Male pattern hair loss, medically known as androgenetic alopecia or AGA, is extremely common. Studies have shown that 30 to 50% of men under age 50 have already begun to experience AGA, and the risk continues to go up with increasing age. In some populations, up to 96% of men eventually experience hair loss.
There is an increased risk of cancer on the scalp in men with hair loss. Careful sun protection can help to minimize this risk. Other than this, AGA doesn't appear to pose any major risks to a man's physical health. Although there's an association between hair loss and serious health conditions like heart disease, researchers don't believe that AGA causes these conditions. Rather, major health problems may increase the risk of AGA, or certain environmental and lifestyle factors may both accelerate AGA and increase the risk of health problems.
For most men, the primary impact of AGA is on their mental and emotional health. Hair loss can affect a man’s self-esteem and confidence, and may increase the risk of mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Not all men are affected by hair loss in the same way. Those who are more likely to experience distress include men who start losing their hair at younger ages, those who have more severe hair loss, and those who believe their hair loss to be progressive. Although there are many men who aren’t particularly bothered by their hair loss, others experience a significant impact on their mental health. Treatment of male pattern hair loss is available, and may help to improve quality of life for many men.
For the most part, male pattern balding is a cosmetic issue. However, it does increase the risk of skin cancer on the scalp. Without the protection of the hair, the skin of the scalp becomes much more vulnerable to being damaged by sunlight, which can lead to cancer. For men who have experienced male pattern hair loss, it’s important to be diligent about wearing hats when outdoors, to protect the scalp from the sun.
Studies have found that the risk of AGA is higher in those who have a variety of serious health conditions, including prostate cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. However, researchers don’t believe that this indicates that male pattern hair loss itself causes an increase in a man’s risk of suffering from these health conditions. Rather, there are two possible explanations for the link.
One possibility is that chronic health problems may accelerate hair loss, because they put significant stress on the body. The other is that the same genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors play a role in causing AGA along with other health conditions. In fact, both of these explanations may be true to some degree. Researchers believe that the primary driver behind this association is genetics, but they’re continuing to study the link between AGA and serious health problems to determine the exact nature of this association.
Other than the increased risk of skin cancer, the negative effects of male pattern baldness are generally psychological in nature. Male pattern baldness can have serious emotional repercussions for many men. Because this condition is so common, people who haven’t experienced it may underestimate the impact it can have.
In fact, AGA has been found to decrease men’s quality of life and lead to significant emotional distress. Some studies have found a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety in men with AGA. Other studies have found that male pattern baldness can affect a man’s self-esteem and confidence.
While hair loss can be a distressing experience for any man, there are some men who are more likely to be affected emotionally by AGA. Men who start to go bald at younger ages, such as in their teens or 20s, are significantly more likely to experience distress. Those whose hair loss is more severe, or who perceive that it’s progressing more quickly, are also more likely to experience emotions like anxiety in response to their hair loss.
Many men actually cope well with AGA. Some of the studies on this topic may overstate the risk, because they’re generally performed in a group of men who have chosen to go to their doctors to talk about their hair loss. Men who do this may be more psychologically impacted by their hair loss than average. There are some men who don’t experience much of an impact on their mental health from AGA.
Still, it’s undeniable that male pattern hair loss can cause significant distress for many men, particularly for those who are younger when they start experiencing it. For some men, treatment of AGA can make a difference in their quality of life, and may help to relieve feelings of anxiety.
There are effective treatments available for AGA. These can stop or even reverse hair loss in many men. In general, these treatments tend to be more effective when started earlier in the hair loss process, so it’s better not to wait too long to consider this option. A consultation with a qualified dermatologist will allow you to gather information and get professional recommendations about what treatment option would be best for you.
