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What Makes Men Go Bald?

Androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness, is caused by hormones called androgens -- more specifically, an androgen known as dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. These hormones regulate hair growth and sex drive in both men and women.

  1. Hair Growth

    • A strand of hair grows for two to six years, then stops growing for several months and falls out. Follicles then continue to grow new hair. A shorter hair growth cycle is caused by increased levels of DHT in the follicles. The hair starts to grow shorter and thinner, then stops growing altogether.

    Genes

    • Male pattern baldness is inherited from the mother's genes. As with any genetic trait, it isn't guaranteed that you will inherit it. One brother in the family may be bald, while another has a full head of hair.

    Medical Conditions

    • Male pattern baldness is also cause by many environmental factors. Some medical conditions have also been associated with male baldness, such as coronary heart disease, prostate cancer, enlarged prostate, obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.

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