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Three Methods:Recognizing Signs of Male Pattern BaldnessIdentifying Other Causes of BaldnessCombatting Baldness

Male pattern baldness, which is also called androgenetic alopecia, affects approximately 50% of men at some point in their lives.[1] Male pattern baldness generally begins with a thinning of the hair that leads to a wider loss of hair, causing the scalp to become visible. If you are concerned that you may have this condition, there are symptoms you can look out for, as well as ways that you can combat the condition.

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Method 1 of 3: Recognizing Signs of Male Pattern Baldness

  1. Know if You Have Male Pattern Baldness Step 1
    1
    Monitor your hairline. Male pattern baldness usually begins at your hairline. The hair located at your hairline will begin to thin at the front and at the temples. Your hair will eventually begin to recede from your hairline.[2]
    • When hair at the hairline begins to recede, your hairline will form an ‘M’ shape.
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  2. Know if You Have Male Pattern Baldness Step 2
    2
    Look at the crown of your head. Use a mirror (or a couple of mirrors) to assess the crown of your head to check for thinning hair. Your hair will most likely begin to thin out in a rounded spot on your crown.
    • This spot is generally recognizable because the thin hair will be surrounded by normal, thicker hair growing around it.
  3. Know if You Have Male Pattern Baldness Step 3
    3
    Check to see if you have curly hair. This does not happen to everyone who has male pattern baldness, but will occur in some people. Look at your hairline at your neck; you may see curly hair growing in this area. If you have always had straight hair, this could be a sign that you are developing male pattern baldness.
    • Some people may also grow curly hair around their ears. These curly hairs generally grow after the thinning of the hair on the crown and at the hairline has already begun.
  4. Know if You Have Male Pattern Baldness Step 4
    4
    Check the top of your head for hair loss. In the later stages of male pattern baldness, you may begin to notice that you have a bald patch forming at the top of your head, leaving hair growing on the sides and back of your head.
    • Keep in mind that if you have a bald spot on the top of your head, but are also losing hair in patches on the sides and back of your head, then you do not have male pattern baldness; talk to your doctor about other causes of baldness, or read the next section of this article.
  5. Know if You Have Male Pattern Baldness Step 5
    5
    Be aware of how male pattern baldness progresses. As mentioned above, the hair at your hairline will slowly move backwards, forming an ‘M’ shaped hairline. After this occurs, the remaining hair will become shorter, finer, and more fragile, which will then lead to a ‘U’ shaped hairline. There may then only be hair on the back or sides of the head.[3]
    • Keep in mind however, that while most men with this condition will experience this pattern, some deviations may occur. The most common of these deviations is when a man loses hair at the back of the head, and then the hairline begins to recede.
    • Remember that before hair loss occurs, the hair will become thin, but will not fall out entirely.
  6. Know if You Have Male Pattern Baldness Step 6
    6
    Look for signs that your baldness is caused by a different condition. As the name implies, male pattern baldness follows a certain pattern, as discussed in the previous step. If there does not seem to be a pattern to your hair loss, you most likely have a different condition that is causing your baldness.
    • Losing more than 20 strands of hair while combing your hair is not a good indicator of male pattern baldness. This is just a myth.
    • Immediate and drastic loss of hair within a very short period of time is not male pattern baldness. It might be caused by other conditions mentioned in the next section.
    • If you are losing hair all over your body, and not just on your head, there is a good chance that you are dealing with a condition other than male pattern baldness.
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Method 2 of 3: Identifying Other Causes of Baldness

  1. Know if You Have Male Pattern Baldness Step 7
    1
    Familiarize yourself with other causes of baldness. You can better identify male pattern baldness if you know other possible causes of hair loss. Though you might have genetic tendency to develop this disorder, you should also explore other reasons for hair to stop growing. These causes are listed in the following steps.
  2. Know if You Have Male Pattern Baldness Step 8
    2
    Understand that nutrition can affect the health of the hair. To support a healthy growth of hair, you need to have the right nutrition. Some of the nutrients the hair needs are biotin, zinc, protein, and iron. If you are deficit in these nutrients, you may begin to develop baldness.
    • Try increasing your intake of these nutrients to see if there is an effect on your hair growth.
  3. Know if You Have Male Pattern Baldness Step 9
    3
    Be aware that infections can cause hair loss. If you have a skin infection on your hair, there is a chance that it could affect your hair follicles, thereby causing your hair to fall out. These infections could be viral, bacterial, or even fungal. Discuss the possibility of this with your doctor, and consider setting up an appointment with a dermatologist.
  4. Know if You Have Male Pattern Baldness Step 10
    4
    Understand that a pest invasion can lead to baldness. If you have a microscopic pest making a home on your head, there is a chance that this could lead to your hair falling out. For example, the microscopic mite known as Demodex folliculorum can suppress hair growth. This mite burrows deep down into the hair follicle and feeds on the sebum. It intercepts nutrients that are supposed to be used for hair growth, thus leading to hair death.
  5. Know if You Have Male Pattern Baldness Step 11
    5
    Discuss drugs that may lead to hair loss with your doctor. Some drugs can initiate hair loss. One good example of this are the chemotherapy drugs. These drugs suppress the fast-growing cells in the body that include hair cells.
    • Other drugs that are shown to have an effect on hair growth are steroids, contraceptive pills, acne medications, hormone replacement therapy, and others. These drugs commonly affect hormonal balance, which can lead to hair loss.
  6. Know if You Have Male Pattern Baldness Step 12
    6
    Be aware that trauma can play a role in hair loss. Trauma caused by vigorous brushing, hair styling like ponytails and cornrows, rough head massages, head surgery, and accidents can all lead to hair loss.
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Method 3 of 3: Combatting Baldness

  1. Know if You Have Male Pattern Baldness Step 13
    1
    Visit a healthcare provider, a general practitioner or dermatologist, to give you an accurate diagnosis. Moreover, a doctor will not just give you a diagnosis, but will also give you medical advice on how to deal with your male pattern baldness.
    • The doctor will acquire your health and family history through interview. The diagnosis can be done through ocular inspection alone. The pattern of hair loss will be observed and if the pattern is specific or consistent to male pattern baldness, then it will be diagnosed as such.
  2. Know if You Have Male Pattern Baldness Step 14
    2
    Follow the tips that your doctor suggests. After a diagnosis is done, your doctor may give you some tips on how to cope with the male pattern baldness issue. These tips may include:
    • Specific hairstyling can be done to hide hair loss. You can ask your hairstylist to be creative and cut your hair in a way that your hair loss will look a little less obvious.
    • Wear wig. This can completely or partially cover your baldness or receding hairlines. There are different styles, textures, qualities, and colors of wigs that you can choose from.
  3. Know if You Have Male Pattern Baldness Step 15
    3
    Ask about specific medical intervention available to address male pattern baldness. Medical intervention may include drugs like minoxidil, rogaine, or propecia.
    • A popular topical medication you can use is minoxidil (Rogaine). This drug is a vasodilator – meaning, it relaxes blood vessels and increases or promotes blood flow. Once this drug is applied on the hair, it stimulates hair follicle to improve hair growth. The recommended dose is 1 mL applied on the scalp. You should not exceed 2 mL of dose per day. Expect to find visible therapeutic effects after four to 12 months.[4]
    • Propecia is a pill that is prescribed for hair loss. The drug lowers the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that increase the loss of hair. You will likely see results after taking the pill for several months.[5]
  4. Know if You Have Male Pattern Baldness Step 16
    4
    Consider getting a hair transplant as a last resort. This medical procedure is an expensive way to restore hair. Getting a hair transplant involves acquiring healthy hair follicles from one healthy area of the scalp and transplanting it to other areas that need new hair growth. Multiple sessions are needed to accomplish this procedure.
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Tips

  • Early detection and prompt treatment are very important if you want to have better future outcomes. Some people delay medical help to the point that treatment can do nothing or little good to reverse the problem.
  • Aside from male pattern baldness, you should see your doctor if you are having rapid hair loss, hair breakage, widespread shedding, and unusual hair loss pattern. Moreover, you should ask your doctor if your hair loss is accompanied with redness, scaling, pain, skin irritation, itching, and more.
  • While male pattern baldness is not life-threatening, you can still ask your doctor how to deal with it. Especially for younger people, male pattern baldness can cause decreased self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and emotional problems. If this is an issue to you, seek counseling.

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ Ellis, Justine A.; Stebbing, Margaret; Harrap, Stephen B. (1998). Genetic Analysis of Male Pattern Baldness and the 5alpha-Reductase Genes. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 110(6), p849-853.
  2. ↑ Choi, Man Ho; Yoo, Young Sook; Chung, Bong Chul. (2001). Biochemical Roles of Testosterone and Epitestosterone to 5α-Reductase as Indicators of Male-Pattern Baldness. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 116(1), p57-61.
  3. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002160/
  4. ↑ Choi, Man Ho; Yoo, Young Sook; Chung, Bong Chul. (2001). Biochemical Roles of Testosterone and Epitestosterone to 5α-Reductase as Indicators of Male-Pattern Baldness. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 116(1), p57-61.
  5. ↑ http://www.drugs.com/propecia.html

Article Info

Categories: Men's Health

In other languages:

Português: Saber se Você tem Tendência à Calvície Masculina, Deutsch: Erkennen, ob du an männlichem Haarausfall leidest, Italiano: Sapere se Soffri di Calvizie Maschile, Español: saber si tienes calvicie masculina, Русский: понять, что у вас облысение по мужскому типу, Français: savoir si vous avez une alopécie androgénétique

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