Also called androgentic alopecia, male pattern baldness is the leading cause of hair loss in men. It often occurs in a pattern (hence the name), with thinning areas on the right and left sides of the forehead first, and then starting to thin in the front middle of the scalp. Half of all men start to experience it at least by age fifty.

Facts and Fictions about Male Pattern Baldness

Because it affects so many people, male pattern baldness has become the subject of many old wives’ tales and superstitions. Here are just a few:

1.       If your mother’s father was bald, you will also go bald. The myth that that baldness is passed down only from the maternal side of the family has been around for years, but in reality, genes for male pattern baldness can come from either or both sides of the family.

2.       Wearing hats frequently can cause men to go bald. Actually, hats don’t generally pose a problem, unless they actually cut off circulation to your scalp.

3.       You should avoid shampooing and using styling products too frequently, since shampoo can cause premature hair loss. Shampoo, conditioner, gel, and other styling products are generally formulated to keep your scalp healthy, and they don’t contain any chemicals that would cause hair to fall out. Washing your hair frequently won’t have any effect on when or if you begin balding.

4.       Blow dryers cause baldness. While it’s true that the heat of a blow dryer can dry out and damage your locks, which may cause strands to break more easily, it won’t cause hair loss from the follicle.

5.       Scalp massage can help to stimulate growth of new hair. Unfortunately, while head massages can be very calming and soothing, they have not been shown to make any difference in strand loss or regrowth.

Treatment for Male Pattern Baldness

If you’re not interested in cutting to the chase and shaving your head, there are many different options available to treat male pattern baldness, such as:

1.       Styling techniques, weaves, and wigs. Start by talking to your barber about what styling options he would recommend. Early on, you may be able to find some volumizing products that make your mane look thicker. You can also consider trying a wig or weave to cover up bald spots.

2.       Medications such as finasteride (a prescription pill) or minoxidil (an over-the-counter topical medication). These meds can help to slow or stop balding.

3.       Surgery, such as scalp reduction, or scalp expansion, or hair transplant surgery in Palo Alto. These surgeries can work well for people with thicker patches which can be moved to cover thinning areas.

Talk to your dermatologist about what treatment options might be right for you.

Disclaimer: We are unable to guarantee any result, even though most of our patients do see success. The results of our services will vary greatly to each patient’s level of commitment and compliance with the program.