In short
Male pattern baldness is inherited and driven by the hormone DHT. It follows a pattern at the temples and crown, and treatment can slow it down.
On this page
Male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is the most common cause of hair loss in men. It is inherited, it follows a predictable pattern at the temples and crown, and it usually gets slowly worse over time.
How common is it?
Very. It can start any time after puberty and becomes more common with each decade. By their fifties, around half of men have some degree of it.
What causes it
Two things together: your genes, and a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is made from testosterone. In men who have inherited sensitive follicles, DHT makes those follicles shrink a little more with each growth cycle. The hairs become finer, shorter and lighter until they stop appearing. The follicles at the back and sides of the head aren’t sensitive in the same way, which is why that hair stays.
The genes can come from either parent. Having a bald father or grandfather on either side raises your chances.
Want a GP to look at your hair loss?
An Australian GP can confirm the cause by phone or video and go through what’s realistic for you.
Signs
- A hairline that moves back at the temples. See receding hairline.
- Thinning at the crown.
- More scalp showing under bright light or when your hair is wet.
- Gradual change over years, without itching or soreness.
Doctors describe how far it has gone with the Norwood scale.
What it isn’t
Hair that falls out suddenly, in handfuls or in round patches, isn’t male pattern baldness. Neither is hair loss with a sore, red or scaly scalp. Those need a doctor to look for another cause, such as a recent illness, a thyroid or iron problem, a skin condition or a medicine.
Treatment
There’s no cure, but there are treatments that slow it down and can thicken existing hair. The two with the strongest evidence are finasteride, a prescription tablet that lowers DHT, and minoxidil, which is applied to the scalp. Both need to be used continuously. If you stop, the loss picks up where it would have been. Hair transplant surgery is an option once the pattern is stable. Choosing to do nothing is also reasonable. It’s a cosmetic condition, not a health risk.
Our guide to hair loss treatment for men in Australia covers what each option does, how long it takes and the side effects.
Next step: talk to a GP
Request an appointment and we’ll be in touch to arrange a time. A consultation doesn’t guarantee a prescription.
References
- Australasian College of Dermatologists: Male pattern hair loss
- Healthy Male: Hair loss
- Therapeutic Guidelines: Dermatology
This guide is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t replace a consultation with a doctor who knows your history. In an emergency, call 000.