairs, and they grow for a shorter time than normal. Eventually, the follicle no longer produces hair, leaving the area bald.
Effective treatments for some types of hair loss are available. You might be able to reverse hair loss, or at least slow it. With some conditions, such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), hair may regrow without treatment within a year. Treatments for hair loss include medications and surgery.
The idea of creating an unlimited supply of hair follicles to combat hair loss sounds like a dream come true. However, despite the potential, hair cloning is not yet a reality. Current research suggests that we may be at least 10 years away from seeing this technology come to fruition—if it becomes possible at all.
The truth is, that hair transplants can last a lifetime but it is heavily reliant upon the patient taking appropriate aftercare precautions to manage future hair loss.
There are a few limited circumstances in which hair can grow back after it's lost — and in rare cases, it can be resurrected after being lost to male pattern baldness. But balding is usually permanent (though you can definitely slow it down or stop losing more hair).
If you're currently going through male pattern baldness (or androgenic alopecia, as it's officially known), the good news is that it's rarely a sign of a significant medical condition. It's not inevitable, and there are some ways that you can treat it.
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.