Key takeaways:
Male-pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) is the most common type of hair loss in men.
For some men, hair loss can start as early as their teens, but it’s more common as you get older. By age 50, more than half of men will have experienced hair loss.
For men experiencing thinning hair, there are many effective over-the-counter and prescription treatments to help restore hair growth.
Thinning hair can be distressing for anyone who experiences it, whether you notice a receding hairline or the first signs of a bald patch on your scalp. Hair loss (or thinning hair) can happen for a variety of reasons. And it’s important to find the cause to get the right diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment for male-pattern baldness works best if you start it early. Learn how to spot the signs if you want to keep a thicker head of hair for longer.
What is male-pattern baldness?
Male-pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss in men. It also goes by other names, like androgenetic alopecia and male-pattern hair loss.
Hair loss in male-pattern baldness follows a pretty typical pattern: Hair thinning starts with a receding hairline (which starts to form an “M” shape) and thinning on the crown (top of the scalp). More details on the stages of male-pattern baldness are below.
What causes male-pattern baldness?
When men talk about hair thinning or balding, they’re usually referring to male-pattern hair loss. The main cause of male-pattern baldness is related to your genetics and getting older. Here’s a closer look at the causes and other risk factors.
Genetics
Genetics is the main reason some men lose their hair while others don’t. That means if you have a close relative with hair loss, you’re more likely to also experience it.
Age
Age is another major risk factor. Male-pattern hair thinning can start as early as your teens. But the older you get, the more likely you are to experience it. By age 50, more than half of men have hair thinning. And by 80 years old, 8 in 10 men have it.
Race
Race may have something to do with it too. White men seem to have the highest likelihood of balding. Meanwhile, Native Americans and Alaska Natives are the least likely to have thinning hair.
Other causes of hair loss
Other causes of hair loss in men are less common. They include:
Certain medications, like fluoxetine (Prozac) and isotretinoin
Stressful life events, like having surgery or losing a loved one
Nutritional deficiencies, like low iron levels
Autoimmune conditions, like alopecia areata
Infections, like scalp ringworm (tinea capitis)
How long do hair-loss medications take to work? It can take several months to see results, but it depends on the specific treatment.
What does a hair transplant feel like? Three men describe why they decided to get this procedure done and how their recovery went.
Hesitant to try medications for hair loss? These natural remedies might help support hair health, although research is lacking.
Does testosterone cause hair loss?
By the age of 50, about half of men will have experienced male-pattern baldness. The main cause of this type of hair loss is genetics and getting older. But it doesn’t seem to be directly linked to testosterone levels. Male-pattern baldness is linked to another hormone that comes from testosterone.
In the body, testosterone is turned into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more potent hormone. This is done by a special enzyme (5-alpha-reductase). When DHT attaches to hair follicles, it can cause them to shrink over time, which eventually results in balding.
The stages of male-pattern baldness
Male-pattern baldness usually goes through specific stages. Here are the first signs to look for and how it usually progresses, according to the adapted Norwood-Hamilton classification.
Stage 1: No hair loss or receding hairline.
Stage 2: First signs of mild hair loss around the temples.
Stage 3: More noticeable hair loss at the temples. The hairline can start to resemble the letter “M.”
Stage 4: The hairline recedes even more, and there’s loss of hair along the crown (the top of your head).
Stage 5: The receding hairline and bald spot on your crown grow and connect to each other.
Stage 6: Most hair on the top of your head is gone and you may have a band of hair around the sides.
Stage 7: Almost completely bald. There may be a thin strip of hair at the base of the head.
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How is male-pattern baldness diagnosed?
A primary care provider can usually diagnose male-pattern baldness based on the pattern of hair loss and a clinical evaluation of your scalp. They may ask you questions about your family history, any medical problems you have, and medications you take.
Sometimes, the diagnosis of male-pattern baldness isn’t straightforward. This may be the case if your hair loss doesn’t fit the typical pattern of male-pattern baldness. In this situation, seeing a dermatologist (a skin and hair specialist) can help. They may do additional testing to confirm the diagnosis, including:
Dermoscopy: This involves a handheld, non-invasive magnifying tool.
Hair-pull test: A healthcare professional gently pulls a lock of hair to see how many hairs come out (an increased number of loose hairs is common in other conditions, like telogen effluvium).
Skin biopsy: The healthcare professional numbs your skin and removes a small piece of skin that’s sent to the laboratory for diagnosis under a microscope.
Blood work: This is done to make sure there isn’t another cause for hair loss, like low iron levels.
Male-pattern baldness treatments
When it comes to male-pattern balding, there are many effective treatment options that help prevent hair loss and regrow lost hair. Sometimes, it’s most effective to use a combination of these treatments.
Minoxidil (Rogaine)
Minoxidil (Rogaine) is FDA approved to treat hereditary hair loss. This medication is available over the counter (OTC) in different formulations, like liquid or foam.
Minoxidil can also be prescribed as an oral medication (pill), which may be as effective as applying it directly to the skin.
Scientists aren’t exactly sure how minoxidil works. It may work by opening up blood vessels near hair follicles, stimulating them to grow.
Minoxidil can help many types of hair loss. GoodRx for Hair Loss offers minoxidil prescriptions and delivery starting at $20 per month.
Finasteride (Propecia)
Finasteride (Propecia) is an oral prescription medication that’s FDA approved for hereditary hair loss in men. It works by blocking the production of the DHT hormone that causes hair loss. GoodRx for Hair Loss offers affordable all-in-one hair-loss treatment — including online visits, finasteride prescriptions, and delivery starting at $16 per month.
Dutasteride (Avodart)
Dutasteride (Avodart) is FDA approved to treat an enlarged prostate. But it’s sometimes used off-label to treat hair loss. Like finasteride, dutasteride blocks the production of the hormone that causes hair loss. Some studies show that it’s effective in treating hair loss in men.
Hair transplants
Hair transplants are a type of surgical procedure. A trained healthcare professional removes a strip of hair (or individual hairs) and then surgically implants them into bald spots. This treatment is expensive, and insurance doesn’t cover it.
Microneedling
Microneedling involves injecting small needles into the skin to stimulate hair follicles to grow. Scientists are still studying microneedling. But research suggests that it can improve hair growth more than minoxidil alone.
Ketoconazole shampoo
Ketoconazole shampoo is available in OTC and prescription strengths, and it’s usually used to treat dandruff. Some studies show that ketoconazole may be an effective option to treat hair loss in men. It works by blocking the production of the hormone that causes hair loss.
Can a man’s hair grow back, or is hair loss permanent?
It depends. Some types of hair loss are reversible. For example, if you lose your hair as a side effect of a medication, it usually grows back after you stop the medication.
But men with male-pattern baldness won’t see their hair grow back unless they treat it. All treatments for male-pattern hair loss can help, but none are likely to regrow all the hair. The important thing is to get started as soon as you can.
Can you prevent male-pattern baldness?
If baldness runs in your family, there’s a chance that you’ll also lose your hair. And there’s no way to completely prevent this from happening.
If you notice hair loss at any age and you’re concerned by it, talk with a dermatologist sooner rather than later. That’s because some treatments work best when hair loss is mild. So starting early may help you get the best results.
But you don’t have to treat baldness. It’s hard to fight genes. You may decide that trimming or shaving your head and embracing your changing hairline is a better option for you than medication.
Frequently asked questions
Some research suggests that many — but not all — men with male-pattern baldness have higher testosterone levels. But testosterone levels alone aren't predictive of baldness.
It was commonly thought that baldness is a sex-linked trait which comes from the maternal side (or the X chromosome). But a large genetic study of over 50,000 men found several genes of interest. And not all of them were on the X chromosome. So it seems inheriting baldness is more complicated than blaming one parent or the other.
Many vitamins and supplements claim to help regrow hair, but the science behind those claims is pretty mixed. Some people with hair loss also have low levels of specific vitamins and minerals, like zinc, iron, and vitamin D. If your levels are low, then supplementation may help with hair growth. But for most people with normal levels of these vitamins and minerals, supplements haven’t been proven to help with hair loss.
Before starting any new supplements, first talk with a healthcare professional about potential risks and medication interactions.
With most treatments, it can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months to start seeing improved hair growth. After about 1 year, you should see the full benefits in most cases. If you’re treating male-pattern baldness, it’s important to be patient and consistent with your treatment.
Some research suggests that many — but not all — men with male-pattern baldness have higher testosterone levels. But testosterone levels alone aren't predictive of baldness.
It was commonly thought that baldness is a sex-linked trait which comes from the maternal side (or the X chromosome). But a large genetic study of over 50,000 men found several genes of interest. And not all of them were on the X chromosome. So it seems inheriting baldness is more complicated than blaming one parent or the other.
Many vitamins and supplements claim to help regrow hair, but the science behind those claims is pretty mixed. Some people with hair loss also have low levels of specific vitamins and minerals, like zinc, iron, and vitamin D. If your levels are low, then supplementation may help with hair growth. But for most people with normal levels of these vitamins and minerals, supplements haven’t been proven to help with hair loss.
Before starting any new supplements, first talk with a healthcare professional about potential risks and medication interactions.
With most treatments, it can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months to start seeing improved hair growth. After about 1 year, you should see the full benefits in most cases. If you’re treating male-pattern baldness, it’s important to be patient and consistent with your treatment.
The bottom line
Hair loss can be distressing — especially if it happens at a young age. For men, the most common type of hair loss is male-pattern baldness. You’re more likely to get this type of hair loss if it runs in your family. And it’s increasingly common as men get older too.
Some OTC and prescription treatments can help with male-pattern balding. Vitamins and supplements only help if your vitamin or mineral levels are low. If baldness runs in your family, you may be fighting a losing battle trying to prevent it. But treating it early can help you maintain a thicker head of hair for longer.
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References
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American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.). A hair transplant can give you permanent, natural-looking results.
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Cortez, G. L., et al. (2025). Male androgenetic alopecia. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia.
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Gupta, A. K., et al. (2022). Microneedling for hair loss. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Hagenaars, S. P., et al. (2017). Genetic prediction of male pattern baldness. PLoS Genetics.
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Nestor, M. S., et al. (2021). Treatment options for androgenetic alopecia: Efficacy, side effects, compliance, financial considerations, and ethics. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Oakley, A., et al. (2023). Dermoscopy. DermNet.
Randolph, M., et al. (2021). Oral minoxidil treatment for hair loss: A review of efficacy and safety. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Rhodes, T., et al. (2014). Prevalence of male pattern hair loss in 18–49 year old men. Dermatologic Surgery.
Wirya, C. T., et al. (2017). Classification of male-pattern hair loss. International Journal of Trichology.
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