Male pattern baldness

Male pattern baldness is sometimes also called androgenic alopecia, because it’s linked to the male hormone testosterone. Androgenic alopecia is common. It affects up to half of men over the age of 50. ¹

Many people experience male pattern baldness, and not everyone wants treatment. But if you are unhappy with your hair loss, there are lots of options to slow down hair loss or even reverse it.

Most people who develop male pattern baldness are men over the age of thirty. But younger men can get it too. One study of university students aged 18-30 found that 19.2% of them had early-onset androgenic alopecia.² There is also some research that suggests that male pattern baldness is more common in White and Asian men. ³

Although it’s much more common in men, anyone can get androgenic alopecia. Everyone has androgenic hormones, so everyone has a chance of developing hair loss due to testosterone. If you were assigned male at birth, you can still experience androgenic alopecia even if you identify as a woman.

You can also experience androgenic alopecia if you were assigned female at birth.⁴ Androgenic alopecia in women is sometimes called female pattern hair loss. Treatment is available, but you should talk to your GP first to check there are no other causes for your hair loss. Many trans men who take hormone replacement therapy develop male pattern baldness too, and it can be treated in the same way.

Male pattern hair loss is linked to the hormone testosterone. It happens when an enzyme causes testosterone to be converted into a more powerful form, called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Too much DHT leads to hair follicles in your scalp getting smaller.⁵

This means that your hair grows more slowly. Over time, this can make your hair thin and sparse. Male pattern baldness is usually gradual, starting with thinning or small patches of hair loss and advancing over time.

There are a range of treatments for hair loss, but they can generally be split into two categories. There are topical treatments, which you apply onto your scalp. There are also oral treatments, which are tablets you swallow.

Minoxidil is a common ingredient used in hair loss treatments. It is massaged into the scalp to encourage new hair growth.⁶ However, it’s best to talk to your local pharmacist about the options that may work best for you.

Oral treatments for male pattern baldness include finasteride. Finasteride is a DHT blocker, so it stops the enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT from working. This helps to prevent the cause of hair loss. ⁷

There are a few different things to consider. Minoxidil might suit you better if you don’t want to take tablets, and it’s less likely to cause some side effects as it isn’t absorbed into your blood.

However, finasteride is slightly more effective. You might also prefer taking the tablets once a day instead of applying minoxidil to your scalp twice a day. If you’re interested in hair loss treatment, talk to your GP or complete an online consultation with us to see what your options are.

Every medication has a risk of side effects, and it’s important to talk to your GP or pharmacist if you’re worried.

Minoxidil can sometimes cause irritation to the scalp where it’s applied.⁶

Finasteride can also cause side effects. Some of the most common effects people experience are sexual problems, like erectile dysfunction and a low libido (sex drive).⁷Finasteride isn’t safe to take if your partner is pregnant or you’re trying to conceive.

Some people who take finasteride believe they have sexual problems and low mood for a while after they stop taking it. This is sometimes called Post-Finasteride Syndrome, but there isn’t enough evidence to be sure the symptoms people experience are linked to taking the medicine.⁸

Not everyone who starts to lose their hair wants treatment. Unless your hair loss is caused by a health condition, there’s no need for treatment. Many people learn to embrace losing their hair over time.

Some people find that hair loss affects their confidence. If you’re struggling with losing your hair, your GP may be able to refer you for counselling. Counsellors are professionals who are trained to listen and help you manage your feelings. There is also advice available on the Alopecia UK website.

1. Male Androgenetic Alopecia - Endotext - NCBI Bookshelf. Accessed October 20, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278957/
2. Agaoglu E, Kaya Erdogan H, Acer E, Atay E, Metintas S, Saracoglu ZN. Prevalence of early-onset androgenetic alopecia and its relationship with lifestyle and dietary habits. Ital J Dermatol Venereol. 2021;156(6):675-680. doi:10.23736/S2784-8671.21.06874-7
3. Ho CH, Sood T, Zito PM. Androgenetic Alopecia. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022. Accessed October 24, 2022. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430924/
4. Dinh QQ, Sinclair R. Female pattern hair loss: Current treatment concepts. Clin Interv Aging. 2007;2(2):189-199.
5. Molecular mechanisms of androgenetic alopecia - PubMed. Accessed October 17, 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12213548/
6. Regaine for Men Extra Strength Scalp Foam 5% w/w Cutaneous Foam (GSL) - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). Accessed October 24, 2022. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5781/smpc
7. Finasteride 5mg Tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). Accessed October 20, 2022. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/547/smpc#gref
8. Diviccaro S, Melcangi RC, Giatti S. Post-finasteride syndrome: An emerging clinical problem. Neurobiol Stress. 2019;12:100209. doi:10.1016/j.ynstr.2019.100209