What Age Does Male Pattern Baldness Start?

Though there are numerous causes of hair loss, the leading cause of hair loss in men is male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia.

Unlike hair loss caused by issues like infection, falling health, or nutritional deficiencies, male pattern baldness is challenging to manage and often leads to irreversible hair loss.

Although doctors can help treat male pattern baldness, however, people respond very differently to the treatment.

It means that medical therapy is quite effective in some individuals but does not help others much. Thus, no surprise that male pattern baldness is the most common reason for hair transplant surgery.

What Age Does Male Pattern Baldness Start?

It can be between the ages of 25 and 35. But it’s important to stress that everyone is different, and if you do have concerns, you should speak to your healthcare provider.

It is a condition that affects the hair growth cycle

It is a condition that mainly affects the hair growth cycle. In the condition, a person develops follicular inflammation and miniaturization. In those affected by male pattern baldness, the hair growth phase or anagen phase becomes shorter with each cycle.

In contrast, the telogen or resting phase remains constant or becomes prolonged.

Shortening of the anagen phase means that hair fails to grow in sufficient length with each cycle. As a result, hair gradually becomes shorter, and hair thinning is also present in all cases. As this process of follicular miniaturisation continues, follicles become too weak, resulting in irreversible hair loss.

There are two known causes of male pattern baldness

There have been many studies regarding the condition, and researchers know much about what causes male pattern baldness. Two main reasons for the condition are genetics and hormones.

Most of the medications doctors use to treat the condition in its early stages work by reducing the impact of male hormones on the hair follicles.

Who does male hair loss affect?

As the name of the condition suggests, it affects the male population. In almost all cases, people affected by the disease would have a family history of male pattern baldness.

Due to family history, most men can readily understand the cause of hair loss.

However, it is worth understanding that the condition also affects the female population causing female pattern baldness.

But the presentation of the disease differs in the female population. In females, diffuse hair loss and hair thinning, but there are no changes in the hairline. This is unlike men, in whom receding hairline is among the early signs of the condition.

When does the thinning hair start?

It is a condition often associated with middle age. However, this is far from true. The fact is that condition starts affecting individuals in their 20s.

However, as with each hair cycle, the anagen phase shortens and hair loss increases, the condition becomes more visible by the 40s and 50s.

Nonetheless, studies show that many men are affected by the condition at quite a young age, with severe hair loss and resulting baldness.

Epidemiological studies show that male pattern baldness affects about 16% of men between the age of 18-29 years, and by the age of 50, these numbers increase to above 50%. Thus, as one can see, that condition generally starts in early adulthood, though it may not become visible in many cases.

Is there a cure for the loss of hair follicles in men?

Since it is the leading cause of hair loss in men, naturally, most men would like to have the condition treated with medications. However, a hair transplant is the last option when all other measures fail. Although, we are seeing many young men opt for hair transplants in their 20’s.

The conditions are only partially treatable but not curable. After all, genetics plays a vital role in the condition’s development, and it is a non-modifiable factor.

The effectiveness of treatment varies

The condition occurs in men whose hair follicles are highly susceptible to dihydrotestosterone. In the scalp, this androgenic hormone is made by converting testosterone.

Though the condition cannot be cured, medications can block the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone and thus prevent further progress.

However, it appears that the effectiveness of treatment varies considerably among individuals.

There are multiple FDA-approved medications to treat male pattern baldness

Among topical agents, Minoxidil is the only US FDA-approved remedy that appears to promote hair growth. It can help in many cases of male pattern baldness.

There are two US FDA-approved oral drugs to treat the condition. These are finasteride and dutasteride. These drugs are used to treat benign prostate hypertrophy but are also good for treating male pattern baldness.

Oral drugs for treating male pattern baldness can cause side effects

These drugs work by preventing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. However, these drugs are not always tolerated well by young men.

Erectile dysfunction is their most common side effect. Thus, many men cannot continue with drug therapy. For such men, hair transplant remains the effective and safe way of hair restoration.

Surely, experts are testing many safer drugs to treat male pattern baldness like:

• topical anti-androgens
• prostaglandin analogue
• growth factors.

Unfortunately, however, all these treatments appear to work only in a small number of cases.

Can my health affect male pattern hair loss?

General wellbeing and the level of male hormones can affect hair health. Poor health and nutritional deficiencies can cause further hair loss.

Healthy hair growth is dependent on the general health and nutritional status.

The difference in the health of individuals may explain why hair loss starts at an early age in some. Thus, it is good to eat a balanced diet to keep hair follicles strong.

Additionally, supplementing the diet with vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients may help.

Can good health affect it?

Yes, good health is essential to ensure good hair health. Healthy people are less likely to have severe hair loss. The higher prevalence of chronic ailments in older adults contributes to hair loss in men.

Thus, consider the following for or optimal hair health:

• quit smoking

• exercise regularly

• manage chronic ailments

For young individuals or those below the age of 30, it is a good idea to treat their receding hairline with nutrition therapy, topical agents, and medications.

When is the best age to get a hair transplant? It is after the 30s. You can learn more about how does a hair transplant work, and

If you are living with male pattern baldness and looking for a hair transplant, Europe Surgery in Poland is among the best clinics to offer the service.