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Male hair loss: causes and treatments
Hair loss can be a worrying experience, especially at first. Learning more about its causes and knowing that there are effective solutions out there can help. This article explores the different types of male hair loss, their symptoms, and causes, along with effective treatments and lifestyle tips to help you manage or even prevent thinning and shedding.
Different types of hair loss in men
Hair loss in men can happen for lots of varied reasons. Understanding the main ones can make it easier to manage the condition.
- The most common type of male hair loss is male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). This hereditary condition causes a thinning of hair on the crown or an "M" shaped receding hairline.
- Then there’s a type of temporary or stress-related hair loss called telogen effluvium. This is usually triggered by stress, illness, or big changes in the body such as surgery, hormonal shifts, or rapid weight loss. While these factors can temporarily lead to an increase in hair shedding, it often grows back if you can deal with the cause.
- Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where the body mistakenly attacks its own hair follicles, leading to small, round bald patches.
- In rare cases, this can develop into alopecia totalis, where you lose all the hair on your scalp.
- Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a scarring alopecia seen primarily in women of African descent but has also been reported in men.
If you’re worried about hair loss you should speak to your GP, especially if:
- It’s happening suddenly
- You have bald patches
- Hair is falling out in clumps
- You get an itchy or burning sensation from your hair
Some or all of the above symptoms may suggest you have alopecia, which your doctor can help you to treat. Our clinicians can advise on male pattern baldness and may prescribe treatment, after a short online consultation.
Symptoms of hair loss in men
The symptoms of hair loss in men vary depending on the cause.
Male pattern baldness typically starts with thinning at the crown or a receding hairline, often forming a distinctive "M" shape. Telogen effluvium leads to noticeable shedding, with hair coming out more easily when you brush or wash it. With alopecia areata, you might notice small, round bald patches that appear suddenly. In rare cases, this can progress to alopecia totalis, causing complete hair loss on your scalp.
If you notice unusual hair loss, don’t be afraid to get advice from your doctor. Our clinicians can advise you on male pattern baldness and may prescribe treatment, after a short online consultation.
Is thinning hair the same as hair loss?
Thinning hair and hair loss are related but not the same. Thinning hair refers to a gradual reduction in hair density, where individual hairs may become finer, and the scalp starts to show more. Hair loss, on the other hand, can involve shedding, bald patches, or complete loss in certain areas. While thinning is often part of male pattern baldness, other conditions can also cause noticeable hair loss.
To help identify the cause, make an appointment to speak to your doctor. Or you can start an online consultation and one of our clinicians can help.
What causes hair loss in men?
Hair loss in men can be caused by several factors. Male pattern baldness is the most common and is driven by genetics and hormones like testosterone. Stress, illness, or major body changes can lead to telogen effluvium, a temporary shedding condition.
Alopecia areata results from the immune system mistakenly attacking hair follicles, sometimes progressing to complete scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis). Identifying the cause is key to finding the right treatment.
Treating male hair loss
How you treat male hair loss depends on the cause. For male pattern baldness, options include medications like minoxidil or finasteride (also branded as Proscar or Propecia), which may slow hair loss or encourage regrowth. As it’s stress-related, telogen effluvium often improves naturally. However, managing stress and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help.
Alopecia areata treatments might include steroid creams or injections to support regrowth. For severe cases, like alopecia totalis, you would need specialist advice.
You can speak to your doctor about a tailored treatment or start a short online consultation and one of our clinicians can help.
Treatments
There are treatments for every kind of male hair loss. For male pattern baldness, two common options are finasteride, a prescription tablet that blocks hormones causing hair loss, and minoxidil, a topical treatment that can stimulate regrowth and slow thinning.
Stress-related hair loss, like telogen effluvium, usually improves on its own, but lifestyle changes help. For autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata, steroid treatments may be more effective.
Our clinicians can prescribe treatments for many types of hair loss after a short online consultation, or you can talk to your doctor.
Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle factors can play a big role in male hair loss. If you’re stressed, it can trigger conditions like telogen effluvium, where hair sheds more than usual. A poor diet lacking essential nutrients, such as iron or protein, may weaken hair and slow growth.
If you’re not getting enough sleep, this can disrupt the body’s natural repair processes, affecting hair health over time. Tight hairstyles like man buns, braids, cornrows, and dreadlocks can lead to traction alopecia, a condition where constant pulling damages hair follicles. So, not all hair loss factors are out of your hands.
Preventing male hair loss
While preventing male hair loss depends on its causes, there are some steps all men can take to help maintain healthy hair.
If you have male pattern baldness, early use of treatments like minoxidil or finasteride may slow your hair loss. Managing your stress through relaxation techniques or regular exercise can reduce hair-shedding triggers like telogen effluvium. Eating a balanced diet rich in protein, iron, and vitamins supports hair strength and growth. By avoiding tight hairstyles or harsh scalp treatments you can prevent damage to your hair follicles. It also helps if you take care of your scalp generally, including gentle washing and avoiding heat styling.
For tailored advice on hair loss prevention, speak to your doctor. One of our clinicians can assess your hair loss after an online consultation. It’s short and always confidential.
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