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. Read on to learn how to spot the signs if you want to keep a thicker head of hair for longer.
What causes male-pattern baldness?
When men talk about hair thinning or balding, they’re usually referring to male-pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia). This is by far the most common cause of hair loss in men. And it’s related to genetics and getting older (more on this below).
Other causes of hair loss 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)
Is male-pattern baldness linked to testosterone levels?
By the age of 50, about half of men will have experienced male-pattern baldness. Experts don’t know what causes this type of hair loss. But it doesn’t seem to be directly linked to testosterone levels. However, it’s 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 binds to hair follicles, it can cause them to shrink over time, which eventually results in balding.
Why some men lose their hair (and others don’t)
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 is another 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.
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.
Some people might be hesitant to try medications for hair loss. These natural remedies might help support hair health, although research is lacking.
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 least likely to have thinning hair.
Male-pattern baldness treatments
When it comes to male-pattern balding, there are 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.
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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.
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.
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 will 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 alone isn’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 your primary care provider about potential risks and medication interactions.
Some research suggests that many — but not all — men with male-pattern baldness have higher testosterone levels. But testosterone alone isn’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 your primary care provider about potential risks and medication interactions.
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
American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.). A hair transplant can give you permanent, natural-looking results.
Asfour, L., et al. (2023). Male androgenetic alopecia. EndoText. MDText.
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.
Ho, C. H., et al. (2024). Androgenetic alopecia. StatPearls.
MedlinePlus. (2023). Androgenetic alopecia.
National Human Genome Research Institute. (2025). Sex linked. National Institute of Health.
Nestor, M. S., et al. (2021). Treatment options for androgenetic alopecia: Efficacy, side effects, compliance, financial considerations, and ethics. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
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.
Zhang, Y., et al. (2018). Serum levels of androgen-associated hormones are correlated with curative effect in androgenic alopecia in young men. Medical Science Monitor.
