What Causes Men to Go Bald?

Body hair removal may be becoming almost as popular amongst men as women, but there’s one place men don’t want to lose their hair  – their heads! Hair loss or thinning is fairly common – but, why do men go bald?

There are several reasons…. Male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) happens when there is a change in hormone levels, particularly later in life. Even though this is just a natural part of the aging process for millions of men (half of the 50 million in the US who go bald do so by age 50it can cause psychological distress, and even depression.

Hair loss is also commonly linked to genetics – if you have a first or second-degree relative who has gone bald, you have a greater chance of going bald yourself. Your ethnicity may also have a role to play: around 50% of white men are affected by baldness by the time they reach 50, and around 80% by 70, whereas other racial groups, for example, Japanese and Chinese, are less prone to baldness.

It’s a good idea to check with a doctor or dermatologist if you notice your hair begin to thin out. Unanticipated or abrupt hair loss may indicate an underlying health disorder, such as a fungal infection, lupus, or a thyroid problem, which needs medical intervention. Other hair loss triggers include nutritional issues, like an iron deficiency or malnutrition, certain medicines, like blood thinners, anticoagulants, and retinoids, or medical conditions like hypertension or high blood pressure, diabetes, prostate cancer, and obesity. It can also happen due to stress, following a major operation, or after an illness.

All these factors add to the slow contraction of scalp hair follicles, causing hair to gradually grow shorter and thinner until new hair stops growing altogether.

Cool and sexy

On the bright side, many men who have lost their hair find ways to boost their confidence and enhance their appearance through fashion and fitness. Others simply accept the change without stressing, seeing it as a sign of maturity rather than aging – after all, the shaved look can be cool and sexy — think Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, David Beckham, Vin Diesel, Shaquille O’Neal… the list goes on!