Male Pattern Baldness is a genetic condition that can be passed down from either side of the family tree (hereditary). So if your Father has a perfectly thick head of hair, don’t think you are definitely safe.
Hereditary hair loss is recognisable because:
- Of the pattern of hair loss.
- It starts gradually and progresses.
- You have a family history of hair loss.
- No other symptoms are present with your hair loss.
It is a condition caused by a bi-product of testosterone named Dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. DHT attaches to the hair follicles and causes them to shrink over time, which causes the hair to become thinner and thinner until some men become totally bald on the top of the head.
For information on treatments available such as Regaine and Propecia (prescription only) please click here
Patterns of Hair Loss
There are three general patterns of Male Pattern Hair Loss – we are quite confident that one of these will bear a similarity to your own pattern. Below you will find a summary of each whilst you can also click into more detailed pages for each pattern, containing information and success story examples.
There are three general patterns of Male Pattern Hair Loss
Receding Hairline
One of the most common patterns of hair loss is a receding hairline, also known as a ‘widow’s peak’. This is where the hair is lost at either side of the forehead, usually leaving a triangular peak in the middle. For some men this might be the only area of hair loss, but others may also experience thinning at the crown. For those with more aggressive forms of Male Pattern Baldness the hairline will recede further and further until it either meets the crown (which might also be balding), or results in a large bald area at the top or front of the head.
Thinning Crown or Vertex
Some men will experience thinning at the back or top of the head – called the ‘crown’ or ‘vertex’. Again this can coincide with a receding hairline, but sometimes men will only have one of the two. Hair loss at the crown will usually start off with thinning until the scalp becomes visible, after which a bald patch may appear. This bald patch may progress until it meets a receding hairline or causes a prominent area of baldness at the top or back of the head. Again, the extensiveness or pattern is different from person to person, but thinning hair or baldness at the crown is very common.
General Thinning
A less common pattern of hair loss is general thinning, spread evenly over the top of the scalp. Men experiencing this pattern of men’s hair loss will not notice a distinct receding hairline or thinning crown and in cases of general thinning the onset of hair loss may be less obvious and take longer to identify. Thankfully, like the other patterns of male hair loss this form of thinning can be successfully prevented and in may cases reversed. Like all other patterns of Male Pattern Hair Loss, general thinning will not affect the back and sides of the scalp and if you are experiencing hair loss in these areas it will be caused by another condition.