When do men start going bald?

Hair loss is a common problem for me and can begin as early as teens. The most common cause of hair loss is male pattern baldness, which causes thinning throughout the scalp.

Other causes include genetics, illness, stress, and trauma to the head. Balding can be emotionally devastating for some men, but many treatments can help slow or halt hair loss.

Difference between Androgenetic Alopecia and Alopecia Areata

There is a difference between androgenetic alopecia, also called male pattern baldness or MPB, and Alopecia Areata.

Androgenetic alopecia is hereditary, while Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease that causes hair to fall out in patches. Both conditions can affect men and women, but they cause different types of hair loss.

Androgenetic Alopecia

Androgenetic Alopecia is the most common illness that men suffer from.

This patterned baldness is caused by the genetic predisposition of male pattern baldness in which hair loss is inherited from either side of the family.

Alopecia Areata

In this form of hair loss, the body's immune system mistakes its healthy hair follicles for foreign invaders (bacteria or viruses), begins attacking them, and kills them off before they've had a chance to grow into full-length strands.

The result? Patches of missing hairs. Contrary to Androgenetic alopecia, it is not hereditary and can be reversed.

In this post, we will focus on Androgenetic alopecia, the most common reason men go bald.

Some men start balding when they are teenagers

Unfortunately, many men start balding as early as their teens. I know this firsthand: I started noticing a drop in hair health at 14, and by age 16, I had visible bad patches on my head.

By age 18, I was already incredibly self-conscious about it, and depression started taking its toll.

Finally, around 21-22, it was clear I needed to shave my head, despite my resistance to the thought and the advice of countless people close to me.

Unfortunately, this is a familiar story among many fellow baldies.

The process of balding can take 5-15 years

The process of balding can take anywhere from 5 to 15 years.

Men start to go bald when they lose their hair at the temples and the forehead. This process happens gradually, so a person may not notice any changes until it's much further along the line.

The average man will begin to notice thinning at around age 25 or 30, but some men find that their hair starts thinning in their 20s or even earlier if they have a family history of balding early in life.

For some people, balding means simply thin hair and an emptier front. For others, it means being fully bald from front to back. The sides are typically spared if it's not Alopecia Areata.

Is balding inevitable?

Balding caused by Androgenetic Alopecia is a natural process that affects both men and women. It's not caused by stress, diet, genetics, or disease.

Is it inevitable? It's widely known that medications for Androgenetic Alopecia exist and are widely prescribed by dermatologists worldwide. When it comes to medication, there are two very different approaches:

• people who decide to shave it off and forget about it entirely, embracing baldness and making the best of it
• people who do not lose hope and try medication to fight** the balding process**

What does medication for alopecia entail?

Two main drugs can help fight alopecia:

• Finasteride (Propecia), in the form of capsules
• Minoxidil (Rogaine) usually used topically on the scalp

These two medicines cost approximately $40-80 combined (depending on the brand or how they're formulated).

If the balding process is not yet in an advanced stage, many men do indeed see improvements in health, thickness, and number of hair. However, in some scenarios, the balding process is drastically slowed down.

The objections to medications usually are two:

• side effects
• reduction of the drugs' effectiveness as time goes

Personal anecdote

I took these drugs and can confirm both the points above, but it does not mean that it will be your case.

Side effects of the drugs to cure baldness

Finasteride can cause side effects such as impotence and a decreased libido (sex drive).

Minoxidil can cause burning of the scalp, acne, increased facial hair growth, and inflammation or soreness at the root of the hair.

Always consult your dermatologist first

Self-medicating is never a good idea. If you decide to use drugs to stop alopecia, always talk to your dermatologist or doctor beforehand.

The side effects above are not to be taken lightly, and your doctor can advise best if they think it's something you should pursue.

The BaldHQ advice

If you have read some of our articles, you will know that our goal is to empower bald men to accept their baldness, make the best of what we have, and become the best version of ourselves.

Our idea is to refrain from using medication when it comes to baldness: it has temporary benefits, it will dig into your wallet, and can bring harmful side effects no one wants.

We say: accept it, and embrace it. While we know how hard this is, we also know it's totally possible to emerge from this and be the very best person you can be, Our website has endless resources to help you do it.

Conclusion

As you can see, many factors play a role in when men start going bald. There are different types of hair loss, and they each have different causes and effects.

If you think you might be experiencing hair loss and want to try some medication, talk to your doctor for more information about what you can do about it.