Male Pattern Baldness (Androgenetic Alopecia): How It Works, Explained Simply

Video Transcript

Male pattern hair loss is the most common cause of baldness in men. It does not happen all at once, and it does not happen everywhere on the scalp. In men who are genetically susceptible, follicles on the top of the scalp are sensitive to a hormone called D H T. With each growth cycle, those follicles shrink. The hair they produce grows shorter, finer, and lighter in colour. The follicles are still there. Early on they are making thinner hair, rather than no hair at all. Over time the growing phase shortens, so each hair is shed sooner and replaced by an even finer one. The pattern is recognisable: the hairline recedes at the temples, and the hair at the crown gradually thins. The hair around the back and sides is not sensitive to D H T. It usually keeps growing, which is why it can serve as donor hair for a transplant. Because the process is gradual, treatments are generally aimed at slowing it down rather than reversing it. This video is for general education only. It is not medical advice. Ask your doctor what's right for you.