Noticing a receding hairline or thinning crown? You’re not alone. Male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is the most common cause of hair loss in men, affecting over half by the age of 50.
For some, male pattern baldness means more than just losing hair. It means losing confidence too. The good news? You don’t have to simply accept it; LED therapy is on hand (and head) to boost hair growth from the roots.
What is male pattern baldness?
Also experienced by women, androgenetic alopecia is a progressive condition, usually beginning in the mid-20s to mid-30s, that causes hair follicles to become sensitive to a male hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone). Over time, this sensitivity causes hair follicles to shrink, gradually producing thinner and shorter hair until they stop functioning altogether.
Unlike shedding, which is a natural part of the hair growth cycle, androgenetic alopecia is a progressive and permanent condition that can cause complete or partial baldness if left untreated.
What causes male pattern baldness?
Although not as simple as a ‘baldness gene’, male pattern baldness is primarily caused by genetics, with genes from both parents influencing your sensitivity to DHT. Therefore, a family history of hair loss can be a predictor of whether you will experience the condition yourself.
Even though genetics are a key factor, there are many other reasons hair can fall out. So, while the cause may lie in your genetic makeup, DHT is the trigger.
Symptoms and stages of male pattern baldness
During early signs of balding, men may experience a receding hairline, thinning crown and a change in hair texture, as strands may become finer, shorter and less pigmented.
Balding progression can be categorised using the Norwood Scale:
-
Stage 1: No significant hair loss or hairline recession.
-
Stage 2: The first noticeable signs of hair loss appear, including thinning around the temples.
-
Stage 3: The hairline recedes more deeply, and the crown may also begin to thin.
-
Stage 4: The hairline recedes more severely with a bald spot on the crown.
-
Stage 5: Balding areas continue to grow, and separating areas start to thin.
-
Stage 6: Bald areas merge together, with little or no hair on the top of the head.
-
Stage 7: Hair is left on only the sides and back of the head.
Male pattern baldness treatments
Medication
There are two key medications FDA-approved for treating male pattern hair loss—minoxidil and finasteride. While minoxidil is a topical treatment designed to boost blood flow to follicles, supplying them with oxygen and nutrients needed to fuel growth, finasteride is an oral prescription medication that helps to reduce DHT levels.
In-clinic treatments
Hair transplants have grown in popularity in recent years due to the permanent results they can achieve, although success depends on the amount of donor hair available. Alternatively, with a far shorter recovery period, PRP treatments are a less invasive option, involving drawing and processing the patient's blood, which is injected into the scalp to rejuvenate follicles, supporting healthy growth.
LED therapy
Also known as LLLT (low-level light therapy), LED treatments use red light wavelengths to penetrate the scalp. As this light is absorbed, it increases the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of cells, fuelling follicles to work more efficiently, while increasing blood flow and supporting overall scalp health, for longer and stronger hair growth.
Why choose an LED hair growth helmet?
LED hair growth devices offer a science-backed and safe hair loss solution. Effective for men in the early to moderate stages of hair loss (stages 1-4 on the Norwood Scale), red light therapy is both non-invasive and painless, with wearable devices such as the CurrentBody Skin LED Hair Growth Helmet, designed to deliver hands-free treatments and full scalp coverage for optimal results.
How to take control of hair loss for balding men
To put it simply, male pattern hair loss is both completely common and totally treatable. Invest in the power of red light therapy and unlock new hair growth and the confidence that comes with it.
