Hair loss is a problem for men of all ages, and many wonder if it is customary to begin at their age. Men commonly ask when do men start balding? The challenge of hair loss can affect a man's physical appearance and self-esteem. Male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss and balding in men. Men often ask when does male pattern baldness start?

There is no short answer or specific age that men notice hair loss, and it can start in a man's teenage years in severe cases. In most cases, men see thinning hair in their mid to late 20s, and by 35, many men experience hair loss to some degree. Many other various factors may affect hair loss. Those factors include:

• Hormonal Imbalance
• Genetics
• Nutritional Deficiency
• Stress
• Illness

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Male Pattern Baldness

Many men wonder at what age does male pattern baldness start? The answer is not so simple. Male pattern baldness usually follows a typical pattern of a receding hairline. Receding means the crown's hair, around the pupils, begins thinning and leaves a horseshoe shape around the head. Male pattern baldness results from the shrinking of hair follicles.

Androgenic hormones cause the shrinking by breaking down hair growth cycles. Male pattern baldness can begin affecting men of all ages but generally starts between 25 and 35. Some medications are available that may prevent hair loss and, in some cases, even promote new growth.

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Hormonal Imbalance and Balding

Hormonal imbalance is a leading cause of male baldness. Androgenic hormones responsible for causing hair follicles to shrink are dihydrotestosterone or DHT. Your body produces DHT as a derivative of testosterone. Studies also associate androgenetic hormones with medical conditions, including heart disease and prostate enlargement.

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Genetics and Hair Loss

Many studies show that genetics in DNA play a significant role in male baldness. A gene that closely relates to hair loss is the AR gene. The AR gene is responsible for coding the androgen receptor protein. The androgen receptor protein has many functions, including helping hair follicle cells detect hormones, including testosterone. Testosterone affects how much a person's hair grows. The AR gene is within the X chromosome, meaning that men inherit it from their mothers.

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Nutritional Deficiency and Balding

It may surprise you to read that a diet lacking essential nutrients can affect hair loss in men as much as genetics. A diet packed with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals is vital for healthy hair growth. Those include:

• Iron
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin A  
• Zinc
• Niacin
• Folic Acid
• Biotin
• Amino Acids and Proteins
• Antioxidants
• Selenium

If you are not eating a diet full of these vital vitamins, nutrients, and minerals, you may experience hair loss.

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Hair Loss Caused by Stress

Scientists do not link stress to male pattern baldness, but it can worsen various forms of temporary hair loss. One type of temporary hair loss is telogen effluvium, which interrupts hair's natural growth pattern. There are four cycles during the hair growth cycle, including the telogen phase. The telogen phase occurs in the growth cycle and is the resting phase, where new hair grows and replaces old hair. When telogen effluvium occurs, a large portion of a man's hair can suddenly enter the telogen phase, causing an increase in hair shedding.

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Illness May Cause Hair Loss

Alopecia areata and toxic alopecia link with autoimmune conditions, high fever, and other severe illnesses. Both types of hair loss are temporary, and the hair grows back after several months. Infection or disease may also cause telogen effluvium and sudden hair shedding. Further, illnesses such as an enlargement of the prostate and heart disease can cause an increase in androgenetic hormones.

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The Progression of Hair Loss

Every person goes through the natural hair growth cycle. The cycle is slow and includes hair growth, shedding, and regrowth. The average scalp contains approximately 1,000 hairs, and each lives for around four years. Even if natural hair loss progresses quickly, it is not noticeable from one day to the next. If you are losing hair at an apparent rate every day, it could signify a severe illness.

For most men, hair loss is evident in later years. By 50 years old, more than half of white men show noticeable signs of a receding hairline, thinning, or balding. Further, by the age of 70, baldness affects up to 80%.

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Seeking Treatment for Hair Loss and Baldness

While there is no scientific cure for male pattern baldness, the latest research and science are promising and offer many treatments to slow its progression. There is no exact age that a man should begin treating hair loss, but the earlier you start, the better. Further, it is best to start treating hair loss as soon as you notice any signs of hair loss for best results. Early intervention is more successful in stopping hair loss and regrowing hair in many cases. Treatments that moisten the scalp can promote follicle health and new growth.

The medication Finasteride or generic Propecia can block the action of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. 5-alpha-reductase is the enzyme responsible for changing testosterone into a hormone that causes hair loss. American Hair Loss Association studies show that Finasteride successfully stopped hair loss in 86% of men who took the medication. A whopping 65% of those men experienced new hair growth! Men often begin noticing results after three to four months of taking the drug. Maximum results may take up to one year of use.

A permanent solution to hair loss you may also want to consider is the procedure that transplants hair. Hair transplant is a surgery that moves your hair from places it is healthy and growing to areas experiencing thinning and loss.

Thinning hair and baldness are a natural part of age progression, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take action. Hair loss can affect men of every age, but with today's science, there are plenty of options to take a stand and fight back against male hair thinning and baldness. Visit Phoenix Health to start your treatment today.