What Are the Causes of Hair Loss in Men?

We all start with about 100,000 hairs on our heads in our teens. But as time passes, many men will notice the thick mop on top start to thin out.

It might be the receding hairline that gives it away. Or a photo of yourself from behind that highlights a potential bald spot.

The symptoms are usually obvious. The causes? Not so much. 

Fortunately, for decades, researchers have been studying that one burning question: 

What causes hair loss in men?

Because the more we know about causes, the better we can provide effective men’s hair loss treatments. 

Genetics have a huge role in male hair loss. But other things can cause it too. Let’s take a look at each in turn:

• Genetics
• Nutritional deficiencies 
• Medical conditions
• Medications
• Excessive grooming
• Stress hair loss

The Main Causes of Hair Loss in Men

Most men experience hair loss because it’s in their genes. But there may be another factor at play. Other hair loss causes include medication, medical conditions, and stress. 

Genetics

By the time they hit seventy, 80% of all men will have lost some hair on their heads. For almost all of them, it’s because of their genes (compounded by age). 

Most men have hereditary hair loss, also called male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia. This type of hair loss typically starts in early adulthood and progresses gradually. It often begins with a receding hairline and can lead to a balding crown. 

If you want to spot the early signs of male pattern baldness, read our guide on the stages of male hair loss.

So what causes hereditary hair loss?

Hair grows from hair follicles. But if your follicles are sensitive to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the DHT can cause them to shrink. 

How sensitive your follicles are to DHT is determined by — you guessed it — your genes.

Miniaturised follicles produce shorter and finer hair. Over time, they produce fewer hairs. Some may eventually stop growing hair altogether.

Fortunately, male pattern baldness is treatable. It can even be reversed if you catch it early. But we’ll take a look at treatment options in a sec.

Nutritional Deficiency

Diet isn’t as big a contributor to male hair loss as it can be for women. But healthy hair follicles still need nutrients to grow strong hair. Fail to get enough nutrients and you may get thinning or weak hair.

There is a hair-raising amount of misinformation about which nutrients are essential for hair growth. So here’s the shortlist of deficiencies we’ve linked to cause hair loss:

• Vitamin D
• Folate
• B12
• Zinc
• Iron

If you want to learn more about what the studies say, read our detailed guide on vitamin deficiencies and hair loss.

You may be able to reverse your hair loss if you reverse your deficiency. Consider adding nutritionally dense foods that are good for hair growth to your diet. If you decide to try supplements for hair growth, be sure to consult a doctor first.

Medical Conditions

You may be losing your hair because of a medical condition, such as a chronic disease, severe illness, fungal infection, or skin disorder.

Hair loss can be caused by medical conditions that disrupt the hormones or scar the scalp. Here’s a short list of medication conditions that may cause hair loss in men:

• Thyroid disorders
• Anaemia
• Ringworm
• Scalp infections
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Psoriasis
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Diabetes
• Lupus
• Hodgkin’s Disease
• Hypopituitarism
• Coeliac Disease
• Trichorrhexis Invaginata
• Addison’s Disease
• Lichen Planus
• Scleroderma
• Trichotillomania
  

Alopecia areata is important to mention because it’s the second most common type of hair loss after male pattern baldness. The autoimmune disease occurs when your own immune system attacks your hair follicles, causing round bald patches. 

Medications

Sometimes it’s not the medical condition but the treatment that causes hair loss. 

Chemotherapy and radiation are probably the first medical treatments that come to mind. These potent treatments inflame and fracture hair shafts, causing a type of hair loss called anagen effluvium. 

Other medications cause telogen effluvium, a type of hair loss that forces premature hair shedding. 

Medications that may cause hair loss in men include:

• Blood thinners
• Steroids 
• Retinoids
• Beta-blockers
• Calcium channel blockers
• Antidepressants
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

More often than not, your hair grows back when you cease taking the medication. 

Excessive Grooming

Bad news. It might be time to ditch the man bun. We tend to associate over-styling with women but men can also get hair loss from excessive grooming. 

Tight hairstyles — we’re talking man buns, cornrows, and dreadlocks — can stress your roots and cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia. Perming, colouring, or wearing wigs, can also weaken your hair. 

Stress

Let’s start with the myth. Everyday stress doesn’t cause hair loss. But prolonged, intense stress can. It causes a type of stress-induced hair loss called telogen effluvium.

When your body is under severe stress, it stops certain ‘unnecessary’ processes to prioritise the most important functions. Unfortunately for your locks, the hair growth cycle is one of those processes. 

Under extreme stress, your body sends your hair follicles into a premature resting mode. About 3 months after the stressful event, you’ll notice excessive hair shedding. 

But it has to be an extreme form of stress — an event like:

• A sudden illness that causes a high fever
• An unexpected death of a loved one
• Surgery
• Sudden weight loss
• A divorce

Telogen effluvium produces diffuse thinning across the scalp but there’s some good news. It’s usually temporary. Your hair may return to normal in 6–9 months, once the stress is gone.

How to Treat Men’s Hair Loss

If you’re experiencing hair loss as a male, there’s a strong chance it’s here to stay. Of course, there are exceptions. And it all comes down to what’s caused your male hair loss. 

For example, you can reverse hair loss if the cause is stress, medication, or a nutritional deficiency. 

But if it’s hereditary hair loss — and almost all male hair loss is — it’s not a case of sitting and waiting it out. With the right treatment, you can stop hair loss and even reverse it. But the sooner you catch it, the better the results will be. 

Most men take finasteride to treat male pattern baldness. It’s an oral medication that blocks the production of DHT. You can learn all about it in our guide on how finasteride works for hair loss.  

Other more extreme treatments include low-level laser therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, microneedling, and hair transplants. 

But we’ve found that the best hair loss treatments don’t have to be invasive. They just have to be tailored to your body’s needs. 

The Hairy Pill® is a hair loss treatment for men that is made for you. Treatment includes regular consultations with one of our partner doctors, who can adjust the ingredients to personalise the therapy for you. 

An effective hair loss treatment, in just one pill, taken daily. Get started now.